America's Fallen Cities: Cincinnati

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 พ.ค. 2024
  • Drone Footage ​⁠@PrimoMedia • Cincinnati, Ohio | 4K ...
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    #urban #urbanism #ohio #cincinnati #architecture #cities

ความคิดเห็น • 433

  • @moisesmaldonado9875
    @moisesmaldonado9875 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +336

    It is just beyond any reason how America destroyed itself and imploded from that bygone glory

    • @starventure
      @starventure 20 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Cincinatti got bombed in the late 60s early 70s. Any city can come back from getting hit by an hbomb, but there is no surviving the n bomb.

    • @wordup897
      @wordup897 20 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Corrupt govt and corporations sold the nation out.

    • @adriancarroll685
      @adriancarroll685 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +33

      Well, as a native Detroiter I can definitely think of one compelling reason: racism

    • @akjdhajkdjhaghjkadh9804
      @akjdhajkdjhaghjkadh9804 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +57

      @@adriancarroll685 the car industry played a much bigger role

    • @wordup897
      @wordup897 19 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@akjdhajkdjhaghjkadh9804 they've got to blame all their failures on whitey like the media and govt trained them to do.

  • @CheeseBae
    @CheeseBae 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +108

    Cincinnatian here. We still have quite a lot of historic buildings left in Over-the-Rhine. The 20th Century Modernists tried to bulldoze it many times, but luckily they failed each time.

    • @CrossOfBayonne
      @CrossOfBayonne 2 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      And also railroad history, The B&O and New York Central went to union station and there was the Cincinnati lineup

  • @neilboulton9813
    @neilboulton9813 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +175

    I often weep at what has been lost on our great Victorian cities in the UK, as volumes have been written about it and an photographer called Francis Frith recorded much of it. Although urban planning was largely responsible we at least have an excuse of extensive World War 2 bombing. I struggle to explain how America without this reason to undertake these destructive programmes can really justify it

    • @sergpie
      @sergpie 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +31

      It was the confusion of convenience being some sort of freedom, and that nothing, not even entire neighborhoods, churches, and grand palaces, should stand against it. So we demolished, so that we could conveniently commute. That, and the exponential rise in speculation on property, saw to a vast and still ongoing campaign of demolition and throw-away mentality.

    • @mickeygraeme2201
      @mickeygraeme2201 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

      Everyone who used to live in slums near cinci union station now has a house on a half acre lot in the suburbs with a good school system. So yeah some apartment buildings that no one wants to live in were torn down but everyone who lived there generally improved their amenities.

    • @wordup897
      @wordup897 20 วันที่ผ่านมา

      The corporate model requires perpetual "growth", hence planned obsolescenceahd disposable everything ushered in by the propagandists like Ed Bernays. Humans are gullible and the parasites that run the world prey on that weakness.

    • @neilboulton9813
      @neilboulton9813 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +12

      ​@@mickeygraeme2201Whilst some of that is true and was the case in the UK. I am afraid the great civic buildings including librarys and Universities and commerce was largely replaced with ugly concrete and glass and only largely used 9-5, and this was definately not an improvement. Before you say high maintenance costs most of these building were very well constructed and even if there a slightly higher cost most prople would prefer the interior and exterior aesthetic to have survived.

    • @kyleelsbernd7566
      @kyleelsbernd7566 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +9

      Great post. People say the US has no history, bullocks. All these industrial age Victorian city centers span the Anglosphere. I visited Cincinnati last year and loved it as I know architecture. Incredible river towns and cities throughout the Midwest

  • @Cangluoak
    @Cangluoak 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +69

    it hurts seeing those beautiful old building lost forever.

  • @whynow_whynot1200
    @whynow_whynot1200 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +69

    Your american fallen cities series is amazing!

  • @gabetalks9275
    @gabetalks9275 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +105

    Compared to what other cities like St. Louis, Kansas City, and Detroit suffered, I think Cincinnati still walking out of it with some of their heritage still in tact is a lot more hopeful of a fate than most other American cities.

    • @Rapture582
      @Rapture582 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +10

      Are you Kidding? At least Detroit, Kansas city and STL are still recognizable, have their cores intact. Cincinnati is like a totally different city.

    • @r.pres.4121
      @r.pres.4121 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

      St Louis has very little left thanks to urban renewal, middle class flight, racial tensions, and a stagnant economy.

    • @diodelvino3048
      @diodelvino3048 13 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

      @@Rapture582 Riiight, the same Detroti and STL that have a declining population and severe amounts of abandoned homes. Unlike those places Cinncinati actually gained population in the past few years.

    • @Rapture582
      @Rapture582 13 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      @@diodelvino3048 Detroit's core is still recognizable and revitalized. Current population gains has nothing to do with how much Cincinnati has lost. There's no way Cincinnati somehow has more "heritage" in tact proportionally than Detroit or STL.

    • @diodelvino3048
      @diodelvino3048 13 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@Rapture582 Population gains has EVERYTHING to do with it. you just dont want to believe it since that doesnt match with your beliefs. Thats your own problem

  • @pux0rb
    @pux0rb 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +103

    Absolutely heartbreaking. Its nice to see that there is an effort to repair what was broken, but it will never be the same.

    • @c0rnichon
      @c0rnichon 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +16

      It's baffling how people in the past looked at the historic city centers and said "Nah, let's bulldoze this." And then they flock to Europe on Vacation to enjoy all these historic towns.

    • @lisasmith5422
      @lisasmith5422 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +8

      ​@@c0rnichon
      this architectural demoralization was/is by design & most of the people certainly didn't want it to go this way - but, of course, it's just the American Fantasy that ' most ' of the people will have their say & their way - in reality - a very small percentage are in charge

    • @elliotwilliams7421
      @elliotwilliams7421 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      What effort to repair

    • @ramencurry6672
      @ramencurry6672 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

      It will improve but not until after 2100

    • @hakeemsd70m
      @hakeemsd70m 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

      This was all done by design. Kenyon Barr. It's heartbreaking what they did to my hometown.

  • @aramondehasashi3324
    @aramondehasashi3324 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +44

    I love seeing the old architecture in this series but also really pains me when you show what is there now.

  • @MrStevan88
    @MrStevan88 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +28

    I live in Over the Rhine. While yes a lot of destruction was done to the city to focus on highways and parking, the city itself is still in very good shape and much of the urban areas have been revitalized (gentrified) with lots of work still being done (new builds and rehabbing existing buildings). City is very much so on the up compared to what it went through from 1950-2000 with everyone moving to the burbs

  • @TomisaLami
    @TomisaLami 17 วันที่ผ่านมา +18

    I’ve lived in New York, San Francisco, Oakland, Philadelphia, Wilmington Delaware, and Cincinnati
    And even though Cincinnati isn’t like the most exciting place, it might be my favorite next to Oakland
    Like I said, I wouldn’t necessarily call it exciting but it is far from boring. There is always something cool to do.
    And one of the things about Cincinnati that seems to go to places and not be surrounded
    You can go to popular areas and still have your little spot and some sort of privacy. Most cities have popular spots, but they’re always packed.

  • @ruedigernassauer
    @ruedigernassauer 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +31

    German here: The huge fountain shown is the Tyler Davidson Fountain. It was crafted by two Bavarians as part of the "beautiful city movement" that came up right before the emergence of private car ownership. That fountain now stands a little relocated from its original site. For more details on that look up the entry in Wikipedia. Probably because of this landmark fountain Cincinnati is celebrating each year a Bavarian "Oktoberfest".

    • @ritchirodenbach8972
      @ritchirodenbach8972 17 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      Hast du nichts besseres zu tun?

    • @ChatGPT1111
      @ChatGPT1111 11 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      Don't listen to the rude guy Ruedi

    • @ruedigernassauer
      @ruedigernassauer 11 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@ChatGPT1111 No problem, I could in reverse call HIM if HE has nothing better to do.

    • @slomo4672
      @slomo4672 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

      There are many German immigrants there and that's why they celebrate Oktoberfest.

  • @mariusfacktor3597
    @mariusfacktor3597 17 วันที่ผ่านมา +20

    Truly unimaginable. The folks who work in those industrial warehouses between seas of parking lots have literally no idea that a beautiful integrated dense and lively downtown once stood there. It's a lost civilization that built their society in a much better way than we build ours.

  • @francoisespinoza7047
    @francoisespinoza7047 12 วันที่ผ่านมา +6

    Nice work and thanks for sharing it. Cincinnati has many architectural jewels, I used to live there a few months as a former P&G employee and it was always a pleasant surprise to spot them. All the comments left are a good testimony on how much this heritage is valued, I also want to mention the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge(formerly the Cincinnati-Covington Bridge) is a suspension bridge that spans the Ohio River between Cincinnati, Ohio, and Covington, Kentucky. When opened on 1866, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world until 1883. Impressive and still there. It looks majestic on foggy days/nights.

  • @DragonDinos70
    @DragonDinos70 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +39

    I am French, and in Europe we attach great importance to preserving our cities, and when I see that, I tell myself that it is the right thing to do. I'm shocked to see how beautiful American cities used to be, and how it was all torn down for highways or square concrete shoeboxes. The image of the station is revealing, it is a vile, monstrous waste...
    I hope that one day, the West will have the means to restore our cities to the aspects of our greatest times, erasing the ravages of the decadent thoughts of the post-war period, which today gave birth to wokism. It's high time to return to the forgotten classics from before 1945.

    • @starventure
      @starventure 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      Are you joking? Paris is dying just the same way that Cincinnati did.

    • @maxisussex
      @maxisussex 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      @@starventure Huh? Paris has some issues but it is certainly not dying, it is a thriving city. History, culture, fine dining, lovely parks and rivers and it is a top international tourist destination, receiving millions more visitors than the highest ranked American entry. Not sure how that compares to the ugly, desolate wastelands American cities mostly are.

    • @DragonDinos70
      @DragonDinos70 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +11

      @@starventure You haven't understood what I said, it's the whole West that is losing its face, it goes well beyond Cincinnati or Paris

    • @bycuritiba
      @bycuritiba 20 วันที่ผ่านมา

      "wokeism" didn't cause this, and today conservatives are the ones who want to keep highways and suburbs.

    • @ojsobels
      @ojsobels 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      What exactly does wokism have to do with this?

  • @johnd.2114
    @johnd.2114 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +22

    As poor of a reputation as many large midwest cities have, I find they have considerably more interesting heritage and history than many large cities in the west or sunbelt, which are just downright boring and devoid of culture.

    • @offan-
      @offan- 17 วันที่ผ่านมา +7

      the difference between the cities that were built before cars and after cars is incredible. once walkability was no longer important everything changed

    • @ChatGPT1111
      @ChatGPT1111 11 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

      You need to check out Charleston SC, Savannah GA, San Antonio TX, Key West FL, St. Augustine FL (oldest city in US), Sedona AZ, Pueblo/Taos NM and Santa Fe NM.

    • @johnd.2114
      @johnd.2114 11 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      @ChatGPT1111 those examples all still kind of reflect my point as they're either old cities or smaller tourism/recreation focused towns. Sunbelt generally refers to more modern developments in sprawling, urban metros like Dallas, Atlanta, or Phoenix.

    • @ChatGPT1111
      @ChatGPT1111 11 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@johnd.2114 if you're only interested in high population cities, the south did not have any back then. For example, the population of Phoenix in 1890 was 35,000. If the north had not destroyed the major cities of the south to where they had to start over, it might've been different, but in any event the north had a 100-200 year head start.

  • @umzalas7960
    @umzalas7960 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +11

    This is my favorite series on TH-cam by far! Keep up the

  • @birdwife589
    @birdwife589 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +22

    i believe that people in the newer generations have an appreciation for what was lost. hopefully as we get older we will start to see it being rebuilt.

    • @elliotwilliams7421
      @elliotwilliams7421 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      Why do you sound like a MAGA supporter

    • @birdwife589
      @birdwife589 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@elliotwilliams7421 ?

    • @pjflynn220
      @pjflynn220 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +6

      As a young historic architecture enthusiast and a traditional human-oriented city fanatic I agree. The car-centric design will end with my generation.

    • @elliotwilliams7421
      @elliotwilliams7421 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      @pjflynn220 this is nothing to do with human oriented cities, its a corporate dream that doesn't consider humans at all.

    • @pjflynn220
      @pjflynn220 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@elliotwilliams7421 dumbass its not a corporate dream. its my dream. to have beautiful, architecturally relevant, and human oriented design (AKA traditional urban design that has been used for millennia). I am very left leaning on many issues, this is not a partisan issue. His comment was not politically oriented in one way or another you just seem to be delusional lol

  • @underratedbub
    @underratedbub 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +13

    It's our duty to leave our country beautiful and habitable for our children!

  • @-OAK-
    @-OAK- 13 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

    You should do OKC, half of the downtown was destroyed and removed due to a architect “I.M PEI” he wanted to reshaped the skyline, but after tearing down a ton of buildings something happened that made him not do it, so they never rebuilt those buildings and you can clearly see that half the city seems to be erased and replaced with gardens and parks in the modern day.
    Looking at OKC in the 1960s compared to now would make you think that it lost population, it didn’t it’s more than double it’s population in the 1960s but after those buildings were destroyed, they were never rebuilt. Making the city seem sized down
    It had some awesome looking buildings that were demolished, like the biltmore hotel, and the Baum building.

  • @spencer4732
    @spencer4732 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +6

    really appreciate this series for documenting the detrimental effects of urban renewal on our greatest American cities

    • @mattwoolsey2758
      @mattwoolsey2758 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

      What do you mean by the detrimental effects of urban renewal? Our cities have seen detrimental effects of suburban sprawl, but urban renewal will be what saves them, as it already has saved them to a degree.

  • @DanYellow3000
    @DanYellow3000 9 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    I know Cincinnati is not what it used to be but I was also pleasantly surprised by how walkable and bikeable Cincinnati was compared to many other small cities I been to. I was able to easily walk, run and bike from Northern Kentucky/Covington to Cincinnati and be able to walk, run, bike for quite a bit. Mount Adams was especially really nice and a beautiful walk. I was also really impressed with a lot of the older architecture in Cincinnati.
    Out of all the other cities from this series, I think Cincinnati has the most potential to turn things around.

  • @Andrea-lj4jg
    @Andrea-lj4jg 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    One of the best videos about urbanism I've ever seen. Nothing explains better than juxtaposition of old and new photos and maps how much of our cities have been destroyed by "urban renewal". Keep up the good work!

  • @christopherbolling1140
    @christopherbolling1140 9 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

    As a native Cincinnatian who has lived in multiple 100yr old homes inside the city, this video is unfortunately massively oversimplified. I walk and bike everywhere in this city. Downtown is one of the fastest growing neighborhoods in the city and the population decline mentioned here reversed ten years ago. We recently passed a tax levy to upgrade rapid transit and are working actively to reconnect our vibrant downtown to one of the most beautiful urban parks in America along the Ohio River. Have too many cool old structures been lost and do I wish the subway had been built? Sure. But, it’s a wonderful place to live that has some of the most amazing architecture and housing stock in the country.

  • @cavius8784
    @cavius8784 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +23

    When a city is changed from being pedestrian oriented to car oriented, it becomes a dead environment.

  • @marcelmoulin3335
    @marcelmoulin3335 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +7

    Alexander, once again, thank you for a highly informative video. You successfully highlight the possibilities that these former glorious cities have to rebound. Your mission is invaluable and encouraging.

  • @DeeRuss
    @DeeRuss 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +6

    Thank you 🙏🏼 love history like this! They don’t teach us this in school

  • @ashtonlambert7673
    @ashtonlambert7673 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +9

    Atlanta is another one. Completely unrecognizable. Once an old southern city in a forest is now a mess of buildings and sprawling car dependent suburbs.

    • @ashtonlambert7673
      @ashtonlambert7673 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      You can see remnants of old Atlanta on broad street, parts of Forsyth,
      and Inman and Candler park.

    • @diodelvino3048
      @diodelvino3048 13 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Most Americans dont care about cities being sprawl and suburbs as long as it provides, and Atlanta has been providing. What it "once was" was a much higher crime rate anyways.

    • @kaihsiangju
      @kaihsiangju 10 วันที่ผ่านมา

      It's boring, but the economy is fairly well, and the population increases. Downside is that the living cost is so pretty high

    • @sulevisydanmaa9981
      @sulevisydanmaa9981 3 วันที่ผ่านมา

      HOTLANTA burned down a looong time ago ..

    • @sulevisydanmaa9981
      @sulevisydanmaa9981 3 วันที่ผ่านมา

      A corporate Stonehenge is fireproof ...

  • @user-Jamie218
    @user-Jamie218 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

    that recessed highway near the riverfront is a perfect place for a deck park

  • @blackpanda7298
    @blackpanda7298 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +18

    I still think Cincinnati is a great city. It’s charming when you’re passing through on the I-75.

    • @BillMorse-jr2ou
      @BillMorse-jr2ou 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

      yeah, that’s the problem (smile)

  • @craigf3277
    @craigf3277 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    Population in 2024: ~329,303
    Population in 2019: ~313,986

  • @fischman26-China
    @fischman26-China 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +12

    In the 60s and 70s old time neighborhoods in Cincinnati with fantastic architecture were leveled and high rise low income housing replaced them only to be torn down later because of crime and maintenance issues. When inner city develops and raises real estate values, the inhabitants are economically forced to leave, moving their problems further out into the city and suburbs, where crime and decay increase. It's an endless cycle.

  • @WDWCentral
    @WDWCentral 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

    Architecture Student here: Those back streets provide car access and garbage collection to those houses, with this alleys the architects create an inviting front facade without the interference of cars, this is also down in other New Urbanist communities around the US

    • @dmnddog7417
      @dmnddog7417 18 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Yes, but it seemed like there was quite a bit of space given to those "back streets." They are not as narrow as Chicago's back alleys, for example.

    • @richardcypherrahl
      @richardcypherrahl 10 วันที่ผ่านมา

      That doesn't quite fit with the carefully constructed narrative, so it's not a surprise that it was overlooked.

    • @WDWCentral
      @WDWCentral 10 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      @@richardcypherrahl Nah…Technical stuff is hard to understand

  • @TheDutchMitchell
    @TheDutchMitchell 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +6

    this is so depressing! I hope someone can play this video at their city hall, force every legislator to watch this. Perhaps some good will come out of it..

    • @wordup897
      @wordup897 20 วันที่ผ่านมา

      You can't fix a problem using the same logic that created it.

  • @Miyelsh
    @Miyelsh 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

    I live in columbus, and it seems to have a different story than Cincinnati. Most of the urban highways are below grade or along rail lines and rivers, so not as much was destroyed to build them.
    I live in Southern Orchards, near German Village in the Southside, and it is very well preserved. My house was build in 1914 and I can walk or bike just about anywhere. It doesn't seem like as much was destroyed outside of downtown, compared to Cincinnati.

    • @diodelvino3048
      @diodelvino3048 13 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      Plus Cbus didnt die like the other C's. Its great to see how much progress is being made in the city

    • @bengriffin9830
      @bengriffin9830 9 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      One interesting thing about Cincy is that, because of the hilly topography, there are a lot of old walkable mini town centers in the other neighborhoods. This video focused on the urban core and the furthest-flung suburbs, but there’s a lot of preserved walkability in other parts of the city, fortunately.

  • @FailsafeZero
    @FailsafeZero 14 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    I look forward to your Kansas City video. I lived there for a couple of years and it seemed to me you could see the fossils of some ambitious urban planning here and there.

    • @sulevisydanmaa9981
      @sulevisydanmaa9981 3 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @FailsafeZero WENT TO 18TH & VINE July,86. Was a near ghetto. Just looked up the famous inters3ction from Maps : a miracle has happened : its clean & ...decent.
      Listen the song PINEY BROWN BLUES by BJT (=Big Joe Turner), so you ll reach its historicity in 30s jazz. Piney was a bartender legend in the joint where Basie, McShann, Bird and many others started. MARY LOU WILLIAMS, voc & p,

  • @DinoCon
    @DinoCon 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +9

    That montage filled me with so much anger and hatred, it brought tears.

  • @johnmortison5763
    @johnmortison5763 4 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Interesting video. I attended the University of Cincinnati in the 50s. Cincinnati was a somewhat rundown river town then. The riverfront was in decay and upper Vine St was an area that you didn't want to go. I am glad to see those areas redeveloped and a lot of the old ugly buildings removed. Your point that what replaced them may not be the best that could be had is probably valid. I'm glad that Union Station is still there. I have fond memories of train travel in and out of that beautiful building.

  • @hordeman8933
    @hordeman8933 17 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

    It's sad how every major US city looked like London less than 100 years ago. What World War 2 did to numerous cities in Europe, Americans did themselves, without a single air raid.

    • @tuckerchisholm9646
      @tuckerchisholm9646 13 วันที่ผ่านมา

      All of the firebombings and destruction of US cities were domestic. Riots all theoughout the 69s that burned hundreds of blocks in cities all across the country, never to be rebuilt. “White flight” happened bc the cities were being literally torn down, looted, and destroyed

  • @RevisitingHistoryChannel
    @RevisitingHistoryChannel 5 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Great video !

  • @lisasmith5422
    @lisasmith5422 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +9

    it's a sweet dream to rebuild what was destroyed - and I hope it comes true - but, is it realistic ? the materials - granite, marble, excellent wood etc - costs are exorbitant & then, there is the challenge of finding architects & craftmen able & willing to build such magnificent structures - let's face it, the way things are now - people aren't even able/willing to build residential houses / housing properly - materials & labor are just in a different stratosphere as far as costs now & the people who built these buildings had a deep sense of work ethics & pride - our current demographics just don't & that's just a fact - it's not going in a good direction either - it's so heartbreaking - in literally one lifetime - we've gone from wonderful to worthless 😔

    • @dmitripogosian5084
      @dmitripogosian5084 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

      That what it means getting poorer, as a society - you cannot afford what you could before

  • @chrisplacido4737
    @chrisplacido4737 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

    Most of the places in the world that are worth seeing have had better days before global capitalism

  • @aaronsmith9209
    @aaronsmith9209 17 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

    How was this possible? European and Japanese cities were literally destroyed in WW2 and were built back better then this. We lost a lot of beautiful architecture in Britain but thankfully only a small number of cities (Mainly Leeds, Glasgow and Coventry) built urban motorways, most are very walkable still. London and other cities saw fierce protests against motorways so thankfully plans were abandoned. As the end of the Planets of the Apes puts it, "you maniacs!, you blew it up!"

  • @user-tq2og9cw7q
    @user-tq2og9cw7q 7 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I will never travel to this citys, but watching your channel is a joy, you are a great teacher.

  • @zafarafay
    @zafarafay 19 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Amazing content brother!

  • @sissitop1505
    @sissitop1505 17 วันที่ผ่านมา +9

    In the United States there weren`t the so called 2 WW`s in that way like in Europe. But there was a silent war against the citiziens and their heritage. The so called "burnings and earthquakes", the so called "improvements and innovations" were horrible and destructive for the whole lands/states. It was planned and it was executed by the same people, who financed the war overseas in Europe and elsewhere. It`s important in my opinion that humans learn to distinguish between the executor and the financier for the executor. Great summary with great impressions of a formely great city on the earth.Greetings from Germany

    • @tn18977
      @tn18977 13 วันที่ผ่านมา

      It's the small hats

  • @theshireling
    @theshireling 14 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

    Ah my hometown. Even though I've seen these photos many times, it always shocks me to see the overhead shot of the urban basin before freeways. Such a beautiful, dense city to rival those in Europe destroyed in the name of 'progress'.

    • @dmitripogosian5084
      @dmitripogosian5084 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

      It is not in the name of progress, it is deindustrialization and loss of significance

  • @TenOrbital
    @TenOrbital 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

    Unbelievable.

  • @katyoutnabout5943
    @katyoutnabout5943 13 วันที่ผ่านมา

    amazing video. subbed ❤️

  • @bloodyfingers1
    @bloodyfingers1 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    Thank you for this video and series. FYI, 4:42 is Baltimore's Peabody Library.

    • @alexanderrotmensz
      @alexanderrotmensz  20 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      Noooo really? It took me so long to find what I thought was a high quality image of the floor of the Cincinnati library. The relief I had in finding that photo, and all for nothing :/ My apologies!

    • @bloodyfingers1
      @bloodyfingers1 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      @@alexanderrotmensz Yeah I live nearby and verified on the library website, but no worries! Its amazing that you found as many photos as you did.

  • @reidr7288
    @reidr7288 15 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

    The NIMBYs in my city prevented it from falling.

  • @aegisofhonor
    @aegisofhonor 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    It sort of looks like St. Louis, I'm shocked so few people compare the two cities, they are so similar in so many ways.

  • @FalconsEye58094
    @FalconsEye58094 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

    to think if these survived you may not even care to go to Europe for vacation, various US cities would be just as gorgeous

    • @Tobi-ln9xr
      @Tobi-ln9xr 11 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      Not really.
      Europe has cities which developed over 1000 years with several different architectural epochs.

  • @hewhowatchesthewatcher8711
    @hewhowatchesthewatcher8711 11 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    If Cincinnati fully built that subway in the past, perhaps it would be a different city.

  • @elorani1714
    @elorani1714 20 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Thank you for creating these. If the material is there, it would be interesting to see how this dynamic affected smaller cities too, like Gary, Indiana or Rochester, New York. Places that used to be small manufacturing centers, but never really recovered.
    Another option is looking at cities that have been so radically transformed by post-war development that in a sense, the 'old' form of the city has fallen. Like, how relevant is the pre-WWII downtown areas of LA or Houston or Dallas? Sure, these places haven't 'fallen' in the same way, but it could still be interesting to see how much of the old parts of the city were lost.

  • @FailsafeZero
    @FailsafeZero 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

    It really is amazing the effect the architecture and street layout has on culture.

  • @markfinkbeiner3034
    @markfinkbeiner3034 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Mid-20th century urban renewal has clearly been devastating to the American city. Sad to see so many beautiful structures gone in Cincinnati.

  • @erniekeller1093
    @erniekeller1093 7 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Boston came back from the brink when it demolished the Central Artery and built a tunnel. The highway was replaced by a string of parks that draw many visitors and locals.

  • @-Katastrophe
    @-Katastrophe 15 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

    That's what happens when people suddenly don't have to put up with 5 obnoxious neighbors making noise through their walls and floors all hours of the day or night and can go live somewhere better.

  • @carymarshallfelton9188
    @carymarshallfelton9188 15 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    A lot of those early wealthy developers that came to Florida, particularly Miami were either from Ohio or NYC.

  • @juliaesposito7359
    @juliaesposito7359 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Very interesting video thank you

  • @jonw999999
    @jonw999999 18 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Great video and series. So sad what was lost. Curious why the existing Baltimore George Peabody library is shown here with the demolished Cincinnati library? Its a similar design but comes across as being a lost Cincinnati building.

  • @joygeegemini9241
    @joygeegemini9241 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Grew up in Cincinnati & been living in Louisville for 24 years. Louisville has the same story in Cincinnati. Everything that happens in Cincinnati will eventually happen in Louisville.

  • @lupitamercado3675
    @lupitamercado3675 17 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Would love to see a series of revived cities !

  • @thomasmacdonough288
    @thomasmacdonough288 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    Have you ever read into Ogdensburg NY? In my opinion it is the most egregious fallen city in the US. Your last video on Buffalo, it is up northeast of it on the St Lawrence.
    It is a much smaller city, but unlike its larger contemporaries, its bustling downtown district was never rebuilt after its demise for "urban revitalization".
    I kid you not when I say its downtown district is just an empty multi-block parking lot. I think you may enjoy looking into it, even if it is not a big enough place to warrant a video.

  • @icetredotnet6473
    @icetredotnet6473 9 วันที่ผ่านมา

    That Library was beautiful. Wow.

  • @mor3nk74
    @mor3nk74 14 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    3:48 straight up crazy 😮

  • @gormenfreeman499
    @gormenfreeman499 4 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Suburbs are subsidized by a ponzi scheme. In Canada we tried building like this the past 40 years now, copying Americans, and its already failing. The cost of housing is getting too high as the asset Ponzi grows bigger and city budgets are stressed paying for infrastructure and their rising property taxes. But I don’t think America is far behind.

    • @dmitripogosian5084
      @dmitripogosian5084 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Somehow cost of housing rises in some Canadian cities more than in suburbs

  • @silla.1902
    @silla.1902 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    I've been watching this America's Fallen Cities series of yours and they look more depressing than most cemeteries.
    Is there an American city that is a good example of modernity + preservation?
    Hello from South America!

    • @wordup897
      @wordup897 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      I find cemeteries peaceful and beautiful. Whatever's after this, even if nothing, has got to be better than this manmade hellhole.

  • @Samtell
    @Samtell 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    FYI 4:41 is the Peabody Library in Baltimore.

  • @ameba9727
    @ameba9727 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    One question. I see in the photos that they are all old Cities had more beautiful but similar architecture between them. Is it my impression or did they seem like a lot?

    • @alexanderrotmensz
      @alexanderrotmensz  20 วันที่ผ่านมา

      There was certainly an American theme from city to city, although there were strong regional differences. It’s not as noticeable in the downtown but in the low rise neighborhood like north side, there is a more specific, local theme, and you see this in different cities
      across the country. Also, cities in California and Florida had a very different aesthetic. Most of these cities so far in this series are in the same general part of the US. Great question!

    • @ameba9727
      @ameba9727 18 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@alexanderrotmensz Thank you very much.

    • @geography_joe
      @geography_joe 10 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@alexanderrotmenszprops for knowing about northside. Cincy still has a lot of really cool spots, and thats definitely up there

  • @cmg1819
    @cmg1819 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

    As a UK person I feel like cincinatti is one of those cities that only exists in old black and white movies.

  • @terencegraham4518
    @terencegraham4518 15 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    I’m all for generously wide roads so I see no problem.
    Narrow roads, on the other hand, is just high blood pressure for a city.

  • @NCZoningStudio
    @NCZoningStudio 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

    🥲🥲🥲🥲 you’re doing good work

  • @MBT06
    @MBT06 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    I think you need to raise your mic volume. It is very hard to hear you, even on max volume.

  • @jatigre1
    @jatigre1 12 วันที่ผ่านมา

    As much as we'd like to hang on to those old buildings, a lot of them were not up to modern fire safety standards, so it was probably cheaper to tear it down and build new ones. And even the new ones now sit empty.

  • @gregorysouthworth783
    @gregorysouthworth783 15 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    It is sad to see legacy cities like Cincinnati falling into that post-WWII suburban development design. We can only hope that a reawakening can occur to recapture some of the positive aspects it once enjoyed. Living in Texas, there is little legacy left as most of the state's urban development came after WWII and they all, with tiny exceptions, exemplify the LA style, car-centric, and endless subdivision sprawl characteristics of the late 1900s. I do believe there is hope, however, as I believe there will be opportunities to "retrofit" many suburban style developments making them more walkable/bike-able, more nature focused and perhaps starting to resemble the old street car suburbs of yesteryear. The smarter local leaders are starting to see that it is in their interests to make this all happen.

  • @pandarosamusic5751
    @pandarosamusic5751 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

    3:44 That is a horrifying change. You'd think a bomb was dropped on the place.

  • @Abcxyzabcfhejfng
    @Abcxyzabcfhejfng 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

    This is amazing and sad. Can you do Detroit next? These are great videos.

  • @davidwayne68
    @davidwayne68 8 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Truth being hidden in plain sight! nice video, cheers

  • @ageoflove1980
    @ageoflove1980 4 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    What American urban planners seem to have completely overlooked is that a city is more than the sum of its parts. Because thats exactly what happened, they split everything in to parts. This could of course be done by the implementation of individual motorized transportation, but it never should have been done. Mixed zoning is what makes a city. When you leave your front door, you stroll to the grocery store, to the local bar or diner, to the local subway stop, whatever... And this natural occuring foot traffic is what makes the whole thing stick together like glue: Bustling, lively streets.
    The thing is, the signs were there all along. Just look at Disney World for example. For many the ultimate enjoyable enviroment: Huge pedestrian zones liked together by public transportation. And everybody loves it! Why do families spend $1000s to stay a week or in some cases even per day, in an apartment block. Because thats what a hotel is, even the most luxurious ones, take the bus to a park entrance or restaurant and never step foot in a car. While at the same time they dread the idea to live in such an enviroment... It just doesnt make sense...

    • @Plan73
      @Plan73 3 วันที่ผ่านมา

      It doesn't but it does, because this is the way a lot of americans sees a walkable city: a theme park, so not a "real" thing. Even when they go to Europe, all the historic centre look like a amusement park for them, not a real place with real people doing real things. It's sad.

  • @rkma
    @rkma 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

    You really took us to Rock Bottom with this one.

  • @BillMorse-jr2ou
    @BillMorse-jr2ou 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    a great, reflective look at how much we’ve sacrificed to the altar of cars and trucks… and I have owned many.
    My smaller hometown of New London, Connecticut thought it could bulldoze itself to prosperity and largely failed. Only the building of submarines is keeping the area afloat.
    if all goes well, “Lost New London” will be coming out in about 6 months through The History Press (Arcadia Publishing). Would like to give a plug for your “Fallen Cities” channel in the book, Alexander.
    all the best, Bill in Vermont

  • @richardbaker2701
    @richardbaker2701 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

    Never been to America but this is devastating

    • @richardcypherrahl
      @richardcypherrahl 10 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Well, that's because it's a lie.

  • @immaterialimmaterial5195
    @immaterialimmaterial5195 2 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    'They paved paradise and put up a parking lot'... How can you destroy such a beautiful and vibrant place? In its glory days it must have been stunning. Now look at it!!! It's architectural, social and cultural vandalism!

  • @alexe1563
    @alexe1563 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

    The before/after central station picture is shocking

  • @Nyalcoholic
    @Nyalcoholic 3 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Can you do a video on Binghamton/Endicott? I live here and we have had a saddening downfall since the 1900's

  • @charlieduross1940
    @charlieduross1940 13 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Do Dayton, Ohio next!

  • @timothymacdonnell9079
    @timothymacdonnell9079 11 วันที่ผ่านมา

    This has happened to so many American cities. It just boggles my mind.

  • @w3bgrl
    @w3bgrl 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    While I agree to a degree, and would love to have seen more of the famed industrial era buildings in CBD, OTR, and CUF kept, this video would have been waaaay more depressing between 1999-2010. It was a ghost town, with many buildings falling so far into disrepair, they had to be torn down. I think Cincinnati has done a pretty good job recently with its development, even if some of the newer architecture is ugly, better than having bricks falling off abandoned properties and empty storefronts. It could definitely do a much better job of creating and sustaining affordable housing, esp since they killed a well-written affordable housing measure a few years back. I'm really concerned now about the privatization of the RR. City leaders did not use foresight on that at all, as privatization has caused more RR accidents and issues as the deregulated train cos don't have to abide by rules that keep them more safe.

  • @ericvantassell6809
    @ericvantassell6809 วันที่ผ่านมา

    don't let cars hurt your feelings.

  • @Noah-jx8qw
    @Noah-jx8qw 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    Great video! It’s so important that we understand our history so we can rebuild it.

  • @MonsieurMoustachio
    @MonsieurMoustachio 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    You can for sure see the german influence in these old pictures

  • @nyc94
    @nyc94 18 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Thank God it have peoples with comon sens in power who protected some beautiful old buildings..

  • @kuripangui
    @kuripangui 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    That building at 2:43 is similar to the headquarter of Superfriends xD

    • @philsmgb4393
      @philsmgb4393 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      That is actually where they got the design for it.

  • @JokersAce0
    @JokersAce0 5 วันที่ผ่านมา

    It appears that the library is lost, though the second pic is from the library at John Hopkins university?

  • @NosebergEatzbugsVonShekelstein
    @NosebergEatzbugsVonShekelstein วันที่ผ่านมา

    Even if Cincinnati still had all those beautiful old buildings, it would still be Cincinnati... horrible weather, industrial pollution, crime, etc.... and people would still want to leave for places like Arizona and Florida.

  • @paulwild3676
    @paulwild3676 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    The Victorian architecture in the centre is very similar to Manchester in the U.K. Uncannily similar. Manchester is booming now, after it went from an industrial powerhouse to significant decline. Cincinnati can turn itself around I am sure.

    • @offan-
      @offan- 17 วันที่ผ่านมา

      cincinnati has actually been on the upswing recently and people living there generally have a good opinion of it. it has problems of course, but in general it's been moving in the right direction, albeit slowly. there's been some traffic calming efforts and investment in public transportation in the past few years with plans for more. there is the difficulty of reduced office building revenue due to wfh, but thats a common problem
      honestly this video in general feels like someone just reading numbers that has never actually been to the city. there's plenty more content of people discussing the city who have actually been there recently

  • @meeksvaughan1398
    @meeksvaughan1398 19 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I'm sensing a trend here, the great lakes slash rust belt

  • @daveweiss5647
    @daveweiss5647 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

    It makes me sick...what was done to American cities was a crime against humanity!

  • @jgerman5093
    @jgerman5093 18 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I really like your videos. What happened to Cincinnati and other Americans cities seem to follow a pattern. Ever considered a unifying theory as to why it occurred across the nation?

    • @alexanderrotmensz
      @alexanderrotmensz  18 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      Modernist ideology

    • @jgerman5093
      @jgerman5093 18 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @alexanderrotmensz fair enough. I have a theory of my own. Bear with me as it will initially sound fantastic. I think it has to do with leaded gasoline. I think planners knew well before the second World War that city smog had extremely negative effects on the population (there are very telling graphs that correlate leaded gasoline with crime in a way that's hard to simply explain away). I believe the solution they settled on was the open air spaces we refer to as the suburbs. All these highways through otherwise viable areas coupled with the deliberate creation of ghettos were designed to push the obstinate ethnic white city dweller to finally opt for the suburbs. I don't think it's an accident that cities were once again presented as viable after the problems caused by leaded gasoline abated in the early to mid 90s. Entire programs like Friends and Sex to the City beckoned the children of those who had left to the suburbs a generation or two earlier to return to the cities.