Truth in Mapping
OpenStreetMap
[osm.org]
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — OpenStreetMap is a free, editable map to which anyone can contribute. It's very much the Wikipedia of the mapping world, and suffers many of the same issues -- a lot of the data is very good, but look close and some of it just isn't quite right.
When it comes to the site of the old state building at 1st and Broadway, though, I think OSM's data just about nails it. The description on the big rectangular site reads "A big hole where the building used to be."
During the development boom, we used to have a lot of fun with a series called Bad Maps, highlighting some of the liberties that ad agencies took with Downtown's streets and landmarks. Doing a similar thing for the Point of Interest data in OSM wouldn't really be worthwhile -- there are issues everywhere.
But when it comes to that state building site (which you can see on the OSM site here), I think "big hole where the building used to be" looks a lot more true that "Future Federal Courthouse."
T K Nagano on February 04, 2010, at 03:31PM – #1
"A big hole where the building used to be" is good a metaphor for signage that attributes the project to then, President George W. Bush.
Jasmijn on February 04, 2010, at 04:48PM – #2
Yup, that's perfect. Love it ;)
T K Nagano on February 09, 2010, at 08:20AM – #3
Power of the blogdowntown and the press - the signage changed over the weekend to a new metaphor attributing "A big hole where the building used to be" to the GS (government speak for the acronym: United States General Service Administration). The signage will change again to name of the appropriate politicians when the funding comes to convert "Lake Los Angeles" to a new Federal Courthouse.
OpenStreetMap can provide a concrete purpose to improve Downtown by identifying owners of "Vacant, not abandoned" buildings, such as the northwest corner building at Hill and 7th. These "Vacant buildings" add nothing the Los Angeles we all love (sic). Such information could nelp force improvement or rehabilitation of these eyesores.