The lion can lie down with the lamb

There's been a lot of argument on a new urbanist listserv about DC's height limits. (In the interest of full disclosure I note that I'm doing some of the arguing!)  I think one of the concerns animating opponents of taller buildings is the fear of a high-rise monoculture. 

Coincidentally, I was walking down Fifth Avenue in New York, just a block or two from the Empire State Building.  But in addition to that famous skyscraper, I saw a whole row of four-story buildings- evidence that the high-rise lion can lie down with the low-rise lamb.

What I don't know is whether that reflects the market's lack of interest in more tall buildings in that area or whether it reflects political regulation.