It is impressive, if intimidating..
Minneapolis has one of the most balanced, modern skylines in the country, and ranks far higher than other cities of its size (ranked as 25th best sky line in the world, 8th in the U.S.)
I do admit, however, that low-to-mid rise buildings (4-15 stories) make for a more pleasant urban experience. Sky scrapers are great for a downtown office core where business people go to work and big events take place.
The best places to eat and the best culture is found outside of the center business district.. like Block E or the Warehouse District.
As long as fuel remains relatively cheap and land is plentiful, American cities will follow the general model of dense, sky scraper filled cored, surrounded by a vast sea of low rise buildings.
But there is a transit revolution in the U.S. and many cities are expanding their transit options and development is exploding around these lines.
I remember when the IDS tower (tall one on the left) was going up. It was not a balanced skyline at all back then, since IDS dwarfed the Foshay tower which was the tallest at the time. The IDS had the nickname "the big blue icicle" for its imposing figure.
It was also referred to as the 'middle finger' sticking up several hundred feet higher than the next tallest building. But it was the first building of its kind and started a "glass revolution" that dominated new skyscrapers over the next 30 years.
I found another really beautiful picture of Minneapolis.. how it really does look like a massive forest with some skyscrapers sticking out of the middle.
