Hybrid View Shows Incorrect Placement

By Eric Richardson
Published: Monday, July 25, 2005, at 09:46AM

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The new Google Maps hybrid view is pretty cool. It made me notice, though, that Hope St. right by the library is misplaced. Take a look at the attached link and you'll see that Google thinks the street goes around the bottom of Library Tower -- right alongside 5th St -- and then up the steps. MSN's just launched Virtual Earth has the exact same problem. I don't have a copy of Thomas Guide handy to see what the map looks like there.

Any other incorrect Downtown mappings you can find now that we have these two overlay views?

Update (4pm): Here's one where change hasn't been noticed. This parking lot viewed on MSN's Virtual Earth has non-existent 8th Pl. and Florida St. running through it. This seems to be an excusable one, though... Google still shows roadway in its older view.

Comments

shannon writes:

i haven't noticed any other incorrect streets, i'm too mesmerized by just looking at all the buildings from above. note that none of the new construction outside of Union Station is there.

i also think it's interesting to scroll over to Hoover where the original pueblo land grant stopped and all the "american" streets are on a true N,S,E,W grid.

# on Jul.25.2005 AT 02:00 PM

John writes:

The "Central Library from Hope Street north of 5th Street" picture was taken in 1986, before library tower was built, in 1989 I believe. Here you can see that Hope Street made a right into Hope Place. The right turn into Hope Place is now right about where this photo was taken, perhaps a bit further north.

The building on the left is I think the Mellon First Business Bank at 601 W. 5th Street. In the background you can see the famous "Jesus Saves" sign which was a landmark here since the 1940's.

In 1985 Dr. Gene Scott (http://www.drgenescott.com/ ) attempted to save the former Church of the Open Door building; although unsuccessful, he was able to save the historic red neon "Jesus Saves" signs which had formerly adorned the roof of the Church of the Open Door and which had become a very familiar sight to Los Angeles area residents over the years.

Dr. Gene Scott was one of the most amazing people in this city, a great mind. Watch one of his sermons at "DrScott.asx", or on the website, you will not believe it. "the Big Bang theory is hard to fault but it pre-supposes that there is, in fact, a Banger" Dr. euGene Scott

The second picture HopeSt_HopePL90014.jpg is a map of Hope Place and Hope street as it is today.

# on Jul.26.2005 AT 01:10 PM

Eric Richardson writes:

Here are the two pictures John was talking about:

That first shot is really interesting. Not because of the street placement, but because it turns out to pinpoint one of the locations from the stills I took from Night of the Comet. Very cool. -e;

# on Jul.26.2005 AT 02:43 PM

Hybrid View Shows Incorrect Placement

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