Jason Barr

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Jason M. Barr
NationalityAmerican
OccupationProfessor of economics
OrganizationRutgers University Newark
Websitehttps://www.jasonmbarr.com/

Jason M. Barr is an American economist and author at Rutgers University-Newark, whose work is in the field of "skynomics", the study of skyscrapers and skylines using modern economics methods.[1][2][3][4] He is the author of Building the Skyline: The Birth and Growth of Manhattan's Skyscrapers, which chronicled the history of the Manhattan skyline from an economic perspective.[5][6] Barr's work is interdisciplinary and integrates multiple disciplines including urban studies, geography, and economic history. Barr is one of the few economists studying the intersection of economics and skyscraper construction.

Biography[edit]

Barr earned his B.S. from Cornell University in 1992, his M.F.A. in creative writing from Emerson College in 1995 and his Ph.D. in economics from Columbia University in 2002.[7]

Barr has conducted research in Changchun, China, and at the Observatoire Français des Conjonctures Économiques. He also received grants from the Land Economic Foundation, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, and the WCF/National Park Service. Dr. Barr is an affiliated faculty member with the Global Urban Systems Ph.D. program. His research interests include urban economics and agent-based computational economics. Dr. Barr serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, the Eastern Economic Journal and the Journal of Economic Interaction and Coordination.

Research[edit]

Barr's work has addressed widely held myths or misconceptions about skyscrapers and cities.[8][9][10][11] For example, research performed by Barr and his colleagues showed that there was no evidence for the Skyscraper Curse, that the completion of the world's tallest building is a herald of an economic crisis.[12][13] Barr has also debunked the misconception that Manhattan's geological conditions have been the reason there are few skyscrapers between lower Manhattan and Midtown.[14][15][16][17][18] Rather, Barr's work demonstrates that Midtown's origin was due to the city's demographic evolution and the fact that Manhattan is a long, but narrow, island that concentrated economic activity to a much greater degree, as compared to other cities.[19][20] Barr has also written extensively on zoning in the United States including the role of Robert Moses and the City Planning Commission creating the current NYC zones.

New Mannahatta Project[edit]

New Mannahatta Project proposed by Jason Barr in 2022

Barr is an advocate of land reclamation projects such as those seen in Hong Kong and the Netherlands. He is also an advocate of Lower Manhattan expansion. On January 14, 2022 Barr wrote an opinion article in the New York Times[21] which proposed the expansion of Manhattan Island.[22][23][24][25] This "New Mannahatta" project proposal was met with criticism from readers despite the project being quite similar to other already completed projects around the world. Among other academics and city planners Barr's project was met with greater enthusiasm.

Legends Tower Project And Criticism[edit]

A group of developers is proposing to build the "Legends Tower," which would stand at a staggering height of 1,907 feet, making it the tallest building in the United States if completed.[26] This ambitious project is planned for Oklahoma City, a city not typically associated with skyscrapers of such magnitude. The tower is part of a larger mixed-use development project known as Boardwalk at Bricktown, which includes plans for a Hyatt hotel with hundreds of rooms, approximately 1,750 apartments, and 110,000 square feet of retail space and restaurants. The development aims to capitalize on the growing demand for residential spaces and entertainment options in the area, including new sports arenas and stadiums. However, the proposal faces skepticism due to concerns about financing, market demand, and the tower's ability to withstand the region's severe weather conditions, including tornadoes[27]. Despite these challenges, the project has garnered attention for its potential to put Oklahoma City on the map and stimulate economic growth in the region. The proposal to build the "Legends Tower" in Oklahoma City has stirred considerable debate, with economist Jason Barr expressing skepticism. He questions the economic viability of such a project in a city like Oklahoma City, stating, "It would pencil out in New York, it would pencil out in Chicago, but statistically I can’t see it penciling out in Oklahoma City." Barr raises concerns about the project's financing and whether the market demand in Oklahoma City can support the costs associated with constructing such a towering structure. He also doubts the rationale for including an observation deck, stating, "I’ve never been to Oklahoma City, but what do you see when you go to the observatory? Prairie or whatever? I can’t imagine that’s something that would draw a lot of people."[28] Barr's reservations highlight the challenges facing the developers as they seek to bring their ambitious vision to fruition amidst uncertainties about its economic feasibility and practicality in the context of Oklahoma City's urban landscape.

Books[edit]

  • 'Building the Skyline': The Birth and Growth of Manhattan's Skyscrapers. Oxford University Press, 2016. ISBN 978-0199344369

"Building the Skyline" by Jason Barr explores the evolution of Manhattan's iconic skyscrapers, delving into the economic factors shaping their development. Barr considers Manhattan's geological history, influencing early land use and neighborhood formation, such as the dense tenements of Five Points and the Lower East Side. He explains why skyscrapers emerged downtown and later in midtown, debunking geological myths. Instead, he emphasizes economic and demographic forces driving construction patterns. The book highlights innovative urban solutions for accommodating dense populations. Through rigorous investigation, Barr offers insights into urban growth and city life, making "Building the Skyline" a significant contribution to understanding the dynamics of urbanization and architecture.

'Economic Drivers' explores China's economic reforms over the past four decades have spurred immense urban growth, marked by a proliferation of skyscrapers across its cities. While these structures symbolize China's economic prowess, little research has focused on their construction. This report aims to fill this gap by analyzing the economic factors driving skyscraper development in China. Using data from 1980 to 2014 across 74 cities, the study examines how economic incentives, social and political benefits, and city identity contribute to skyscraper construction. Regression models reveal a complex interplay between economic fundamentals and competitive motivations. The findings underscore the economic rationale behind China's skyscraper boom and lay the groundwork for further exploration into their role in urbanization.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Emily Badger, "How skyscrapers reveal the rise and fall American fortunes". The Washington Post, Wonkblog, Jan. 8, 2016
  2. ^ Jason Barr. "Skyscraper height". Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, 2012, 45(3), 723-753.
  3. ^ Henry Grabar, "Which skyscraper is tallest? It's complicated". Salon.com, Nov. 11, 2013
  4. ^ Jeff Giles, "It's Tough Being a Young Skyscraper", The New York Times, Sept. 9, 2019
  5. ^ "The up and up". The Economist, Aug. 20, 2016.
  6. ^ Jan Klerks. "Book Review: Explaining the Manhattan skyline by the numbers". Skyhigh.city. August 17, 2016
  7. ^ Barr, Jason. "Curriculum Vitae" (PDF). Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  8. ^ Alissa Walker. "5 myths about New York City skyscrapers, debunked". Curbed.com, October 6, 2016
  9. ^ "A Guide to NYC's Skyline | Skyline Cruises". Skyline Princess Cruises. 2022-11-10. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  10. ^ "A Tale Of Two Skylines: The Story Behind New York City's 'Gap'". TheTravel. 2023-02-17. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  11. ^ Jason Barr and Gerard Koeppel. "The Manhattan Street Grid Plan: Misconceptions and Corrections", January 4, 2017
  12. ^ Jason Barr, Bruce Mizrach and Kusum Mundra. "Skyscraper height and the business cycle: separating myth from reality". Applied Economics, 2015, 47(2), 148-160.
  13. ^ "Towers of Babel: Is there such a thing as the skyscraper curse?" The Economist, March 28, 2015
  14. ^ Matt Chaban. "Uncanny valley: the real reason there are no skyscrapers in the middle of Manhattan". The New York Observer, January 17, 2012
  15. ^ Matt Chaban. "Paul Goldberger and skyscraper economist Jason Barr debate the Manhattan skyline." The New York Observer, January 25, 2012
  16. ^ David W. Dunlap. "450 million years ago, Hell's Kitchen earned its name". The New York Times, February 2, 2015
  17. ^ Jason Barr, Troy Tassier and Rossen Trendafilov. "Depth to bedrock and the formation of the Manhattan skyline, 1890–1915". Journal of Economic History, 2011, 71(4), 1060-1077.
  18. ^ Chris Weller. "6 hidden reasons why New York City looks like it does". TechInsider, September 25, 2015.
  19. ^ Richard Florida and Andrew Small. "The curious case of New York's two economic centers". Citylab.com, November 23, 2016.
  20. ^ Jason Barr and Troy Tassier. "The dynamics of subcenter formation: Midtown Manhattan, 1861-1906". Journal of Regional Science, 2016, 56(5), 731–933.
  21. ^ Barr, Jason M. (14 January 2022). "Opinion | 1,760 Acres. That's How Much More of Manhattan We Need". The New York Times.
  22. ^ "Opinion: One Solution to Manhattan's Land Shortage: Just Build It". www.planetizen.com. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  23. ^ "Make NYC more affordable by extending Manhattan: professor". 2022-01-19. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  24. ^ "Jason Barr for PIX11: Plan to expand Manhattan? Rutgers professor explains buzzy proposal". Rutgers SASN. 2022-01-19. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  25. ^ "Manhattan Island extension could provide homes for 250,000 people". Dezeen. 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  26. ^ https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/27/investing/americas-tallest-building-oklahoma-city/index.html
  27. ^ https://www.npr.org/2024/04/25/1247095075/developer-plans-to-eclipse-new-york-and-build-the-5th-tallest-building-in-oklaho
  28. ^ https://www.wsj.com/us-news/oklahoma-skyscraper-americas-tallest-eaae69d2

External links[edit]

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