Speaking of Jane Jacobs (a four story building in Petworth)

Speaking of Jane Jacobs (a four story building in Petworth)
Originally uploaded by rllayman

The biggest reason that rents in traditional commercial districts in the city are so high is that the buildings are so small. This is rare building (on 9th Street NW near Kansas Ave.) that is four stories. The highest building on H Street (other than the Self Storage building) was three stories, although most of those buildings were destroyed during the riots. Georgetown has larger buildings, because it was an industrial-warehouse district. But most of the neighborhood commercial districts have minute building stock. Even the old Columbia Heights only had two story buildings for the most part...

That's why I am always shocked to go to middling commercial districts in other cities and see, at least when thinking about DC, comparatively large buildings (and a lot more buildings generally).

East Ohio Street, Northside Pittsburgh.