Why is it so important to match the height of building that will surely be razed within the next decade? Will we have a plaque out front in 50 years to celebrate that the podium of this building matched the height of the adjacent building that used to stand there?
Because this:
Is a nearly universally loved streetscape. (Paris)
As is this (Rome, next to the Spanish Steps)
Can you do buildings that don't line-up on the same block, immediately adjacent? Yes.
But it takes skill not to make it look jarring, and this is a building being designed by ICON, not HP.
Proverbially, buildings on the same block should dialogue with one another, and form part of a contextual whole.
Yes, the next site north may come down (or may not); but if it does, then its replacement should address this building.
This whole block is designated are part of the Heritage Conservation District.
Which really doesn't mean very much if you can demo the whole thing and not even reference the characteristics described in the designation.
