Comments on: Perimeter Rules (No, This Doesn’t Involve Math) http://crankyflier.com/2006/09/23/perimeter-rules-no-this-doesnt-involve/ Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:24:33 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: kl http://crankyflier.com/2006/09/23/perimeter-rules-no-this-doesnt-involve/comment-page-1/#comment-78662 kl Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:19:36 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=130#comment-78662 This is a very interesting story which is very hard to explain to anyone who's willing to listen. It's similar to the 1899 law passed that NO BUILDING IN WASHINGTON DC CAN BE TALLER THAN THE CAPITOL. One hundred years later, DC's buildings are limited to only 12 stories at the max and all the business is just across the bridge in Arlington, VA. Speaking of National Airport, Arlington's buildings (Rosslyn neighborhood) were skyrocketing so high (the most famous was the USA Today twin towers but the company has since moved to Tysons Corner ironically closer to Dulles due to costs I'm sure) that Congress raised its voice that it would hinder flights going into National Airport. Virginia thumbed their noses, said screw you, and that Congress should continue to dictate in DC but had no power over their state, and building continues. It makes for a very nice skyline with fabulous views that actually look back on molehill Washington. My last flight to LA consisted of me driving 30 miles to DC (I live 10 blocks from the White House), hopping a flight to LA and again 30 miles back to the city upon return. Another recent trip to Switzerland, I booked a flight from National to Philly (about 120 miles) then nonstop to Zurich. What sense does it make? It's absurd that rules like the height issue of Washington's buildings (see Cairo Hotel which is now a condo building called The Cairo) which allows developers to simply move across the bridge from exclusive Georgetown to build whatever they want. And allowing the restiction on flights from National to continue to remain on the books when airlines are struggling just to stay in the air is even more mindbloggling! So much for great lobbyist? This is a very interesting story which is very hard to explain to anyone who’s willing to listen. It’s similar to the 1899 law passed that NO BUILDING IN WASHINGTON DC CAN BE TALLER THAN THE CAPITOL. One hundred years later, DC’s buildings are limited to only 12 stories at the max and all the business is just across the bridge in Arlington, VA. Speaking of National Airport, Arlington’s buildings (Rosslyn neighborhood) were skyrocketing so high (the most famous was the USA Today twin towers but the company has since moved to Tysons Corner ironically closer to Dulles due to costs I’m sure) that Congress raised its voice that it would hinder flights going into National Airport. Virginia thumbed their noses, said screw you, and that Congress should continue to dictate in DC but had no power over their state, and building continues. It makes for a very nice skyline with fabulous views that actually look back on molehill Washington.

My last flight to LA consisted of me driving 30 miles to DC (I live 10 blocks from the White House), hopping a flight to LA and again 30 miles back to the city upon return. Another recent trip to Switzerland, I booked a flight from National to Philly (about 120 miles) then nonstop to Zurich. What sense does it make?

It’s absurd that rules like the height issue of Washington’s buildings (see Cairo Hotel which is now a condo building called The Cairo) which allows developers to simply move across the bridge from exclusive Georgetown to build whatever they want. And allowing the restiction on flights from National to continue to remain on the books when airlines are struggling just to stay in the air is even more mindbloggling! So much for great lobbyist?

]]> By: Jeff http://crankyflier.com/2006/09/23/perimeter-rules-no-this-doesnt-involve/comment-page-1/#comment-84 Jeff Wed, 27 Sep 2006 16:23:00 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=130#comment-84 Yeah, back when I lived in Arlington (minutes from National Airport), I had wished I could fly nonstop to the Bay Area, where I have family. I guess I just got used to connecting (be it Dallas, Houston, Detroit, etc.). Otherwise going to Dulles for nonstops seemed like such a shlep in comparison. Yeah, back when I lived in Arlington (minutes from National Airport), I had wished I could fly nonstop to the Bay Area, where I have family. I guess I just got used to connecting (be it Dallas, Houston, Detroit, etc.). Otherwise going to Dulles for nonstops seemed like such a shlep in comparison.

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