Tracking the Skyward Progress of Western U.S. Cities

A Washington Post feature analyzes the changing skylines of cities from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean.

2 minute read

February 6, 2019, 8:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Downtown Construction

oksana.perkins / Shutterstock

Scott Wilson provides the copy and Aaron Steckelberg provides the infographics in a must-read feature planners and urbanists all around the country, but especially in the Western United Stats.

"From the Rockies to the Pacific, cities are seeking to accommodate increasing populations amid housing shortages by growing up instead of out," writes Wilson. "A number of them, including this mile-high city hard against the Front Range, are considering projects that would construct some of the tallest buildings in the West."

According to Wilson, the recent development of taller, centrally located buildings reverses course for these cities, which have sprawled outward, rather than reaching upward, for decades.

"The towers are the showpieces, but across these urban centers, which have sprawled into suburbs for years, new housing and office projects also are being built taller than ever before. The construction is focused around public transportation centers, and, in some cases, cities are allowing heights to rise beyond original zoning rules as a reward for builders who contribute more to affordable housing."

It's a familiar narrative for Planetizen readers—the "return to the city" movement driving the revitalization and redevelopment of once-abandoned urban cores around the country. The new trick with this article is found in the graphics that showcase the buildings redefining height in the cities like Denver (the planned tallest building, 650 17th Street would reach 1,000 feet, far above the current tallest building, Republic Plaza, which reaches 714 feet). Graphics for Seattle, Long Beach, and Sacramento, along with passages of analysis into the land use and zoning changes driving new building heights, are also included in the article.

Tuesday, February 5, 2019 in The Washington Post

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view of wide street in Cleveland, Ohio with blue 55th Street sign and red brick three-story building visible in right corner.

Cleveland to Boost Bike Safety With New Bike Lanes, School Programs

The program, using curriculum created by Cleveland Bikes, is part of a broader effort to improve safety along school routes.

30 minutes ago - Signal Cleveland

Aerial view of heavily damaged mobile homes after a hurricane in Florida.

Florida Home Insurers Disproportionately Dropping Low-Income Households

Non-renewal rates are highest in inland counties, not the coastal areas most immediately vulnerable to storms.

1 hour ago - Inside Climate News

"Altadena - Not For Sale" yard sign in front of burned down house after Eaton Fire in Altadena, California in January 2025.

Half of Post-Fire Altadena Home Sales Were to Corporations

Large investors are quietly buying up dozens of properties in Altadena, California, where a devastating wildfire destroyed more than 6,000 homes in January.

July 7 - Dwell

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA