[McBane]

DC is an excellent example of a city that makes good use of midrise buildings. I guess it helps that it is a very powerful city and has no highrises, which means no vacant lots, parking lots, drive thrus, gas stations, stand alone tire shops, etc. in their downtown. If every empty/underutilized lot in Philly was replaced with a 12 story building, with decent architectural design, and ground floor retail, I wouldn't miss the skyscrapers.

The reason Dilworth Plaza doesn't work (in any form) is because of the over saturation of plazas in the immediate vicinity. Philly just doesn't have the population (non-homeless) to make use of three adjacent parks - Dilworth, Love, and Municipal Services. I'd rather have one good plaza than three lousy ones, which is what we have now. I don't see how replacing the concrete with grass will make difference. The problem is too many plazas, not enough people.