Just to respond to the email inquiry I received on my last post. I have no personal knowledge and I have heard no rumors of that house fire, why it happened, and how it affected neighboring property values or the zoning on the street. Surely it was a devastating loss to those who lived through it. Rumors are rumors, even when they are fresh. And nothing generates rumors more than fires. Now it's 2008, so the rumors surrounding the house fire are 50 years old.
I know that the zoning was changed in the early 1960's, several years after the 1958 fire. But that people wanted the zoning to be changed at least as far back as 1960.
I just think that the reason for the zone change was a much bigger issue, affecting the nature, character, and future of the entire city, and not focussed on any one house. The order of high-rises going up was not connected with that burned house, in fact the Camelot was the LAST high-rise to go up.
I will note that the FIRST highrise was almost directly across the street from the burned house. The WhiteHall, I believe is 280 Prospect, built 1965.
Here's the timetable for the others: Quail Heights (1979) is at 240 Prospect, and Quail Height II (1988 ?) is 260 Prospect. The Blair House (235 Prospect) I think was 1973, built at the same time as the 3 on Overlook Ave, all four went up simultaneously around 1972. The Barridge house (NW corner of Golf Place and Prospect) may have been right around the same time (early 1970's), and the Bristol House (same corner, but SW) probably 1974-1975. Nothing built on the entire street, or 1983-1987. Camelot (245 Prospect) built in 1981-1982, with two levels of underground parking. Sherbrooke and Pierre I think 1974-1975. Excelsior I in 1989, and Excelsior II around 2000. Excelsior II was also an ugly foundation for 10 years. Unsure about the highrise at Prospect & Berry, but definately in the 1970's. Quail Heights III (NW corner of Central and Third) in 1999. A 35-story was approved for NW corner of Prospect & Berry, and would have been by far the tallest in the city, but it went bankrupt and was never built. The foundation remained an eyesore for well over 10 years. Finally it became an office building, say around 1984. World Plaza I and II around late 1980's, Ritz Plaza completed about 1990. Prospect Tower built 1989, but sat finished and vacant for over 10 years. Then the interiors were completed by a new owner. 2 other identical towers approved for Third Street behind tower number 1, but never built. Instead, the long building behind Prospect Tower (310 Prospect) was built in 1999. I remember watching that one get built from the balcony of my condo.
I hope these dates helps. You'd need to map it out, with buildings and dates.