How the Height of Buildings Act Impacts Development in Washington, D.C.

Kenan Dogan
Georgetown University

This article examines how the Height of Buildings Act influences development patterns in Washington, D.C. First, it establishes that the act is a binding development constraint in central D.C. Second, it illustrates that development in Washington, D.C., is less concentrated and less intense in the city center than it is in the comparable city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Third, it shows that the population density in Washington, D.C., sprawls farther from the city center than does the population in Philadelphia. This article aligns with the prevailing urban economic literature regarding the consequences of building height limits.