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Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mutiny77
While the tallest building is a condo building, church steeples generally dominate the skyline of downtown Charleston, SC (which is why it is nicknamed "The Holy City"):
I immediately thought Charleston as soon as I saw the thread title.
Savannah and Charleston were the cities that came to mind. In Savannah, I think the Westin across the river from downtown is the tallest, but I'm not sure. I think both cities have laws that they can't build any structure that appears too tall or modern in their central areas, since they are historical districts.
I always thought Savannah's tallest structure was the steeple of Independent Presbyterian Church? Ot sure looks that way driving west toward downtown on Islands Expressway. There's a map somewhere on C-D that shows the height zoning map block by block for Savannah's Historic District. It's not a blanket "nothing taller than city hall" ordinance or anything like that. Basically, nothing can be built taller than what's there now -- if that makes any sense. Most all of the new construction in town over the past decade has been at the max height of 100 feet which translates into 8-9 stories for hotels and 6-7 for office buildings. There's a new federal office building under way right now on Ellis Square that's only 6 floors but actually taller than a condo next door with 8.
This link to a Savannah Morning New story somewhat explains the local ordinance which was passed in 1997 and recently amended to allow slightly taller buildings -- up to 14 stories -- around Johnson Square, in the heart of the district facing City Hall.
This doesn't rule out the future potential for super talls in downtown Savannah, however. There are no height restrictions across the river on Hutchinson Island where the 16-story Westin is located, and where several other tall buildings were proposed before the economy went bust.
I almost want to say Salt lake City, but I know that is not right. Salt Lake Temple in the square was the largest for many years but there are 4 or 5 taller office buildings in the city now.
The Cologne Cathedral could be considered the tallest in Cologne (pop 1,000,000) at 516ft if you don't include the antenna of their tallest office tower.
At 329 feet in height, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is the tallest building the city, 40 feet taller than the Capitol.
The National Shrine is also the largest Catholic Church in the country, too.
I believe East St. Louis, IL, has a fountain/geyser that shoots off to the height of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, which would make tied for the highest in a metro of almost 3 million (and the state of MO).
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