New York has always been the king city.
Chicago(afflicted with napoleon syndrome) has always been trying to nip at NYC's heels. But it seems lately that chicago has been packing all kinds of scrapers into its' skyline, while NY has been pretty stagnant. Whats going on? and why hasnt NYC taken the "world's tallest" crown back yet?

• ID# 75.2 (reply to #75.1) - 16 Nov 1998
  Seen from the "really, really tall" point-of-view, NYC has indeed been on the receiving side in the battle for the Tallest, but the city has nevertheless continually built new skyscrapers, and has several projects underway even now. Maybe not any taller than elsewhere, but soaring anyway.
  It is well known (certainly for New Yorkers, at least) that in 1996 Donald Trump worked on the New York Stock Exchange Tower, a needlelike shaft that would have been located to the Financial District riverside. After fierce resistance and subsequent ban to build the tower, Trump has turned his attention to developing the world's tallest residential building in the East Midtown -- although it too has got its share of criticism...
  But my personal view on the quest for the tallest is to, by all means, let the other cities bolster their egos with taller and taller towers if that gives them some satisfaction... ;^) ED.

• ID# 75.3 (reply to #75.1)
  From: Y.T.Poon ([email protected]) - 17 Nov 1998

  I think the wonderfulness of NYC is not due to the existence of world's tallest building, but is the huge number and style of the scrapers. Hundreds of high-rises can give a more 'powerful' feeling than one or two super-tall buildings. Thus, I don't feel strange that NYC doesn't need to rush for the race.

• ID# 75.4 (reply to #75.1)
  From: Frank Gerlak ([email protected]) - 18 Nov 1998

  Remember, taller is not necessarily better. Look at a picture of the New York skyline of 1935-1960, then look at a picture of it today. Today's skyline may be taller, but it is not better. Give me the Chrysler Building over the Petronas Towers any day!

  • ID# 75.6 (reply to #75.4)
    From: Ryan ([email protected]) - 15 September 2001

    Remember, Frank, the Chrystler Building and the Empire State Building were in copetition for worlds tallest, until the mooring mast was placed on top of the Empire State Building.

• ID# 75.5 (reply to ?)
  From: Manuel Fernandez ([email protected]) - 19 Nov 1998

  I think this "tallest" business has gone a bit silly at best, with the whole Petronas-Sears controversy, and the race in the far east for the 2000 + feet "things".
  Sometimes I fantasize someone finally built the mythical "mile high" project by Frank Lloyd Wright to put the thing to rest, and concentrate on beautiful skyscrapers again; like an early century or deco revival of sorts.
  Yeah, sure!