Washington high-rise district

Simfan34 · November 17th, 2010, 05:12 AM

I was in the shower today thinking, for no apparent reason, "what if Washington had a high-rise district?" like La Defense or Canary Wharf? Of course, with the economy in the dumps, this isn't likely to happen soon. But if it did, where would it go? It would have to be outside the city, so where? Could they attract any companies?

Just a conceptual vision.

micrip · November 17th, 2010, 08:05 AM

I know there are hieght restrictions in the District itself. That's why DC buildings are so wide..to get as much floor space as possible into the footprint.

Even in Arlington there is nothing of impressive hieght. From a distance it looks like you can jump from one rooftop to another. The proximity of Reagan National probably has something to do with that.

Mirage52 · November 17th, 2010, 04:54 PM

I always thought that no building could be higher than the Washington Monument.

Anyways, I like that DC has no highrises.

Revaldi · November 19th, 2010, 10:22 PM

I don't mind if Washington does not have hight-rises, but am definatly against building the anywhere close to the national mall. The grand master plan of the mall is not completed yet and it would be a shame to have L'Enfant's great achievement spoiled.
We should restict the city's tallest buildings to a few concentrated districts, the is much much more land in Washington than the mall and room for two, three, and maybe even four skylines! We should also take "La Defense" in Paris as an example.

Mirage52 · November 19th, 2010, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revaldi

I don't mind if Washington does not have hight-rises, but am definatly against building the anywhere close to the national mall. The grand master plan of the mall is not completed yet and it would be a shame to have L'Enfant's great achievement spoiled.
We should restict the city's tallest buildings to a few concentrated districts, the is much much more land in Washington than the mall and room for two, three, and maybe even four skylines! We should also take "La Defense" in Paris as an example.

Yeah, I can get with that. Most historical European cities have their newer CBD's built outside of the historic city center, and I like that.

But in DC it already kind of exists in NoVa. It's just a unique case with DC being a city-state and having its CBD in another state, and thus losing the tax base.

Tiger Beer · December 30th, 2010, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revaldi

I don't mind if Washington does not have hight-rises, but am definatly against building the anywhere close to the national mall. The grand master plan of the mall is not completed yet and it would be a shame to have L'Enfant's great achievement spoiled.
We should restict the city's tallest buildings to a few concentrated districts, the is much much more land in Washington than the mall and room for two, three, and maybe even four skylines! We should also take "La Defense" in Paris as an example.

What was the master plan for it?

Oswaldo208 · March 20th, 2011, 10:22 AM

yop3288 · November 17th, 2010, 05:44 PM

There's an equation to figure out the maximum height you can go. It's based on the distance to the building on the other side of the street, I think. If you are on a wider street or if you set your building back away from sidewalk, you can go taller. But of course you lose floor space that way, so in practice we usually end up with shorter, wider buildings.

It's nice to have sunshine when you're walking around in the middle of a major city.

Tricia_Lvs_Baltimore · November 17th, 2010, 06:44 PM

Wasington, D.C. actually has a high-rise district? This is a joke, right? LOL

Ty Doggie · December 16th, 2010, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tricia_Lvs_Baltimore

Wasington, D.C. actually has a high-rise district? This is a joke, right? LOL

It would have to be.

hpal3 · November 17th, 2010, 09:26 PM

Rosslyn is as close as it comes to a "highrise district". If there were no limits to building heights in DC proper, you would see 800'-1000' towers and I would bet on that.

Infoman · November 18th, 2010, 01:34 AM

Agreed

And I do too like that D.C. has no high-rises.

If I'm not mistaken someone tried to build a high-rise (I believe over 800 ft, and 60 floors) where National Harbor is now but it got shot down due to plane's flying over the area.
I think they should move the restrictions up from 15 (I think that's the max for D.C.) to about 20 though for future purposes. But that's just me.

yamota · November 18th, 2010, 02:12 AM

The problem with cities with skyscrapers is they try to hard to be New York, but they will never ever be New York so why even try? It just reeks of skyline envy if you ask me.

uptn1bx2hrlm5blyn · November 18th, 2010, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yamota

The problem with cities with skyscrapers is they try to hard to be New York, but they will never ever be New York so why even try? It just reeks of skyline envy if you ask me.

Thats your opinion....

Just because other Major Cities have skyscrapers does not mean that they are trying to copy New York........

yamota · November 19th, 2010, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uptn1bx2hrlm5blyn

Thats your opinion....

Just because other Major Cities have skyscrapers does not mean that they are trying to copy New York........

of course they are, if not directly, then subconsciously

en1044 · November 20th, 2010, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yamota

of course they are, if not directly, then subconsciously

No.

ValenciaSon · November 21st, 2010, 04:20 AM

So I was in the shower and I was thinking, what if DC's buildings had a width limit?

indiethinker · December 28th, 2010, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yamota

The problem with cities with skyscrapers is they try to hard to be New York, but they will never ever be New York so why even try? It just reeks of skyline envy if you ask me.

So no other city besides NY should have skyscrapers?

I don't get that line of thinking at all.

Its the kind of thinking that holds DC back from being all it can be.

BTW, Tokyo, Dubai, Shanghai are just as good and maybe even better than NY. So NY isn't unbeatable.

micrip · December 28th, 2010, 08:49 AM

DC is unique in this country for a city of its size. The monumental buildings, such as the Capitol, should always be the most prominent. Skyscrapers anywhere near downtown would be like tits on a bull.

jam5 · November 18th, 2010, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simfan34

I was in the shower today thinking, for no apparent reason, "what if Washington had a high-rise district?" like La Defense or Canary Wharf? Of course, with the economy in the dumps, this isn't likely to happen soon. But if it did, where would it go? It would have to be outside the city, so where? Could they attract any companies?

Just a conceptual vision.

Anacostia would be a great location for such a district. God knows it needs one...

November 17th, 2010, 08:05 AM	#2
micrip Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Baltimore Posts: 2,436 Likes (Received): 13	I know there are hieght restrictions in the District itself. That's why DC buildings are so wide..to get as much floor space as possible into the footprint. Even in Arlington there is nothing of impressive hieght. From a distance it looks like you can jump from one rooftop to another. The proximity of Reagan National probably has something to do with that. __________________ Ham and eggs... A day's work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment for a pig

November 19th, 2010, 10:22 PM	#4
Revaldi Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Peculiar, Missouri Posts: 1 Likes (Received): 0	I don't mind if Washington does not have hight-rises, but am definatly against building the anywhere close to the national mall. The grand master plan of the mall is not completed yet and it would be a shame to have L'Enfant's great achievement spoiled. We should restict the city's tallest buildings to a few concentrated districts, the is much much more land in Washington than the mall and room for two, three, and maybe even four skylines! We should also take "La Defense" in Paris as an example. Last edited by Revaldi; November 19th, 2010 at 10:28 PM. Reason: Idea from another member.

March 20th, 2011, 10:22 AM	#7
Oswaldo208 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Caracas Posts: 85 Likes (Received): 0	Washington DC of future! __________________ gut

November 17th, 2010, 06:44 PM	#9
Tricia_Lvs_Baltimore Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Baltimore Posts: 1,234 Likes (Received): 10	Wasington, D.C. actually has a high-rise district? This is a joke, right? LOL __________________ Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Founded 1908. The First and Always The Finest

November 17th, 2010, 09:26 PM	#11
hpal3 10 IH is dead Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Columbia, MD. Posts: 2,062 Likes (Received): 16	Rosslyn is as close as it comes to a "highrise district". If there were no limits to building heights in DC proper, you would see 800'-1000' towers and I would bet on that. Last edited by hpal3; November 18th, 2010 at 03:19 AM.

November 17th, 2010, 04:54 PM	#3
Mirage52 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Baltimore via Frederick Posts: 587 Likes (Received): 9	I always thought that no building could be higher than the Washington Monument. Anyways, I like that DC has no highrises.

November 17th, 2010, 05:44 PM	#8
yop3288 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 13 Likes (Received): 0	There's an equation to figure out the maximum height you can go. It's based on the distance to the building on the other side of the street, I think. If you are on a wider street or if you set your building back away from sidewalk, you can go taller. But of course you lose floor space that way, so in practice we usually end up with shorter, wider buildings. It's nice to have sunshine when you're walking around in the middle of a major city.

November 18th, 2010, 01:34 AM	#12
Infoman /BMOREBOY Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Greenville Posts: 2,957 Likes (Received): 5	Agreed And I do too like that D.C. has no high-rises. If I'm not mistaken someone tried to build a high-rise (I believe over 800 ft, and 60 floors) where National Harbor is now but it got shot down due to plane's flying over the area. I think they should move the restrictions up from 15 (I think that's the max for D.C.) to about 20 though for future purposes. But that's just me. __________________ -Infoman/BMOREBOY

November 18th, 2010, 02:12 AM	#13
yamota Chairman of the Bored Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 774 Likes (Received): 1	The problem with cities with skyscrapers is they try to hard to be New York, but they will never ever be New York so why even try? It just reeks of skyline envy if you ask me.

November 21st, 2010, 04:20 AM	#17
ValenciaSon Neoyorquino, non Català! Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 69 Likes (Received): 0	So I was in the shower and I was thinking, what if DC's buildings had a width limit? __________________ ValenciaSon

December 28th, 2010, 08:49 AM	#19
micrip Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Baltimore Posts: 2,436 Likes (Received): 13	DC is unique in this country for a city of its size. The monumental buildings, such as the Capitol, should always be the most prominent. Skyscrapers anywhere near downtown would be like tits on a bull. __________________ Ham and eggs... A day's work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment for a pig

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