How High is Too High in Washington, DC?

A major debate is going on right now in our nation's capital about whether or not they should start building skyscrapers. The US Capitol and Washington Monument still dominate the skyline of the city.

Those that favor the skyscrapers point out that there is a pressing need for more office space in the capital, something that has caused a huge growth in the outlying areas. Washington has the second-lowest vacancy rate and the second-highest office-space lease rates.

Those opposed to it say that the skyscrapers would destroy the capital city's character.

"Thomas Luebke of the US Commission of Fine Arts, the federal body charged with maintaining and overseeing the memorial core and the overall perception of the city said the architectural landscape is tied to it's role as the nation's capital. 'Washington's different, and it has a certain character that I think is quite unique.' "

Most people believe the rule of thumb as to a building's heighth in Washington, DC, is that it can't be any taller than the Capitol, and at one time that was true, but this was replaced in 1910 with a statute that said that no structure can be more than 20 feet taller than the street it occupies. I didn't know that.

I favor the no skyscrapers group. Imagine a Paris where the Eiffel Tower didn't dominate? It just wouldn't be right.

Some heights: The Capitol- 288 feet, Washington Monument- 555 feet, Sears Tower- 1,450 feet, and St. Louis Arch- 630 feet.

From July 4th Chicago Tribune "High ideals vs. high-rises" by Leora Falk, Washington Bureau.

Keep Those Buildings Low. --RoadDog