Just want to throw this out there.
They invented a thing a while back called....Money. If you don't have the money to build a high rise here, you can't build one. But say you have enough for the lot and enough to build a smaller development. You would still make a ton of money, and you lock down and own the lot, which can also be used for future development (Maybe you can even build it with the money you made from the first development
). Smart business move. Not purchasing the lot because you don't have enough money to build what architects and skyscraper fans want there....bad business move.
Long story short, if I had the opportunity to own a massive lot in Center City, and had enough to build something profitable there. I definitely would, regardless of what critics think. Maybe in 20 years, I will have accumulated enough to demo my own property and build the tower everyone wants to see. But it would be foolish to reject that opportunity solely for design or urbanity reasons. Foolish