Photos taken by Google over the past decade show how drastically the NYC skyline has changed in just 9 years

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New York has one of the most iconic skylines in the world.

New York has one of the most iconic skylines in the world.
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Dozens of new skyscrapers are under construction at any given moment, meaning the same street corner could look completely different in just a matter of years.

Dozens of new skyscrapers are under construction at any given moment, meaning the same street corner could look completely different in just a matter of years.
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The rebuilt World Trade Center complex is located in Lower Manhattan's Financial District.

The rebuilt World Trade Center complex is located in Lower Manhattan's Financial District.

This is a street in FiDi back in 2009.

This is a street in FiDi back in 2009.
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Here's what it looks like now, after One World Trade Center was completed in 2013. At 1,776 feet, it's the tallest building in the United States.

Here's what it looks like now, after One World Trade Center was completed in 2013. At 1,776 feet, it's the tallest building in the United States.

Back in the Financial District, One World Trade isn't the only skyscraper to join the downtown skyline.

Back in the Financial District, One World Trade isn't the only skyscraper to join the downtown skyline.
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This is what part of the World Trade complex looked like back in 2013 …

This is what part of the World Trade complex looked like back in 2013 …

… and here's the same view earlier this year, after the completion of 3 World Trade Center.

… and here's the same view earlier this year, after the completion of 3 World Trade Center.
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A few blocks up the road on Murray Street, things are changing fast.

A few blocks up the road on Murray Street, things are changing fast.

This was what one stretch of Murray Street in Lower Manhattan looked like in 2016.

This was what one stretch of Murray Street in Lower Manhattan looked like in 2016.
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By February 2018, the luxury apartment building called 111 Murray Street topped out at 792 feet and 58 floors.

By February 2018, the luxury apartment building called 111 Murray Street topped out at 792 feet and 58 floors.

Midtown Manhattan is packed with several of the tallest buildings in the country.

Midtown Manhattan is packed with several of the tallest buildings in the country.
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This section of Midtown overlooking Central Park was already crowded in 2009.

This section of Midtown overlooking Central Park was already crowded in 2009.

Five years later, the area welcomed 432 Park, a luxury condo building that's the second-tallest skyscraper in New York.

Five years later, the area welcomed 432 Park, a luxury condo building that's the second-tallest skyscraper in New York.
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This is Hudson Yards, an industrial area on Manhattan's West Side overlooking the Hudson River.

This is Hudson Yards, an industrial area on Manhattan's West Side overlooking the Hudson River.

Back in 2011, there wasn't much to show for Hudson Yards.

Back in 2011, there wasn't much to show for Hudson Yards.
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Construction on a large-scale, 16-building real estate development began the next year. Here's what it looked like in 2017 …

Construction on a large-scale, 16-building real estate development began the next year. Here's what it looked like in 2017 …

… and here's what it looks like today. The tallest of the buildings, 30 Hudson Yards, topped out at 1,268 feet, surpassing the Empire State Building as the third tallest-building in New York.

… and here's what it looks like today. The tallest of the buildings, 30 Hudson Yards, topped out at 1,268 feet, surpassing the Empire State Building as the third tallest-building in New York.
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Not far from Hudson Yards, another building has added to the skyline.

Not far from Hudson Yards, another building has added to the skyline.

This block in Hell's Kitchen was fairly empty back in 2009.

This block in Hell's Kitchen was fairly empty back in 2009.
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Here's what it looks like ever since Sky, the biggest condo rental tower in New York, was finished in 2016. The building has nearly 1,200 apartment units.

Here's what it looks like ever since Sky, the biggest condo rental tower in New York, was finished in 2016. The building has nearly 1,200 apartment units.

Skyscrapers are a fairly new development in the Flatiron neighborhood.

Skyscrapers are a fairly new development in the Flatiron neighborhood.
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This was a typical scene on Flatiron's East 22nd Street back in 2011.

This was a typical scene on Flatiron's East 22nd Street back in 2011.

This photo from 2017 shows what the neighborhood looks like after Madison Square Park Tower was built.

This photo from 2017 shows what the neighborhood looks like after Madison Square Park Tower was built.
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Then there's One57, a luxury condo skyscraper built in Midtown near the base of Central Park.

Then there's One57, a luxury condo skyscraper built in Midtown near the base of Central Park.

Here's the same stretch in August 2018, after the completion of One57.

Here's the same stretch in August 2018, after the completion of One57.
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Here's a photo of West 57th Street from 2011.

Here's a photo of West 57th Street from 2011.

Now, skyscrapers are spreading beyond Manhattan. Across the East River in Brooklyn, there are some changes going on, too.

Now, skyscrapers are spreading beyond Manhattan. Across the East River in Brooklyn, there are some changes going on, too.
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In recent years, skyscrapers have been built in areas where tall buildings were once something of an anomaly. Here's what one corner of Downtown Brooklyn looked like in 2009 …

In recent years, skyscrapers have been built in areas where tall buildings were once something of an anomaly. Here's what one corner of Downtown Brooklyn looked like in 2009 …

… and here's a picture of the same corner in September 2018, three years after an apartment building known as "the Hub" was completed, becoming the tallest building in Brooklyn.

… and here's a picture of the same corner in September 2018, three years after an apartment building known as "the Hub" was completed, becoming the tallest building in Brooklyn.
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In the near future, the skyline of Queens could dramatically change as well. Over the next 10 years, Amazon will be building a 4-million-square-foot headquarters to accommodate thousands of workers in Long Island City. We don't know many details yet, but the construction project is expected to cost almost $4 billion.

In the near future, the skyline of Queens could dramatically change as well. Over the next 10 years, Amazon will be building a 4-million-square-foot headquarters to accommodate thousands of workers in Long Island City. We don't know many details yet, but the construction project is expected to cost almost $4 billion.
Read more about Amazon's planned HQ2 here »