Iconic New York City Instagram Shot is About to be Ruined
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Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash
Instagram photographers, social media influencers, and boyfriends looking to pop the big question may only have a few years to plan a trip to snap one of the most famous views of the Empire State Building before developers ruin it.
The iconic view, located in the ritziest part of Brooklyn, features the Empire State Building looming in the distance, the Manhattan Bridge, and two red brick apartment buildings to frame your shot.
Flipping through photos tagged in Dumbo, Brooklyn on Instagram leads you down a hole of marriage proposal after glamour shot after marriage proposal, nearly all of them in front of the view on Washington Street. The same view which has been featured in classic New York movies dating back to the 80s.
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The announcement came in late November when a Brooklyn Paper reported a group of developers submitted a proposal for four new high-rises, a proposal that will never reach the community if the City Planning Commission approves it.
While citizens of the neighborhood have been protesting the proposal for months, the proposal calls into question the latest issue for photographers (especially those who prominently feature their work on social media sites), what should cities do to protect “view sheds?”
Photo by John Arano on Unsplash
View sheds, according to a preservationist group in New York, are picturesque blocks like the one in Dumbo, and do not get enough attention during the bureaucratic process of getting permission to build new apartments.
The only other protected view shed in New York City is one from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, according to the Brooklyn Paper, and it is at risk of being destroyed with an update to the city’s transportation system.
As of now, the Planning Commission does not have a date for the vote. However, considering how much the New York City skyline has changed over the years, it might be your safest bet to book your ticket now.