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Bedrock Depth and the Formation of the Manhattan Skyline, 1890-1915

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Author Info
Jason Barr ()
Troy Tassier ()
Rossen Trendafilov ()

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Abstract

Skyscrapers in Manhattan need to be anchored to bedrock to prevent (possibly uneven) settling. This can potentially increase construction costs if the bedrock lies deep below the surface. The conventional wisdom holds that Manhattan developed two business centers--downtown and midtown--because the depth to the bedrock is close to the surface in these locations, with a bedrock "valley" in between. We measure the effects of building costs associated with bedrock depths, relative to other important economic variables in the location of early Manhattan skyscrapers (1890-1915). We find that bedrock depths had very little influence on the skyline; rather its polycentric development was due to residential and manufacturing patterns, and public transportation hubs.

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File URL: http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~econnwk/workingpapers/2009-006.pdf
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Publisher Info
Paper provided by Department of Economics, Rutgers University, Newark in its series Working Papers Rutgers University, Newark with number 2009-006.

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Length: 38 pages
Date of creation: Oct 2009
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:run:wpaper:2009-006

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Related research
Keywords: skyscrapers; geology; bedrock; sprawl; urban agglomeration;

Find related papers by JEL classification:
N61 - Economic History - - Manufacturing and Construction - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
N92 - Economic History - - Regional and Urban History - - - U.S.; Canada: 1913-
R14 - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Land Use Patterns
R33 - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics - - Production Analysis and Firm Location - - - Nonagricultural and Nonresidential Real Estate Markets

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This page was last updated on 2009-11-22.

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