Quote:
Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas
As it is now, counting Block 1, The Bowie and the JW Marriott, we have 11 buildings over 400 feet. We already have more 400 footers than San Antonio and Fort Worth combined, and we could soon pass Dallas.
Here's the breakdown:
Houston - 54 over 400 feet - 21 actual 400 footers.
Dallas - 29 over 400 feet - 10 actual 400 footers.
Austin - 11 over 400 feet - 8 actual 400 footers.
Fort Worth - 6 over 400 feet - 3 actual 400 footers.
San Antonio - 4 over 400 feet - 4 actual 400 footers.
On top of the ones we already have, there are 10 more planned. Of those, 6 would be actual 400 footers. So the possibly exists that Austin could end up with 21 buildings over 400 feet with 18 of them being actual 400 footers. So we actually have planned as many 400 footers as Dallas has now. With the possibility of having 18 actual 400 footers, Austin could end up with as many actual 400 footers as Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio have combined plus one more - so throw in Corpus Christi, too. At that point, Houston would have just 3 more actual 400 footers than Austin does, and that is nuts.
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That's really interesting, but not entirely surprising. In general, taller buildings are more profitable. Unfortunately, local building requirements (FAR ratios, CVCs, affordably housing, parking requirements, etc) can shape the types of investments that are made. I'm not saying we shouldn't have design requirements, but we should be encouraging density, walkability, and affordability. The opportunity cost of what might have been built with better building codes is astounding. Sadly, the construction window is closing as we approach the next financial correction.