Is it Time for Washington to Develop a Skyline? (co-op, buy)

[ffknight918]

Originally Posted by 14thandYou

Capitol Building or soulless 40 story office tower?

Hmmm...that's tough.

Agreed. How many other places in the US have that European type skyline that DC has? Not many. I think it's gorgeous. You want tall buildings? All you have to do is look across the river into Rosslyn. I think that actually looks pretty nice. You have the nice and unique city of DC, but have the skyscrapers in the background. Kind of get the best of both worlds. Like others suggested, skyscrapers in Upper NE DC wouldn't be bad. I personally think these old rowhomes look so much nicer than huge apartment buildings, but in the outer edges of DC, it doesn't matter as much.

[dcnative75]

To those of you opposed to ever relaxing the height restrictions, what are your alternative suggestions on how to mitigate this region's horrific urban sprawl issues? Eventually if the traffic becomes so congested and housing prices become so unattainable in the region...

Housing prices unattainable in the region? I can't even count the number of houses in my neighborhood available and affordable for you to move into, all you would need is a little Home Depot help.

There is so much more sprawl that can occur in DC before you need to worry about building up, it's not even funny. Just because people are scared to move one block too far East from Logan Circle does not mean there isn't affordable housing in DC.

People need to stop being scared of moving a few inches outside their comfort zone...a.k.a. building upwards in the "safe" areas...and work together to make their neighborhoods nicer.

When the whole city is as safe and cozy as Georgetown, I will be happy to revisit this issue.

[FlyiMetro]

Very interesting topic. I never knew DC had restriction. Maybe some park n rides in VA & Maryland would help the situation. There are way too many cars on the roads....plus maybe Metrorail should be expanded a bit.

[stars99]

I don't know if skyline density would make any difference. What I've never understood is why the city didn't use eminent domain to remove 16th street and put a super highway there instead, leading from Maryland to downtown. That would relieve so many problems.

[Nat of the ATL]

Washington D.C needs skyscrapers. It is that simple. The zoning laws make it seem like D.C is in Europe. In fact, Europe is better than D.C.

[DCSailor]

Originally Posted by OrlandoRE_Miracle

I don't know if skyline density would make any difference. What I've never understood is why the city didn't use eminent domain to remove 16th street and put a super highway there instead, leading from Maryland to downtown. That would relieve so many problems.

Actually the relief would come from putting a toll booth at the intersection of 16th street and Eastern Avenue. Charge $20 to pass south.

[Bluefly]

Originally Posted by OrlandoRE_Miracle

I don't know if skyline density would make any difference. What I've never understood is why the city didn't use eminent domain to remove 16th street and put a super highway there instead, leading from Maryland to downtown. That would relieve so many problems.

Oh my. That's perhaps the most dangerous suggestion I've ever heard! City planners learned the hard way that plowing highways through cities was the worst idea they ever had.

[stars99]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

Oh my. That's perhaps the most dangerous suggestion I've ever heard! City planners learned the hard way that plowing highways through cities was the worst idea they ever had.

Well, having no highways leading into a city doesn't work too well either. Between all those circles and the lack of even one highway coming into the city to relieve congestion, DC has the the most dysfunctional road system in our nation. It's time for DC to decide whether it wants to continue stifling development in favor of quaintness.

[stars99]

I was thinking about it, and I've come up with a series of steps the city of DC must take soon if it wants to become a world class business center. Otherwise, it will continue to be like some quaint prehistoric insect trapped in amber in a museum while some edge city in VA or MD overtakes it:

1. At least one real highway going into the city that can handle a large volume of traffic and ease congestion.

2. Metro is better than it used to be, but it's still more of a showpiece than an efficient public transportation system. It needs to make the following changes:
a. hire more elevator repairman so that elevators not constantly broken
b. tear out seats and put just two rows of seats facing each other, to fit more passengers on trains
c. Dump the current pricing system. Raise the price and have just one price for any trip. This will make things so much simpler, and cut down the queues at the machines. The current system is too confusing for tourists.
d. Create a new metro card that's more durable and doesn't get demagnetized as easily.
e. Create more metro stops. There needs to be at least a stop in Georgetown and palisade.
f. Change the card system so that you only need to put the card in once, when you enter the system.
g. Improved safety training so that there are less train crashes and other incidents.
h. connect the suburban metro stops to each other better. You should be able to take the metro from silver spring to nearby bethesda without riding through 30 stops first.

3. Improve customer service. Right now too many employees with a surly attitude at stores, and generally slow service. Customer service in DC needs to be brought up to the level of the rest of the country.

4. Experiment with removing the building height restriction in just one area of the city to see how it goes.

[FordPony90]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

Oh my. That's perhaps the most dangerous suggestion I've ever heard! City planners learned the hard way that plowing highways through cities was the worst idea they ever had.

Indeed. Look what it did to the Bronx.