1/19/2010

Your building is ugly

So it looks like the Pizza Man building is no more.

What I find most interesting about this is that one of the first things I've heard from a lot of folks today is that they're concerned an "ugly" building will take its place. Even the Journal Sentinel's forum on Pizza Man memories saw a few comments:

...I have no faith in a developer creating a building that will go well in
that space. Say hello to a glass and steel monstrosity.

Let's hope the
building site isn't disgraced in the same way with an anonymous strip mall.

I hope local officials are paying attention and will make sure that not
just any building is allowed to replace what was there.

It seems to me that more and more people are growing sick and tired of the hip and trendy architectural styles that are popping up all over. And in a city known for its brick, is it really that surprising?

Look, I'm as much for innovation in architecture as the next guy, but when you look at some of the recent commercial and large-scale residential development that's been going on, it really seems to take away from the city's character. That one of the first things people worry about when an old building is destroyed is what sort of monstrosity will replace it should be of concern to city leaders and developers alike that people are starting to get used to, if not liking, the fact that your building is ugly.

2 comments:

Nick said...

You know what saddened me about those comments? The attitude of "I hope the city doesn't let..."

If someone buys that land, or the current land owner rebuilds... the attitude is that he shouldn't be allowed to build what he wants on HIS property.

First he lost his building, and then he lost his property.

David Casper said...

Nick, I feel your pain (and wholeheartedly agree with your point in your most recent post). But the fact remains that any major construction taking place will be subject to approval by city leaders, and their taste, good or bad, plays into it.

I'm also not sure if you're asserting here whether or not the community should have a "say" on what the owner of that property puts there, or how it looks. While I strongly support property rights, I do believe that zoning should come into play. If someone wants to build the next Calatrava, it should at least be in a place that accomodates such a design.