MuddyYork recently blogged about an unfortunate property owner who was caught illegally chopping down trees thanks to Google Street View. 
According to reports, it looks like Google Street View is expanding to incorporate more of Canada on its street-level 3-D Google Earth satellite program. Google announced this month that it will soon be adding 130 more Canadian cities, and more remote locations like Nunavut will be added eventually. Until recently, only larger, more prominent Canadian cities and towns could be seen in the Street View application.
The Google car roams around Canada in the summer months, with a camera affixed to the top of it that captures all that it sees. Special privacy software blurs out faces and license plate numbers, but the camera can even pick up writing on street signs and storefronts.
One real estate agent in Prince Edward Island told CBC after the announcement that he was excited about Google Street View becoming available for the region. To some, it means being able to show potential buyers 360-degree views of the home, streets as well as nearby parks and amenities without even going anywhere. This could have the potential to make listings more relevant for out-of-town and even out-of-province buyers.
Unsubstantiated reports have also been circulating the internet as to whether Google might be planning on incorporating views of the insides of commercial and retail stores, a burglar’s dream that would show merchandise and floor plans. The reports come after a New York City storeowner said that someone from Google came in to their store to case – er, photograph the store for future Google Maps applications, taking shots of the store in every direction every few feet or so, potentially allowing users to “walk” about the store from their computer. Google has not yet commented publicly on whether they intend to add a “Store View” feature.
Heather Rose is a Toronto based Journalist, who is a regular contributor to the Muddy York Real Estate Blog. Heather website is located at heatherroseportfolio.squarespace.com.
