i think BUTTERFLY will really fit the name.. instead of dragonfly.

I'd like to see this in the NY skyline

I wish that they would really take on such incredibly inventive and beautiful buildings. It would really change the way buildings would look very quickly in the near future, Instead of the brick and mortar or glass and steel block buildings we are used to seeing gracing our skyline.

it looks cool, but isn't even close to economical.

You cant just go and build everything thing you want...if you did that, You would be in the same place California is in right now.

Which is 20 billion in the hole...and thats just from one fiscal year...
But that doesn't stop them from spending money like there's no tomorrow.

@murc, do you mean economical, cause I think that it is very economical. That is energy and resource efficient, with a net output of resources rather then a net input.

Perhaps you meant inexpensive, since it certainly looks so expensive that the payoff would take some time to return.

Murk, The whole point of this design is that it will pay for itself within 20 years since it covers many of it's own needs.

Two things. One, peak oil. Right now, given the global recession, prices are down at the pump, but consumption continues and eventually supply will exceed demand raising prices at the pump follow by rising food prices. Second, we the jobs.

Two things. One, peak oil. Right now, given the global recession, prices are down at the pump, but consumption continues and eventually supply will exceed demand raising prices at the pump follow by rising food prices. Second, we need the jobs.

The world is awash in food and unused farm land, not to mention third world farmers begging for a chance to sell globally. But they're going to build that instead?

New yorkers would never accept something so cool looking because they are a bunch of close minded idiots. No, new york city will remain in the 20th century forever, unlike every other city in the world.

Undertaking a project like this would indeed be very expensive but it would pay for itself quickly. Understanding how much of an instant tourist attraction it would become and how much money it would generate in that regard alone is just the tip of the iceberg. This elevated city within the city would be so green in it's energy consumption that it would eventually offste the cost of construction.

Seriously, just who are you people who give this proposal credit as more than a cool fantasy? Any civil engineers, economists, agronomists, or (how about) FARMERS who think such a behemoth could EVER pay for itself? I doubt that any of you who believe in this are even old enough to have ever worked for a living.

Vertical farming seems a sensible idea which could curtail starvation as the population explodes in the future, there are two serious issues: the first is gravity, and the second is the cost of fighting it. Without even addressing the price of constructing this monster, there is the cost of the maintaining all of that solar panel technology which will power the elevators (they'll need some real good lifting power for all the backhoes, plows, err...tractors, trucks(?) which go with farming. Therefore, my prediction is that the cost of maintainance ALONE would make this a losing investment, but then I'm just a little guy who has actually worked in the real world longer than most of you have existed.