The biggest crux of “downtown” development is that it is generally cost prohibitive for individual or entrepreneurial real estate ventures. There are plenty of large expensive parcels of land downtown ripe for development, but the number of corporations who can both afford to build AND see the value (both monetary and socially) is fairly limited. It seems like nearly everyone expressing opinions on this topic would like to see our development all have an independent and personable feel to it, but the reality of the situation is that it’s not always feasible.
The “Independently Built Skyscaper Capital of the World” sounds ridiculous.