Looking at OKC on Google Maps, it's got a very dense core with a few large highrises, and then right next to that single storey buildings and car parks, and then literally three blocks away from the city centre in the Sosa district are totally empty lots.
What's the cause of this? The houses next to them look like they're in good condition, with new cars out the front - it doesn't look like something out of The Wire. Surely the land price isn't being artificially depressed by high crime. On Zillow the land itself looks like $300k, with $900k-$1.2m houses next to it.
Wouldn't it be more economically viable to build 3-4 storey buildings on these empty lots (or even just single family houses - there would have to be a premium on being closer to work) first, before building a giant skyscraper?
I once went to a talk by an SOM architect (SOM is the firm that does the engineering work on nearly all supertalls). He said that on a cost of construction versus land value basis, even in the most expensive markets, it makes no sense to go above 60 stores or so. Every building built taller is built for some other reason, usually to turn it into a "prestige address" that can charge premium rents.
but then you have to go through the whole permitting process for each 3-4 story building, which I'm guessing is blocked by bureaucracy and red tape. cheaper to just do it really painfully once.
They were approving a 3 tower complex to be built, with the fantasy of this 4th tower just to gain enough interest for their 3 towers. Their 80 oil boom crash is reappearing, and tornados will rip out all windows anyway, as in Dallas recently. This thing will not be built
I find the content of the article, irregardless if it comes to fruition, exciting. One WTC was a missed opportunity to take back the crown of the tallest skyscraper, at least within the US (the Willis Tower is taller too).
It would be cool if they took back the title of the tallest in the world, but at a minimum, it looks like there's a chance they'll take it from NY by every measure. I find that to be significant.
> It would be cool if they took back the title of the tallest in the world, but at a minimum, it looks like there's a chance they'll take it from NY by every measure. I find that to be significant.
This is a good example of how we're failing as humanity. It continues to puzzle me how we seem to still be stuck at dick measuring contests. Not only that, but dick measuring contests that burn resources.
What's the cause of this? The houses next to them look like they're in good condition, with new cars out the front - it doesn't look like something out of The Wire. Surely the land price isn't being artificially depressed by high crime. On Zillow the land itself looks like $300k, with $900k-$1.2m houses next to it.
Wouldn't it be more economically viable to build 3-4 storey buildings on these empty lots (or even just single family houses - there would have to be a premium on being closer to work) first, before building a giant skyscraper?