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I was interested in seeing of there are actually any logical reasons for keeping the height restrictions for the entire city instead of just the mall area. I can't think of any.
I CAN think of many shallow or emotional reasons. I can't think of any logical ones.
I was interested in seeing of there are actually any logical reasons for keeping the height restrictions for the entire city instead of just the mall area. I can't think of any.
I CAN think of many shallow or emotional reasons. I can't think of any logical ones.
There are none, and congrats on sky high rental rates.
As a resident of Alexandria who lives on a higher floor than could ever exist in DC (and has a great view because of it), I say keep the restrictions in place, it makes my unit that much more valuable and unique.
This may be off-topic since it is not a logical reason per se, but I would like to see the height restrictions retained in order to preserve DC's unique, European-like architecture.
I agree with PK12, you may consider my reasons to be shallow, although what people consider shallow is subjective, but one of the reasons I have stayed in the DC area my whole life is because it has a unique vibe to it. I have never been to a city in North America that has felt like Paris other than DC. And to be honest, no study has been shown that proves that raising height limits will lower rent. A majority of high rises end up being office space which would just mean more people having to commute into the city and creating more congestion. The only way to actually lower rent is to increase density, which can be done without raising the height limits.
Let Alexandria build the high rises. It's a wasteland already. Who wants a Rosslyn spread through the District.
Who wants DC to be a 100% gentrified, yuppie paradise where rents are so high that only high rollers are going to be able to afford? Certain parts of the city needs re-zoning so 10-11 floor apartments can be built. And other parts of the city can use a 20-30 story building. It won't hurt DC at all. 20-30 story apartment buildings would do great East of the River, if Arlington can do it Wards 7 and 8 can do without destroying anything. Some NIMBY-ism may come through but the wealth in Wards 7 and 8 isn't enough to do anything. The old Pepco plant should be re-created into a high-rise district and a infill metro station at River Terrace should be built to support it. Mixed income and mixed use of course but at least 50% should be affordable. Downtown's height limit should be increased to 200 feet and that's it.
Who wants DC to be a 100% gentrified, yuppie paradise where rents are so high that only high rollers are going to be able to afford? Certain parts of the city needs re-zoning so 10-11 floor apartments can be built. And other parts of the city can use a 20-30 story building. It won't hurt DC at all. 20-30 story apartment buildings would do great East of the River, if Arlington can do it Wards 7 and 8 can do without destroying anything. Some NIMBY-ism may come through but the wealth in Wards 7 and 8 isn't enough to do anything. The old Pepco plant should be re-created into a high-rise district and a infill metro station at River Terrace should be built to support it. Mixed income and mixed use of course but at least 50% should be affordable. Downtown's height limit should be increased to 200 feet and that's it.
If DC builds enough mid to high rises and tear down these garden style apartments I can see the rents lowering that is unless the demand stays the same or increases. Rents are cheaper EotR but even the demand EotR is high so why not build high rises over there and fill them up with affordable and workforce housing? Then all of the newly built high rises west of the river can be up to 50% affordable and workforce housing. This will keep lower income and the working and middle class in the city.
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