> I also agree with the author in that I'm not sure what elevated trains did to hurt people.

They're horrifically ugly for pedestrians and city life generally. If you've been around the elevated subway tracks in Brooklyn, for example, they're not pleasant to be around. They block out the sun, they're incredibly noisy, they make the street claustrophobic, they definitely become streets to avoid unless necessary.

Yes, they have a nice view if you're a passenger. But they make the city much, much worse for everyone below them.