Almost a year ago, the author, Matthew Yglesias, wrote nearly the exact same article with respect to Washington, D.C. (http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2012/04/d_c_...).

Washington, D.C. is an interesting & relevant case-study in this regard because of the Heights of Buildings Act of 1910 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heights_of_Buildings_Act_of_191...) which restricts the maximum building height in the District. Depending on your viewpoint, the law has led to the desired "lightness and airiness" of D.C. as envisioned by planners of that generation; it has also led to expansion and sprawl into Northern Virginia and the Maryland suburbs of D.C.