Quote:
Originally Posted by pseudolus
I actually think this is a good question.
For example, see "The Manhattan Skyline: Why are there no tall skyscrapers between Midtown and Downtown?"
https://blog.epa.gov/blog/2015/07/th...-and-downtown/
There are other locations downtown where bedrock is much closer to the surface; Rincon Hill is an obvious example. So why are the sites zoned for the tallest buildings at this spot, requiring expensive 300 foot deep caissons? Is it to sculpt the skyline to look pretty from Treasure Island? To enable wayfinding to the Transbay Terminal? To maximize revenue to the Transbay JPA?
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Probably because this area south of market was available and underused (or used to be a freeway) and is close to transit. A lot of downtown is built-out, so their options were kinda limited. Where else would you even build these buildings?
I actually have a
pretty nice book on skyscraper construction (I'm sure other people here would like it too). As it so nicely points out, you can build a skyscraper almost anywhere ... if you're willing to pay for and do the foundation work required. I'd imagine they try and build on bedrock in Manhattan when they can, zoning aside, because it's probably cheaper.