[left of center]

I agree with that sentiment... tall and slender is much more visually appealing, both from the street as well as from overhead. But its certainly not cheaper, since a few elevators could handle residential floors, whether the floorplates are a quarter block or half block long. This is cheaper for the developers so this is what we get.

The city needs to have a development approval board with teeth, in order to enforce architectural standards. Or at the very least, hold developers accountable when they deviate from the plan that won city approval and VE the design to death.