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Why is NYC building skinnier skyscrapers? Is it air rights? Or is it easier to get approval to build such things on the few remaining smaller parcels and shorte

Why is NYC building skinnier skyscrapers? Is it air rights? Or is it easier to get approval to build such things on the few remaining smaller parcels and shorter buildings (which have to be knocked down first).

twelvechairs 4y ago
Its also, as briefly mentioned in the article, residential use over office use. IMO the two shouldn't be compared theres a big difference in complexity. Residential is much more complicated.
mgbmtl 4y ago
Both. In order to encourage existing building owners to keep their existing height, they were able to sell their air rights, which then made it possible to build tall skinny buildings. https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/feb/05/super-tall-super-skinny-super-expensive-the-pencil-towers-of-new-yorks-super-rich https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/feb/05/super-tall-su...
- tehwebguy 4y ago
  I thought this meant they were building weird tetris shapes but I guess building height is like carbon credits?
the_mar 4y ago
No the land is expensive
m0llusk 4y ago
There are many factors. Whole floor units are much more valuable than shared floor units, both for residential and commercial contexts. High floors are more valuable than lower floors. Taller buildings are more prized than other buildings.
bobthepanda 4y ago
Consolidating lots is hard to do, because you have to be able to buy out other landowners, and they have to be willing to sell. Obtaining air rights is far easier. And the basic land plot unit in the New York grid is only 25 by 100 ft.
- bluGill 4y ago
  Many land owners have been around for a while and buying lots. They often already have two lots next to each other. In cases where they don't they may have a different lot that can be swapped (possibly with some dollars if one is in a more valuable location) with some other land owner so that both get two next to each other. while you cannot use the above to build in any one specific place, you can use it to get close enough.

twelvechairs 4y ago

Its also, as briefly mentioned in the article, residential use over office use. IMO the two shouldn't be compared theres a big difference in complexity. Residential is much more complicated.

mgbmtl 4y ago

Both. In order to encourage existing building owners to keep their existing height, they were able to sell their air rights, which then made it possible to build tall skinny buildings. https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/feb/05/super-tall-super-skinny-super-expensive-the-pencil-towers-of-new-yorks-super-rich https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/feb/05/super-tall-su...

tehwebguy 4y ago
I thought this meant they were building weird tetris shapes but I guess building height is like carbon credits?

the_mar 4y ago

No the land is expensive

m0llusk 4y ago

There are many factors. Whole floor units are much more valuable than shared floor units, both for residential and commercial contexts. High floors are more valuable than lower floors. Taller buildings are more prized than other buildings.

bobthepanda 4y ago

Consolidating lots is hard to do, because you have to be able to buy out other landowners, and they have to be willing to sell. Obtaining air rights is far easier. And the basic land plot unit in the New York grid is only 25 by 100 ft.

bluGill 4y ago
Many land owners have been around for a while and buying lots. They often already have two lots next to each other. In cases where they don't they may have a different lot that can be swapped (possibly with some dollars if one is in a more valuable location) with some other land owner so that both get two next to each other. while you cannot use the above to build in any one specific place, you can use it to get close enough.