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El Paso has got to be one of the most outdated skylines. Only two of the top 20 were built after 2000, both non-prominent mid-rises. Little Rock is in the same boat but with less buildings, only two of the top 11 were built after 2000. Spokane WA is also a contender.
Peoria, IL
Last building at the forefront of its skyline was built in 1993. There's only one building in the planning phase, according to emporis(since I'm not a subscriber, I can't say for certain it's going to be a high-rise). There's actually a hotel that was built downtown back in 2014 but it's a little hidden and not at the forefront. For some reason, emporis classifies it as a low-rise, even though it's 10 floors. It's still the most postcard worthy skyline in downstate by a good margin, but it may see itself getting upstaged in a decade or two by its main competitor.
Meanwhile, Champaign is going through an Evanston-like urbanization in its cores(downtown and Campustown) and has just about caught up to Peoria in total number and another 6 buildings in planning phase and 1 currently under construction per emporis. https://www.emporis.com/city/103018/champaign-il-usa
Last edited by Chicagoland60426; 03-12-2021 at 01:29 AM..
Phoenix has the most underwhelming skyline/downtown I have seen for its metro size.
It looks like a city of 100,000. I know it has had some more development over the past 10 years focused around its downtown, but does it even have a building over 600 ft?
i'll leave off DC cause it's not a skyscraper city to begin with.
The texas cities seem to have built their tallest in the past. In Houston 9 of their 10 tallest buildings were built in the 70's and 80's with only one built in 2017. In their top 20 you get another 2 built in 2002 and 2011 - rest are 80s or earlier. Most of these other cities have been building big
In Dallas all of the top 10 are ancient. Only one of the top 25 tallest buildings was built in the past 30 years. Seems hard to believe, but I guess Dallas "wins"
Quote:
Originally Posted by rowhomecity
Phoenix has the most underwhelming skyline/downtown I have seen for its metro size.
It looks like a city of 100,000. I know it has had some more development over the past 10 years focused around its downtown, but does it even have a building over 600 ft?
Phoenix will finally be getting it's new tallest. Frankly, Phoenix never had a great skyline to begin with, but has made huge strides over the past few years with more to come. The FAA restrictions certainly didn't help. I think it's quite an exaggeration to state that it looks like a city of 100,000 when you look at midtown and downtown together.
Phoenix has the most underwhelming skyline/downtown I have seen for its metro size.
It looks like a city of 100,000. I know it has had some more development over the past 10 years focused around its downtown, but does it even have a building over 600 ft?
Downtown Phoenix is on a direct east/west approach from Sky Harbor which has limited it's height for years. There are 20 high rises in the downtown/uptown corridor along Central Ave that are over 300ft tall, with 6 being built since 2008. Another factor being the fanatical NIMBYism of native Arizonans who ran several developers looking to build taller structures out of town while I lived there during the 2000's. I am hoping that since I've moved the number of transplants moving in have diluted their bat (bleep) crazy reactive BANANA's attitude about height.
That said this thread is about skylines that are outdated, not underwhelming. Phoenix isn't really on an island concerning it's lack of height. Mountain West cities in general suffer a sort of "dwarfism" when it comes to skylines. San Diego, San Jose, Sacremento, Tucson, Colorado Springs, even SLC and Boise have fairly squat uninspiring skylines.
Though I'd argue saying Phoenix's skyline looks like a city of 100,000 is painfully hyperbolic. I'll take you to a few cities of 100,000 you will not mistake them for Phoenix I promise.
(FYI BANANA's is an acronym for extreme NIMBY's = Build Absolutely Notning Anywhere Near Anything)
Phoenix will finally be getting it's new tallest. Frankly, Phoenix never had a great skyline to begin with, but has made huge strides over the past few years with more to come. The FAA restrictions certainly didn't help. I think it's quite an exaggeration to state that it looks like a city of 100,000 when you look at midtown and downtown together.
Yeah, Phoenix has always embraced a "lower rise" skyline, due to the stunning desert mountain geography close by. Plus, the Sky Harbor International Airport is so close to downtown, it's tricky and too many hoops to jump, in order to build one over 400 feet.
But Phoenix for sure does not belong in the category of "outdated skyline." They've been building 15-20ish story towers for years. Their infill has been coming along nicely over the past few decades.
I'll be excited to see if the new "tallest" skyscraper is built. Downtown Phoenix really does need 2 or 3 skyscrapers in the 500-700 foot range. Then, it would bring the skyline up to par more so, in line with the city and metro populations (1.7 million city and 5 million metro).
The Gateway Arch is pretty much the reason that the rest of St. Louis’ skyline consists of buildings under 600 feet tall. Nobody really wants to try and upstage the iconic Arch. It’s so unique and impressive, it belongs in the forefront, the main focus of the skyline.
Yeah, I get that.
Downtown St Louis though could use some more density of buildings in the 15 to 30 story range--they need another 10-15 or so, to really make the downtown in line with its population. For a metro of 2.8 million, the city has just a so-so, "ok" skyline downtown.
Phoenix is not the only city with an airport close to its core. NYC, PHL, BOS all have airports fairly close to its downtown similar to Phoenix skyharbor.
With that, the tallest building in Phoenix is the Chase tower, built back in 1972 and it is 482 ft tall, which is underwhelming for a metro size as large as Phoenix.
As a metro comparison, Pittsburgh has had newer and taller buildings built in the past 5 years. (which is smaller than Phoenix).
So yes, I would qualify Phoenix skyline as outdated overall given its size.
Does Phoenix not have newer towers in its core, even if not taller than the one you mentioned? Did all that growth happen in outer office parks and edge cities?
Of course it does. Mr. rowhomecity is choosing to disregard previous statements and perhaps appears to have an obsession with height vs. density which is happening in downtown PHX. As density continues to fill empty parcels, more height will come.
Recently Completed:
The Link - 350 (198) 30 Residential 2019 Downtown
The Stewart 242 (74) 19 Residential 2019 Downtown
The Ryan 210 (64) 17 Residential 2020 Downtown
Currently under construction:
Here PHX 304 (93) 27 Residential 2021 Downtown
The Adeline 291 (89) 25 Residential 2021 Downtown
Skye on 6th 285 (87) 26 Residential 2022 Downtown
Society Phoenix 269 (82) 20 Residential 2021 Downtown
Kenect Phoenix 249 (76) 24 Residential 2021 Downtown
Derby 240 (73) 21 Residential 2022 Downtown
Aspire Fillmore 240 (73) 17 Residential 2022 Downtown
Approved:
Astra (Tower 1) 535 (163) 47 Mixed-use 2024 Downtown
Astra (Tower 2) 380 (116) 30 Mixed-use 2024 Downtown
Central Station (Tower 1) 360 (110) 32 Residential/Office 2023 Downtown
Palm Court Tower 292 (89) 27 Residential 2023 Downtown
The Blue 250 (76) 22 Residential/Hotel 2024 Downtown
The Edith 211 (64) 19 Hotel 2023 Downtown
Central Station (Tower 2) 200 (61) 22 Student resid/Office 2023 Downtown
Proposed:
Jefferson Place 350 (107) 29 Residential Downtown
McKinley Green 255 (78) 23 Residential Downtown
Moon Tower 250 (76) 22 Student residential Downtown
Link PHX III 250 (76) 19 Residential Downtown
X Phoenix Basecamp 244 (74) 19 Residential Downtown
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It's still the most postcard worthy skyline in downstate by a good margin, but it may see itself getting upstaged in a decade or two by its main competitor. 
