Indys stagnet skyline. (Carmel, Washington, Riley: for sale, to rent, condos)

[Atlanta Scientist]

Originally Posted by Justabystander

You cannot compare Seattle with Indianapolis. Seattle has geographic limitations such as the Puget Sound and a hilly topography, Indy is a huge flat area that doesn't really need the density that Bellevue has.

Atlanta doesn't have any physical constraints and has still managed to build almost four distinct skylines. Atlanta isn't really that dense by any measure either.

[W & C]

Originally Posted by Atlanta Scientist

Atlanta doesn't have any physical constraints and has still managed to build almost four distinct skylines. Atlanta isn't really that dense by any measure either.

I think it's at least partially cultural - as in there isn't a great deal of demand for vertical residential living in Indy.

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by Atlanta Scientist

Atlanta doesn't have any physical constraints and has still managed to build almost four distinct skylines. Atlanta isn't really that dense by any measure either.

Originally Posted by W & C

I think it's at least partially cultural - as in there isn't a great deal of demand for vertical residential living in Indy.

Metro Atlanta is triple the population of Metro Indianapolis. To be honest, I'm not even sure how you build "almost 4" distinct skylines. Either you have 4 or you don't.

Furthermore, unless those 4 skylines are all residential, I don't think a lack of desire for living in a tall building is the primary culprit. We don't have a ton of tall residential, but what we do have is in high demand and hard to get. Obviously there is some appetite for it.

[indy_317]

Originally Posted by W & C

Whereas people with money in Indy often prefer to live in a 5,500 sq. foot mansion in Carmel, people w/ money in Bellevue often prefer to live in an 700 sq. foot unit inside a vertical glassbox with a view of Seattle skyline, Lake Washington and mountains.

I don't think most people were given a choice here in the metro area. By and far the only thing really offered in the burbs were single family homes. A few doubles here and there, and I actually see more doubles now in the area I grew up. Going back two decades, the only high rise living I can recall being in the downtown area were the Riley Towers, and maybe Lugar Tower (if it wasn't subsidized back then). There are a few places along Meridian Street, but they were too far north in my opinion. I don't think anything was actually for sale in any of these properties, only for-rent, which many people won't want to rent for decades because that would really be just throwing away money.

It is nice to see some of the newer places being sold as condos, but I can't believe people are actually paying what they are asking.

[W & C]

Originally Posted by indy_317

I don't think most people were given a choice here in the metro area. By and far the only thing really offered in the burbs were single family homes. A few doubles here and there, and I actually see more doubles now in the area I grew up. Going back two decades, the only high rise living I can recall being in the downtown area were the Riley Towers, and maybe Lugar Tower (if it wasn't subsidized back then). There are a few places along Meridian Street, but they were too far north in my opinion. I don't think anything was actually for sale in any of these properties, only for-rent, which many people won't want to rent for decades because that would really be just throwing away money.

It is nice to see some of the newer places being sold as condos, but I can't believe people are actually paying what they are asking.

You kinda alluded to that in the post that I was responded to when you said that people's desire to live a ways out of downtown was a factor in the sprawl. So I would say demand is one of the factors (obviously, not the only factor) in why any metro area looks a certain way.

And I think now there's an upwards trend, literally and figuratively. in the desire for urban living which is why you're seeing these condos being sold for such premium. Even in Carmel, I think there's a bit of a trend for more compact homes - certainly not highrisers, but townhomes and smaller condos instead of mcmansions. I could be wrong though, have not been there in a few years.