I just downloaded Matt Yglesias’s new eBook The Rent is Too Damn High, and hope to have a chance to read it soon, and then I’ll post about it here. But it reminded me that one of Yglesias’s pet peeves is the height restriction on buidlings in DC, which made me want to share a related story from Philadelphia history.
When Philadelphia’s City Hall, topped off by a statue of William Penn (pictured above) was completed, it was the tallest point in the city. It would remain that way for 186 years, as a gentleman’s agreement prohibited any buildings that would eclipse the statue to be built. This ended with the completion of One Liberty Place, in 1987:
Prior to the completion of Liberty 1, Philly sports team had been on a roll. That all changed in the late 80’s, and “The Curse of William Penn” was born. Philly finally rid itself of Penn’s wrath in 2008, as a result of a peace offering in the from of the newly constructed Comcast Center, which became (and remains) the tallest building in Philadelphia:
Immediately after placing the last beam atop the building, a replica of the Penn statue was added on top. And so William Penn now again sat atop the city, breaking the curse. Then the Phillies won the 2008 world series.
Matt Yglesias would do well to remember this story, should the height restrictions in DC be lifted as he advocates for. George Washington’s ghost will have to target something other than the DC sports teams though, they can’t get much worse.
520 Chestnut 
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