[Mpls] Building height, street width and the Lagoon project

[Mike Jensvold]

One historic way of regulating building height was in proportion to street 
width.  With low buildings set back far from the street we feel isolated 
and vulnerable.  With buildings too tall we feel uncomfortable surrounded 
by concrete, glass, and steel canyons.

According to James Howard Kunstler in his book Home from Nowhere (chapter 
5, page 139 in my copy), the optimum building height to street width ratio 
based on human psychology is between 1:1 to 1:3 (preferably closer to 1:1).

The configuration of the lagoon project complicates things, but I think 
this rule of thumb might still be useful in coming up with a "magic 
number".  12 stories is probably too tall.

-Mike Jensvold
East Isles