Wasn't the height restriction in place when they bought the property ?

Most likely. But it doesn't change the fact that they need to produce enough revenue generating space to turn a profit. That's probably why they upped the plans from 11 floors to 15.

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The idealistic are no longer concerned with influencing public opinion and creating a free world of responsible and ethical social choices, but rather imposing opinion through legislation, mandating these ethics, and outlawing choice in what the loudest sample finds offensive.

Ban the Bans. It's a slippery slope between Idealism and Fascism.

I say they build it within code as ugly as possible.

That allows them to circumvent the useless special interest groups mascaraing as "Neighborhood Groups".

They only represent people against projects.

People that get mad at change.

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"

Zoning needs to be changed from time to time. What about all the commercial and industrial areas that were re-zoned residential. And its a good thing or many of the nicer parts of this city would be wastelands. That's why zoning boards and zoning ordinances exist. There are very few places in the city that you can build over 60ft by right. Eventually you have to build up in a city and so zoning will have to be changed. The property is worth $10mil if zoned to allow highrise. So they bought it in the hopes of changing the zoning. I don't think this is a matter of bailing out the developers as much as it is a matter of helping out the neighborhood. People constantly argue that this site should conform to its current zoning....but those same people don't want anyone to build what it is currently zoned for... a large retail center or a parking garage. Hence the need for a compromise.

You can't have your cake and eat it to....but that's what some residents in SH want. They don't want him to build by right but they don't want to give him a zoning change.

Keep in mind we're talking about the same stubborn people who told the owner of Dilworth House he couldn't turn it into his private residence, that it had to be a museum or nothing, which led him to appeal the city and all but demolish the place.

The only thing worse than a NIMBY is a NIMBY with money.

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The idealistic are no longer concerned with influencing public opinion and creating a free world of responsible and ethical social choices, but rather imposing opinion through legislation, mandating these ethics, and outlawing choice in what the loudest sample finds offensive.

Ban the Bans. It's a slippery slope between Idealism and Fascism.

That's what I told the guy I know. I did add that if they planned to do this to please let me know first so I could sell my house and move.

How about a NIMBY with a law degree and time to spare....

You are mistaken. John Turchi certainly could have used the Dilworth House as his private residence, which was his original stated intention when he bought it, but later decided he wished to construct a condo tower on the site instead.

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Cheers,
Jayfar
--
“I am indeed well aware of the history of Conventional (sic) Hall, both globally and locally, and can assure you that we are carefully exploring avenues for its future.” -- Penn President Amy Gutmann 5 days before demolition began.

Oh, I read that he was initially denied rights to convert it into a private residence. My bad.

__________________
The idealistic are no longer concerned with influencing public opinion and creating a free world of responsible and ethical social choices, but rather imposing opinion through legislation, mandating these ethics, and outlawing choice in what the loudest sample finds offensive.

Ban the Bans. It's a slippery slope between Idealism and Fascism.

Respectfully, you're both wrong on the Dillworth House. He wanted to use it as his house, which was fine-but then applied for a permit to build a private garage. THAT's when the fun began, and that's why there's now going to be yet another tower.

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Peter Cetera:
Sometimes I just forget
Say things I might regret
It breaks my heart to see you crying

Now I remember! It was the garage they threw a fit about, so he said "screw you" and got approval for that horrible Venturi piece of crap.

__________________
The idealistic are no longer concerned with influencing public opinion and creating a free world of responsible and ethical social choices, but rather imposing opinion through legislation, mandating these ethics, and outlawing choice in what the loudest sample finds offensive.

Ban the Bans. It's a slippery slope between Idealism and Fascism.