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London Skyline. CC image from Elliot Brown. One dynamic that comes up in DC’s height limit debates is the tension between gains and losses, impacts on the city and benefits to it. New development can clearly add value, but the question is if that value is a mere ‘give-away to developers’ or if citizens (the Continue reading More on height limit trade-offs – listening skeptically, reaching resolution DC skyline. CC image from James Calder Continuing on the discussion of DC’s height limit (and potential changes to it), I wanted to take note of a few more articles on the subject. George Mason law professor David Schleicher (he of land-use law and procedure fame) asks height limit proponents six basic questions, all of which Continue reading DC height limit trade-offs, part 2 The Cairo. CC image from NCinDC. Following up on some of the trade-offs mentioned at the end of the previous post on DC’s height act. In the discussion of Kaid Benfield’s piece supporting DC’s height limit, several comments are worth highlighting. First, Payton Chung notes the need to discuss more than just supply, but to also Continue reading Height limit trade-offs DC Skyline. CC image from Ed Uthman. DC’s lack of tall buildings is certainly one of it’s defining characteristics. Given our human tendencies to be loss averse, to embrace the status quo, it shouldn’t be a surprise that changing such a characteristic can be shocking to some. I’ve written on the height limit before, as have Continue reading Bad reasons to support DC’s Height Act CC image from Seth Waite One more round on density – this time focusing on affordability via the tangentially related prospect of innovative and creative economies. Richard Florida chimed in at The Atlantic Cities, asking this: Stop and think for a moment: What kind of environments spur new innovation, start-ups and high-tech industries? Can you name one Continue reading Urban density and innovation Ryan Avent, writing at Architect Magazine, takes a look at the recently floated idea of putting a Redskins practice facility at Reservation 13 in DC. One of the reasons for the backlash against the idea was the opportunity cost of a metro-adjacent, develop-able site (a scarce enough commodity in DC) lying fallow for the purposes Continue reading Density helps provide public benefits DC Zoning Map – CC image from Payton Chung Every so often (just as we’re seeing right now), someone will suggest changing DC’s height limit and a flurry of articles/blog posts/tweets/etc will go up, arguing for or against. This past week has been no exception. Zoning and process: At the Atlantic, Josh Barro argues that the height Continue reading Height and zoning links With both city leaders and members of Congress discussing alterations to DC’s height limit, I think there are a few things worth highlighting. These are just some thoughts on what I think are the core issues here, and how DC might proceed. Why do this? The compelling reason must be economic, and the reasoning behind this Continue reading Thoughts on changing DC’s height limit dc cranescape – CC image from yawper A common theme is emerging among those thinking and writing about cities, from Ryan Avent to Ed Glaeser to Paul Krugman – our land use controls have stunted growth in our developed and productive areas – our cities. So, a simple fix would be to just allow more Continue reading Institutional hurdles to dense infill development Chicago skyline CC image from 1′UP on flickr Several friends have pointed me to this Atlantic piece by Ed Glaeser on the power of skyscrapers and density in shaping the city, and the role cities play in our economy. Some snippets: On the micromanagement of zoning codes: New York slowed its construction of skyscrapers after 1933, and its Continue reading The power of skyscrapers |
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