Down In Front

Well, it seems that the big shots that run Cowtown's famous musuems are upset. The S-T reports that they are none too happy with plans a Dallas developer has to build a 200-foot tall condominium tower near Trinity Park, just south of West 7th Street. It seems the proposed 16 story building would block the view of the Cowtown skyline from their musuems.

Now, reasonable folks might tell the whiney musuem types to go back to their archives and leave the devloper alone. But reason is a scarce commodity around Cowtown City Hall these days. See, according to the S-T, the proposed condos sit in a "view corridor." See, the folks in the musuem district like being able to look out their windows at downtown. So they got the city to pass a law so they always will be able to enjoy their view.

This view corridor is clearly unconstitutional. By restricting the height of the condos, the city is reducing the income of the owner of the property. There is no compelling public interest for the city to do so. In fact, the city's tax revenue would increase with more condos. The only compelling interest is that of some politically connected musuem types that what the city to cater to their every whim. And the city will.