NYC's booming skyline….and Chicago (Manhattan, Brooklyn: apartments, renting, mortgages)

[edsg25]

why is that when I see all the many plans for new Manhattan skyscrapers that add both height and bulk to the city's skyline that my reaction, certainly in contrast to the world of this forum, is this: thank goodness Chicago is not New York.

With cities in Asia run rings around American cities (including New York and Chicago) in skyscraper growth and height and mind boggling high rise densities, I am glad my nation is not in a race with them. The idea of endless skyscrapers with endless height seemed like a much more successful thing when the US dominated the market and NYC was in a class by itself.

Now, it seems everything is over-the-top and any thought of city scale is disappearing in Manhattan (and undoubtedly in parts of Brooklyn and Queens across it on the East River where large scale development is also taking place).

If there is a race to the top, I'm so happy this time that Chicago is not taking part. We have a beautifully scaled city….huge, dramatic, and iconic skyscrapers, but ones that enhance the landscape, not overpower it. And past the skyline, our urban fabric is highly urban, but built to a human scale.

This is a battle that I for one happily concede to New York…..but have to wonder if that city knows WTF it is doing. Talk about too much of a good thing…..New Yorkers are destined to live in the narrow canyons of endless skyscrapers and being able to see the sky only by tilting their head to a 90°. Maybe that's great for others: for me, it's a vision from hell.

[Chicago60614]

The only reason it's not happening here now like it was 7 years ago is the economy here in the metro area and the state is trashed and struggling because of the mess we've gotten ourselves into.

[Gramercy]

I live in Manhattan and I also own property in Chicago. I have to agree. There's nothing like the Manhattan skyline...before all this recent building. I love the Chicago skyline and hope it doesn't go down the same road as what NY is currently doing (I suspect it will). I'm a fan of iconic and old, with new construction that complements the existing skyline. None of this race to the top mentality.

[Chicago76]

In emerging financial centers in the Middle East and Asia, it has become ridiculous. The vacancy rates are ridiculously high. Those things are exclusively vanity projects intended to demonstrate how wonderful things are in city X to the rest ofthe world.

Manhattan and NYC is scaled just fine. Housing is ridiculously expensive in NYC, and supply must be met. It has gotten to the point in NYC where even the portions of the upper middle class is being driven from the city. When a walk up in Bed-Stuy runs a million, you've got an affordability problem.

As long as NYC keep the new highrises to Manhattan; the waterfronts of Queens, Brooklyn and NJ; and limited clusters around places like downtown Brooklyn, it will look just fine.

If there was sufficient demand, Chicago could do the same more along the lakefront, along both sides of the river, and more inland in areas like the Near West Side and things would look fine and "scaled" here too.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by Gramercy

I live in Manhattan and I also own property in Chicago. I have to agree. There's nothing like the Manhattan skyline...before all this recent building. I love the Chicago skyline and hope it doesn't go down the same road as what NY is currently doing (I suspect it will). I'm a fan of iconic and old, with new construction that complements the existing skyline. None of this race to the top mentality.

I'm working in Manhattan now every week. I think the skyline depends on where you are looking from since NYC is so big and it's not necessarily FLAT like Chicago is. I still prefer Chicago's skyline actually.

By the way, Chicago still has the 3rd most buildings above 100 m of any city in the world. I think NYC and Tokyo are #1 and #2 respectively.

[JacksonPanther]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

The only reason it's not happening here now like it was 7 years ago is the economy here in the metro area and the state is trashed and struggling because of the mess we've gotten ourselves into.

Agreed. OP seems to think growth in Chi or NY is controlled by anything other than money. It's not. If Chi had the demand of NY you would see the same amount of skyscraper construction there as you do in NYC. Chi doesn't have the demand, because it doesn't have the job growth.

You want to see what happens in a city where high demand is blocked by anti growth policies? Check out the Boston forum, and weep over the people who can't afford to live in or even near that city. Simple one bedroom apartments for 2 grand - sheesh!

[marothisu]

NYC has probably the most projects of any city in the world right now, so I guess I don't see the massive point. Chicago has just as many projects going on now as Tokyo. Shanghai has a lot, but NYC even has more going on than Shanghai.

[chet everett]

Toronto!

Toronto Still Leads North America High-Rise Construction - Canada Real Time - WSJ

[Chicago76]

Originally Posted by chet everett

Toronto!

Toronto Still Leads North America High-Rise Construction - Canada Real Time - WSJ

And it's this way because: 1) they have no interest tax deduction on mortgages, which means people live on a smaller footprint to keep things more affordable and 2) smart growth and restrictive regional zoning policies, which curb sprawl.

[MassVt]

Originally Posted by JacksonPanther

Agreed. OP seems to think growth in Chi or NY is controlled by anything other than money. It's not. If Chi had the demand of NY you would see the same amount of skyscraper construction there as you do in NYC. Chi doesn't have the demand, because it doesn't have the job growth.

You want to see what happens in a city where high demand is blocked by anti growth policies? Check out the Boston forum, and weep over the people who can't afford to live in or even near that city. Simple one bedroom apartments for 2 grand - sheesh!

Yeah, this area is getting worse every year, either renting or buying. It has become a boutique city.