tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91584675362397353392024-03-18T23:33:05.862-08:00American DirtObservations of Contemporary Landscapes: An Amateur Lens and a Semi-Professional EyeAmericanDirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600555386886915000noreply@blogger.comBlogger285125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9158467536239735339.post-37308659081752331732014-08-13T00:42:00.000-08:002014-08-13T00:42:24.612-08:00A new domain!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This is my final post for American Dirt....at this website.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I now have my own domain with WordPress, with a much more elegant layout, bigger photos, and greater flexibility. It has been over a year in the making, but at last, the day has come for American Dirt.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Please visit <a href="http://dirtamericana.com/">dirtamericana.com</a> for all future blogging on landscapes and the built environment. As always, I welcome comments and am happy to respond.</span></span></div>
AmericanDirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600555386886915000noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9158467536239735339.post-56141210704233479592014-07-31T20:43:00.000-08:002014-07-31T20:43:21.928-08:00Who knew that the City That Never Sleeps had a narcoleptic neighbor? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As I prepare for some upcoming significant changes to my
blog, I provide a sort of “placeholder” article as make the final
modifications, which I will soon publicize.<span> </span>The placeholder motif extends to the content of this blog entry,
where a window sign serves much the same purpose within its respective
storefront.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTovzouDcFMW2sQncJkG0ymy_8blIrUUHa99gYe2n56r5aVnVryf0bljRIcxJq8-pbXKk1sCN0eCDbNrNZziKDi-8y1eLkF_pc56jQvfTNWUVMQR5xVoBbKgV1tQ-TRrx19p_sFzq2daLo/s1600/DSCF2081.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTovzouDcFMW2sQncJkG0ymy_8blIrUUHa99gYe2n56r5aVnVryf0bljRIcxJq8-pbXKk1sCN0eCDbNrNZziKDi-8y1eLkF_pc56jQvfTNWUVMQR5xVoBbKgV1tQ-TRrx19p_sFzq2daLo/s1600/DSCF2081.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It’s simply announcing a lunch special.<span> </span>The restaurant itself?<span> </span>As indicated at the top of the sign,
it’s <a href="http://www.bertuccis.com/">Bertucci’s</a>, an Italian chain common in the northeastern US.<span> </span>Though the restaurant’s target market is consistently
suburban middle class, it seems as though Bertucci’s restaurants routinely
occupy urban settings, in storefronts that directly face the street, rather
than a sizable parking lot.<span> </span>Such
is the case with this location.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE11Ruu_Eo3ma5GidGOBUV_SLOx_O3oypTbgv4D9u0CpX6rLcJXVRMBz-XntgAypYGXVbqdNghsHVJKlj9eMgnToLMlQcXjvIPscfvvrY8_TRhledyvQ4x8OcCw4PuSpvRISsAcuE_dPb-/s1600/DSCF2080.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE11Ruu_Eo3ma5GidGOBUV_SLOx_O3oypTbgv4D9u0CpX6rLcJXVRMBz-XntgAypYGXVbqdNghsHVJKlj9eMgnToLMlQcXjvIPscfvvrY8_TRhledyvQ4x8OcCw4PuSpvRISsAcuE_dPb-/s1600/DSCF2080.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The sign itself isn’t really remarkable on its own
terms.<span> </span>The only thing that
distinguishes it is a condition that these photographs could not begin to
capture: the day of the week.<span> </span>The
advertisement for this lunch special is taking place on a Saturday morning, and
it’s a good deal: good enough to suggest that this Bertucci’s is struggling to
get people in the door on a quintessential weekend day without some real
incentive.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Is there something wrong with this Bertucci’s?<span> </span>Probably not, at least in terms of
management and menu—after all, it’s a chain, and if chains lose their
consistency for too long, they croak.<span>
</span>So why is this one deserted?<span>
</span>It might have something to do with its surroundings.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwokGnHPI0nDYcv-Q8ECakRRib2tPi8SYdpyGqdG0YOzBAHJczpiLsWrnIbLNZRfKVGTz4QSdNMkb6RS8zhugX_2zUf5idqoFR5dVQA2Eid55Mz_KWtT4v5bnss0S6eYBe05CXhcoqpCOE/s1600/DSCF2085.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwokGnHPI0nDYcv-Q8ECakRRib2tPi8SYdpyGqdG0YOzBAHJczpiLsWrnIbLNZRfKVGTz4QSdNMkb6RS8zhugX_2zUf5idqoFR5dVQA2Eid55Mz_KWtT4v5bnss0S6eYBe05CXhcoqpCOE/s1600/DSCF2085.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjeW1VvwicT512NIMOTQcFWiKmdeYK-YLT8cpuL9yoFu4JYbnPaWAznxmo8HcUIUCkkJqCRkViHIFxkn97Q4x651nLLDUKoUJPcVPAeNqcWsKnUVVUr8f-aaIx7a0XiuPbpE9DODpl9Uh9/s1600/DSCF2072.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjeW1VvwicT512NIMOTQcFWiKmdeYK-YLT8cpuL9yoFu4JYbnPaWAznxmo8HcUIUCkkJqCRkViHIFxkn97Q4x651nLLDUKoUJPcVPAeNqcWsKnUVVUr8f-aaIx7a0XiuPbpE9DODpl9Uh9/s1600/DSCF2072.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The translucent sheen of the contemporary buildings that flank
this Bertucci’s comprises one of the busiest commercial centers in Jersey City,
New Jersey—just a stone’s throw across the river from New York City.<span> </span>The Garden State’s second largest city
(just behind Newark), it’s also old, settled as a garrisoned Dutch village in
the middle of the 17<sup>th</sup> century. Yet you’d hardly be able to tell
from looking at its coruscating skyscrapers in the Newport neighborhood, seen
here in the photos, as well as Exchange Place, directly south of Newport along
the waterfront.<span> </span>It all looks like
it could have been built last week.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0o6A0fTrjg1EqQPY0StBdbht-8nmGE3FRAO4erRvRlu9_6u1gdagRsGRKkKZeLxA6YJDRpqD_k7pAjH7VHrLpOaFmcHc3nKmDVzTpgTto6JNdsL-GfjK_Yuyuvt9AIqKlZWkJXG8Gbt3/s1600/IMG_20140405_194102_876.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0o6A0fTrjg1EqQPY0StBdbht-8nmGE3FRAO4erRvRlu9_6u1gdagRsGRKkKZeLxA6YJDRpqD_k7pAjH7VHrLpOaFmcHc3nKmDVzTpgTto6JNdsL-GfjK_Yuyuvt9AIqKlZWkJXG8Gbt3/s1600/IMG_20140405_194102_876.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But the focus for this blog is the larger Newport
neighborhood.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJuSWPoo5l7Emeu3RxchC2VqqOzK2dBR9BPALm_LiCmHh4bCYcWPOYapb5LKlhA_GKs-SFMMVEF4jS60U8ITxQqf9BD8iKerRrxAM06OrZPEktfDLvMwdcuSxFdkbjUbAN5GC-bdo1lYMN/s1600/DSCF2073.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJuSWPoo5l7Emeu3RxchC2VqqOzK2dBR9BPALm_LiCmHh4bCYcWPOYapb5LKlhA_GKs-SFMMVEF4jS60U8ITxQqf9BD8iKerRrxAM06OrZPEktfDLvMwdcuSxFdkbjUbAN5GC-bdo1lYMN/s1600/DSCF2073.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Constructed across 600 acres on the old Erie Lackawanna Railway
yards, Newport helped galvanize Jersey’s City’s resurgence after its 1986
groundbreaking.<span> </span>Built as a
master-planned, mixed-use community, the intent of its creator, Samuel J.
LeFrak of The LeFrak Organization, was to intermingle high-rise residences with
office, retail, and entertainment facilities.<span> </span>The site capitalizes on its pivotal location, adjacent to
the Holland Tunnel (with direct vehicular access to Manhattan), as well as I-78
and, not so far away, the New Jersey Turnpike. Newport is also easily
accessible by the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, PATH, New Jersey Transit bus
routes, and a ferry service across the Hudson River.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In other words, this is prime grade real estate.<span> </span>And, by most metrics, it has
transformed into a successful locus of commerce, while over a dozen apartment
towers house the neighborhood’s approximately 15,000 residents.<span> </span>By the 25<sup>th</sup> anniversary of
Newport’s establishment, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/01/nyregion/for-newport-in-jersey-city-last-phase-of-development-begins.html?_r=0">the high density community also boasted a marina</a>,
waterfront parks (one with a beach), two hotels, schools,<span> </span>and the <a href="http://www.simon.com/mall/newport-centre">Newport Centre Mall</a>, a regional shopping center whose retail mix ostensibly caters to a broad and
diverse socioeconomic base, spread across over 1.1 million square feet and
three floors. <span> </span>This Simon-managed
mall also sits squarely within Jersey City’s Urban Enterprise Zone, thereby
halving the sales tax rate on goods (only 3.5% instead of 7%) and waiving it
altogether for clothing, which no doubt has helped cushion it from the steep
decline so many malls across the country have faced.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But for all its amenities, Newport does not seem to have yet
mastered the art of fostering a vibrant streetscape.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEDK6OasW12u7YjCGh4tiIl81H4Dt2UyScIFin5cy25o0tCUAaMp3-tjIUuioXo1RHEllokv18Gfzr96SUqm15ANm1WOua9BbJdf0cBm4cunI6n-7EDRzP9QU_8NIAkdgRWxDpZS-hgWx/s1600/DSCF2071.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEDK6OasW12u7YjCGh4tiIl81H4Dt2UyScIFin5cy25o0tCUAaMp3-tjIUuioXo1RHEllokv18Gfzr96SUqm15ANm1WOua9BbJdf0cBm4cunI6n-7EDRzP9QU_8NIAkdgRWxDpZS-hgWx/s1600/DSCF2071.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sure, there are some people out.<span> </span>And more people might have been impelled to stroll Washington
Boulevard if it weren’t for the blustery conditions on an otherwise mild April morning.<span> </span>But the fact remains that Newport has
metamorphosed into a district with a high concentration of activity in an
already active city (Jersey City’s density is well over 15,000 people per
square mile, ranking it among the 30 most dense American municipalities).<span> </span>Nonetheless, this Bertucci’s, sitting
right on the neighborhood’s main arterial has to devise special sales to
attract visitors to a weekend lunch.<span>
</span>This restaurant’s valiant effort to lure customers only serves to
reaffirm what empirical evidence already suggests: that Newport is only lively
from 8a to 6pm on Monday for Friday.<span>
</span>Then it hibernates.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The two sons of the late developer Samuel LeFrak strive to
continue to his legacy through the family business, but they also hope to
improve upon some of the past architectural missteps.<span> </span>Visual evidence confirms that, aside from the spectacular
views of Manhattan from the waterfront, Newport is generally not a terribly
desirable setting for people to get out and walk around.<span> </span>It doesn’t help that ungainly, austere
parking garages sit between the occasional storefronts. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhF6SbhT3wYo1xg8kqTOhplbq6v5LjgteOC1-lYgZTZQMuPURl40O8_YU39UCWP7l-RrGTuUDtajaGQeGNRm9dZZafb5gwsP2_quqy2_IIScoOGU4edn1465jB9YG9EkCZAWWHaZHVIJ8S/s1600/DSCF2079.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhF6SbhT3wYo1xg8kqTOhplbq6v5LjgteOC1-lYgZTZQMuPURl40O8_YU39UCWP7l-RrGTuUDtajaGQeGNRm9dZZafb5gwsP2_quqy2_IIScoOGU4edn1465jB9YG9EkCZAWWHaZHVIJ8S/s1600/DSCF2079.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Or, for that matter, that one of the primary hotels fronting
Washington Boulevard includes a big enough setback to allow for considerable
vehicle loading/unloading, as well as some spaces for off street parking.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihE4gHSSHCNNqaBFYYRdOSOoodaFAc1GKUr8b1iiczdUhHXqsCpiUfbs-Y9Z7rMRc2_LMucUupjS3iZlhR6mIpu6I-AW3QOtqEqTTkWBIxqcL3CqzW-tupxIIoyn8gOXet42WrUT0Qt3L/s1600/DSCF2075.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihE4gHSSHCNNqaBFYYRdOSOoodaFAc1GKUr8b1iiczdUhHXqsCpiUfbs-Y9Z7rMRc2_LMucUupjS3iZlhR6mIpu6I-AW3QOtqEqTTkWBIxqcL3CqzW-tupxIIoyn8gOXet42WrUT0Qt3L/s1600/DSCF2075.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTiz2TMnENOX_JW-l9DuziQYX9UYoMJntcEYVVgz3WJOuT9R9rRyjEsRjEOuwRzAJ8TLzkzRAiQKqpqfjdrOn7hkIKc8nbNQX61Urq_jOXzb9AQHZ68wN5G3HIYUEOKpQjpIGw2lNKUWC/s1600/DSCF2074.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTiz2TMnENOX_JW-l9DuziQYX9UYoMJntcEYVVgz3WJOuT9R9rRyjEsRjEOuwRzAJ8TLzkzRAiQKqpqfjdrOn7hkIKc8nbNQX61Urq_jOXzb9AQHZ68wN5G3HIYUEOKpQjpIGw2lNKUWC/s1600/DSCF2074.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslUW5n6Sd7gvkuaKMgF_M29bNZvmCKmwKhGc5OBhH4TeKdJB-73LbvkzkWXbhp4CKnIq_FwxsNWOY1WbFBy8Toj6suo-PVo3z4QPLEiUJvHq27Cj-eYuUrrm54LiGcXgglQJRvPXjCJLv/s1600/DSCF2076.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslUW5n6Sd7gvkuaKMgF_M29bNZvmCKmwKhGc5OBhH4TeKdJB-73LbvkzkWXbhp4CKnIq_FwxsNWOY1WbFBy8Toj6suo-PVo3z4QPLEiUJvHq27Cj-eYuUrrm54LiGcXgglQJRvPXjCJLv/s1600/DSCF2076.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Obviously, the majority of American hotels—including those
in our city centers—include these exact same driver-friendly features.<span> </span>But the vast majority of American
cities cannot boast the sort of multi-modal or mass transit access of Jersey
City.<span> </span>Such a configuration would
be virtually unthinkable in Manhattan, and, to this day, even many smaller
American cities—often with significantly weaker transit systems—would still
include zoning stipulations that vociferously discourage off-street parking
lots for hotels within the central business district.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Perhaps, however, the biggest hindrance to Newport ever
succeeding as a round-the-clock active urban district is the land use just two
blocks away from this photo series.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlE6QRNAUEvOqTJymTcGzM8KpAn6HGumM-OKUUv7wDhwa30QL72cu9Jc5WeKVA9fVQWm86BX2yum5xvR82GiPdCkAJDBcRcIJgHYGP1fqKB-oc74l6GFHXQJ4D2vrLFHGHLjLqIKrkoS5/s1600/DSCF2078.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlE6QRNAUEvOqTJymTcGzM8KpAn6HGumM-OKUUv7wDhwa30QL72cu9Jc5WeKVA9fVQWm86BX2yum5xvR82GiPdCkAJDBcRcIJgHYGP1fqKB-oc74l6GFHXQJ4D2vrLFHGHLjLqIKrkoS5/s1600/DSCF2078.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As Washington Boulevard continues northward of Newport Parkway
(the road that rests directly above the Holland Tunnel to Manhattan), the vista
changes completely.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzvDV94fTtJQIzkZyzw59oeDXLvh7yrt9nKDU-4upVDYYM22F0Wg-cYDOqvWubqexIzRGNSgy78hlyCyows1doSfVnqgzqGpq0wOGlObJyUIiTw4OF9XMN9VsU-63ftMaMAkUWthv5TWG/s1600/DSCF2086.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzvDV94fTtJQIzkZyzw59oeDXLvh7yrt9nKDU-4upVDYYM22F0Wg-cYDOqvWubqexIzRGNSgy78hlyCyows1doSfVnqgzqGpq0wOGlObJyUIiTw4OF9XMN9VsU-63ftMaMAkUWthv5TWG/s1600/DSCF2086.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gone are the highrises, replaced by a series of
suburban-oriented big box stores (Target, Staples, Best Buy) and replete with
off-street parking lots.<span> </span>The map
below shows that this area in Jersey City offers a host of shopping options
that one would just as easily expect to see in an automobile-oriented suburb.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRTydNeR8nYeoC44BeeqbNxAKnryQisLBRrN7vPIDGxtukPyiP54x-PVWwz1nBPhr2LVvWppTgs3kuR5BgDxTLmF6CufgE58FobHYqEmgRefHkrp_UkBjchhcwRKV0da8dCabq0tnaMju/s1600/map+north+of+newport.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRTydNeR8nYeoC44BeeqbNxAKnryQisLBRrN7vPIDGxtukPyiP54x-PVWwz1nBPhr2LVvWppTgs3kuR5BgDxTLmF6CufgE58FobHYqEmgRefHkrp_UkBjchhcwRKV0da8dCabq0tnaMju/s1600/map+north+of+newport.png" height="226" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Incidentally, this cluster of big box retail sits just south
of a huge rail yard, easily visible on the map.<span> </span>And north of the rail yard is the border for Hoboken,
another densely populated waterfront suburb, but one with a vibrant commercial
main street, filled with retail and pedestrians at all times of day.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXir0XnuqCi8CIvRaq7qWj5_XKhrSHP4TJfcif2C6drqtFoma8M1hFCuoViZQ5NJlkbuukKpAGrAHkupOrMcdQhXRQdck_VZGlJS_aQAqrm0386aZC6HvGlTcbTNZ8a1S9ZR4NqwTVz-vj/s1600/DSCF2692.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXir0XnuqCi8CIvRaq7qWj5_XKhrSHP4TJfcif2C6drqtFoma8M1hFCuoViZQ5NJlkbuukKpAGrAHkupOrMcdQhXRQdck_VZGlJS_aQAqrm0386aZC6HvGlTcbTNZ8a1S9ZR4NqwTVz-vj/s1600/DSCF2692.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnnJWiIW6otnGhyphenhyphenM1OCnCPEWxsuVjxY8jmxBtAZOcaAnrwDAoZ06ZBZCT3ztOIBxDDjVeA_dQADu-EyZn1yYXHGcE75rT0HARwCQsu6vCIeW8RlhYH5grCCZk1StzUO1d7OwWhFaDEMgB/s1600/DSCF2698.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnnJWiIW6otnGhyphenhyphenM1OCnCPEWxsuVjxY8jmxBtAZOcaAnrwDAoZ06ZBZCT3ztOIBxDDjVeA_dQADu-EyZn1yYXHGcE75rT0HARwCQsu6vCIeW8RlhYH5grCCZk1StzUO1d7OwWhFaDEMgB/s1600/DSCF2698.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(And, somewhat ironically, Hoboken’s thriving commercial
corridor is called Washington Street—a contrast from Jerseys City’s inert
Washington Boulevard.)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To be fair, Newport is hardly the alpha and the omega when
it comes Jersey City’s retail centers.<span>
</span>The historic downtown to the west of the waterfront consists primarily
of two to four-story 19<sup>th</sup> century buildings, with numerous
street-level storefronts along Grove Street and Newark Avenue.<span> </span>Many blocks in the older, “real”
downtown of Jersey City boast an activity level on par with Hoboken.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If anything, the uninspiring streetscapes of Newport most
likely reflect the mindset driving development during the time of the district’s
founding.<span> </span>Back in 1986, when the
LeFrak family’s vision first started to take root, much of Jersey City was down
on its luck, having left the doldrums of the 1970s in its wake—a time when the
city lost a staggering 14% of its population.<span> </span>At that point, this inner-ring suburb of New York City had
been shrinking ever since the Great Depression.<span> </span>Though a far cry from its 315,000 peak, it has posted an
increase in population for the last three decades.<span> </span>But no one could have anticipated that in the 1980s, when The
LeFrak Organization took a chance by purchasing land in a district of dilapidated
warehouses amidst a field of creaky, neglected railroads.<span> </span>At a time when even Manhattan’s future appeared
murky, suburban living still seemed like the solution, so it comes as no
surprise that the land uses surrounding LeFrak’s bold move still reflect the
demands of a mostly suburban clientele.<span>
</span>The mall, the bargain department stores, the wide streets, the visible
parking lots—all of these in the 1980s seemed like essential gestures to
attract a population seemingly incorrigibly averse to urbanism.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The times are changing, but the remaining boxy Staples and
Best Buy, monolithic amidst their generous parking lots, feel more like the
final unpainted portions of a canvas, rather than a byproduct of lackadaisical
urban design.<span> </span>By this point,
Jersey City’s escalating land values promise a higher and better use in the
near future, particularly for a struggling national chain like Staples.<span> </span>If the chain folds, it’s a matter of
time before a savvy builder puts something with a higher Floor-Area Ratio in
its place—that is, a taller building that yields a higher rate of return.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the meantime, until the stronger economy forces
developers to strategize on their urban design, Newport will continue to limp
along.<span> </span>It’s still a killer place
for an office, and I have no doubt that Bertucci’s can fill its tables during a
Thursday lunch.<span> </span>But this abundance
of youthful skyscrapers in an environment that remains steadfastly car-centered
looks less like a satellite of New York City and more akin to Dubai.<span> </span>(Or, at least, everything except the
historic center of Dubai, which still remains pretty pedestrian friendly.)<span> </span>No matter how great the density of jobs
and residents, no matter how robust the mass transit, the fundamental character
of the buildings and streetscape in Newport does not lend itself well to
pedestrianism.<span> </span>What it <i>does</i> yield, however, is a perfectly
extreme application of <a href="http://transect.org/cities_img.html">urban transect modeling</a>,
in which the form skips several typological layers, going directly from an
urban core zone (in the heart of Newport) to a suburban zone north of Newport
Parkway, where the Staples first appears.<span>
</span>But Newport’s atypical renaissance places it at odds with most theories
on urban form, even if the results are less than meets the eye.<span> </span>If the developers make sharper
decisions as they continue to invest in the area, maybe sometime they’ll be
able to promote a level of energy to the streetscape that will convince people
to walk around.<span> </span>And Bertucci’s
won’t have to deploy placeholder signage to make up for the sluggish weekend
business.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
AmericanDirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600555386886915000noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9158467536239735339.post-42772441282645640542014-07-12T16:10:00.002-08:002014-07-12T16:10:46.679-08:00When public spaces reflect modern life--by not reflecting anything at all.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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--></style><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Just over a month ago, the City of Indianapolis eagerly
heralded the opening of a new Marsh grocery store downtown—the second within
the Mile Square, which has in recent years exploded in apartment construction.<span> </span>The other, older store still loosely refers
to itself under the name of O’Malia’s, a smaller Indianapolis shain bought out
long ago by Marsh, though a handful of stores survive today under the O’Malia
name.<span> </span>It’s only about six blocks
away, on the edge of the Lockerbie Square neighborhood, in a converted old
Sears and Roebuck Department Store building.<span> </span>The new Marsh occupies two floors and 43,000 square feet, as
part of the five-story Axis mixed-use development near the Canal Walk.<span> </span>Although the Lockerbie Square O’Malia’s
has long tried to satisfy the downtown grocery demand, it was much more in
keeping with a neighborhood corner grocery store and never had the feel of a
regional supermarket.<span> </span>It was
satisfactory but hardly poised keep pace with the rapidly growing downtown
population, as well as the increasingly spendy denizens of surrounding
gentrifying neighborhoods.<span> </span>In
short, central Indianapolis apparently had far greater income density that the
spread of grocery stores would suggest, and it was underrepresented.
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thus, enter the new Marsh.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS0Mj3PYJ79YzkI7wV0o8zdK6hUbx3L9vwM-epW3RaXrVo20HwJHg_14kbWhbNkeq4Y1aCpOTJm8etVadRoCxsAJSlpcFgPygRpOy26bNV_x5q-skEG77kfob7YeR6skYou9bU0SjeRwIG/s1600/DSCF2913.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS0Mj3PYJ79YzkI7wV0o8zdK6hUbx3L9vwM-epW3RaXrVo20HwJHg_14kbWhbNkeq4Y1aCpOTJm8etVadRoCxsAJSlpcFgPygRpOy26bNV_x5q-skEG77kfob7YeR6skYou9bU0SjeRwIG/s1600/DSCF2913.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">At the time of these photos, the facility had been open
about six weeks, even though the apartments within the Axis building are not
yet complete.<span> </span>I didn’t spend
enough time roaming the aisles to get a sense of the quality of its offerings.<span> </span>But aesthetically, it almost definitely
fills a demand niche.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoO-II5tNqE8njR5wL7LMiUnhqjyA9z7hnhTqPEuHnuwpWJAfgC-qZkX9w7WL5ex5-4Ii7oGb-YR2CULm6ALxB85DVfW0E8zugEq27xyYlDtGllSYYxkQFxCAO4jGflXuVwNOowOFEvp3z/s1600/DSCF2915.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoO-II5tNqE8njR5wL7LMiUnhqjyA9z7hnhTqPEuHnuwpWJAfgC-qZkX9w7WL5ex5-4Ii7oGb-YR2CULm6ALxB85DVfW0E8zugEq27xyYlDtGllSYYxkQFxCAO4jGflXuVwNOowOFEvp3z/s1600/DSCF2915.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Marsh’s interior is like slicing open an avocado, and
maybe a tomato right next to it. It’s not a bad idea, and those shades of green
(and the occasional bright red) certainly seem au courant enough.<span> </span>Shiny and new is critical,
because the Marsh Supermarkets brand has lagged considerably in recent years,
though it was once the defining grocery store of the Indianapolis metro.<span> </span>Former CEO Don Marsh’s opulent life,
rumors of mistresses and financial mismanagement escalated from the late 1990s
until around 2006; the company <a href="http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130227/NEWS07/130229554">inevitably dominated news headlines for all the wrong reasons</a>, and its share of the local grocery market plunged
below Kroger, Meijer and Walmart.<span>
</span>Its nadir may have been the late 2006 purchase by Sun Capital, a private
equity firm out of Florida.<span> </span>Whether
the new owners successfully re-branded it or its image was strong enough to
prevail on its own, Marsh has endured, though still at a shadow of its former
self.<span> </span>It shuttered all of its
Illinois locations, reigned in the majority of Ohio stores, discontinued its
spin-off brands like LoBills (and most O’Malia’s) and <a href="http://www.wthr.com/story/5561631/marsh-to-close-16-stores">announced another wave of closures</a> at the beginning of this year. <span> </span>Nonetheless, through the
Marsh/O’Malia’s at Lockerbie and this new location, the declining chain
dominates Indianapolis’ downtown grocery market, at least for the time
being.<span> </span>And this latest is
definitely trying to splash a new coat of paint on the company’s overall image.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMXz1KP3_eu3OkrsLPNqf7smMxLzYKrDGB8EH83vbUPSVZf_yFlqgxMHwdl3WwIfdsSZAA5274JQsJTwkmbPKVVY0C6W9e-2uRH23XNGjoJDafYXLm7WW0IId7YB-lF_evbtW3KHCphxK/s1600/DSCF2914.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMXz1KP3_eu3OkrsLPNqf7smMxLzYKrDGB8EH83vbUPSVZf_yFlqgxMHwdl3WwIfdsSZAA5274JQsJTwkmbPKVVY0C6W9e-2uRH23XNGjoJDafYXLm7WW0IId7YB-lF_evbtW3KHCphxK/s1600/DSCF2914.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The aesthetics of grocery stores is something that I suspect
resonates in our unconsciousness, far more than the blogosphere suggests.<span> </span>After all, supermarkets seem more
resilient to the encroaching dominion of online shopping than a lot of other
retail.<span> </span>Sure, some people feel
confident ordering groceries online.<span>
</span>(Indianapolis is home to a successful cybergrocer; <a href="http://www.greenbeandelivery.com/">Green B.E.A.N. Delivery</a> has grown into a multi-state enterprise.) But most people still prefer choosing
their own groceries, particularly when it comes to selecting the produce, meats,
and baked goods firsthand. <span> </span>Thus,
how a store looks can influence heavily how much people are willing to
patronize a store.<span> </span>And this Marsh
looks contemporary—a stark comparison to the surviving Marsh locations in less
chic parts of town, most of which have interiors that evoke the 1970s when they
were built.<span> </span>My suspicion is that
renovating a grocery store is particularly capital intensive.<span> </span>And since they sell such a large
quantity of non-durable goods, with new shipments arriving daily, it is nearly
impossible to upgrade a supermarket and keep it operational for its
customers.<span> </span>And when a location
completely closes, even if just for a couple months, most of its clientele will
find somewhere else…and they may never return.<span> </span>Thus, grocery store interiors across the country are
particularly likely to remain frozen in time.<span> </span>Far more likely than, say, apparel stores, which also have
to stay fresh to fight off that online competition.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">From murals of the soon-to-change Indianapolis skyline to
its subtle mezzanine that may go mostly unused, the new downtown Marsh in the
Axis is as effective at conveying trendy urban living today is it is likely to
look dated in fifteen years.<span> </span>What
seems particularly telling—and most reflective of the importance of novelty in
design—are those public restrooms.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf32P-3x5iS2LMmmQdRfyAoUW5Gd_2IVhgwUaUa_CtOsxAqn1viIAusezCzeUO1-BoaW_1PkVb9ShilsqO2SBGRY_D5hluOJDucjPAkkqwwEWx9pgRNv6IoOQUvfkhFG567vyaL1DHihl9/s1600/DSCF2908.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf32P-3x5iS2LMmmQdRfyAoUW5Gd_2IVhgwUaUa_CtOsxAqn1viIAusezCzeUO1-BoaW_1PkVb9ShilsqO2SBGRY_D5hluOJDucjPAkkqwwEWx9pgRNv6IoOQUvfkhFG567vyaL1DHihl9/s1600/DSCF2908.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The swimming-pool-mosaic look has taken over in recent
years, as popular a tactic in domestic kitchens as it is in gym locker
rooms.<span> </span>It will seriously date
itself by the year 2020, but doggone it, it looks good right now.<span> </span>These small, antiseptic restrooms in
the new Marsh also reveal a certain feature that may not go out of style quite
as soon.</span></span></div>
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</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJaalficd52LdAqHegJs3tiMm6XENU3BMfcPtrGcPBLHnfNFjllH7c_njo_CkPEMLUcJQnI627KlWyM_zV-XgJMhk33vpqk8S9ur6j00Pz1kVLAJYPwEJXhgY6qeCkKdW7NUYy1N8mESt/s1600/DSCF2910.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJaalficd52LdAqHegJs3tiMm6XENU3BMfcPtrGcPBLHnfNFjllH7c_njo_CkPEMLUcJQnI627KlWyM_zV-XgJMhk33vpqk8S9ur6j00Pz1kVLAJYPwEJXhgY6qeCkKdW7NUYy1N8mESt/s1600/DSCF2910.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
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</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The restroom is more significant for what it lacks: a mirror
above the sink.<span> </span>More and more
businesses are opting to exclude mirrors from their restrooms altogether, much
to the chagrin of the narcissists out there.<span> </span>Why?<span> </span>It could
be because of a growing concern for privacy and the use of restrooms for
unlawful voyeurism; after all, stories routinely hit the local news about
cameras installed in public restrooms to spy on people.<span> </span>Mirrors only expand the potential lines
of sight that peeping toms can exploit.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But the bigger problem with mirrors in public restrooms is,
unfortunately, the vandals out there.<span>
</span>This observation is probably axiomatic to anyone who has ever had to use
a public restroom in a busy urban setting—which covers the vast majority of the
adult population.<span> </span>Mirrors harbor
graffiti and its companion, the <i>scratchitti,
</i>in equal measure.<span> </span>In most
restrooms, they’re right behind the interior stalls for suffering from various
markings and tags.<span> </span>Most Marsh
locations are much more suburban, whereas this one, occupying the street level
of a building with zero setback, is far more likely to receive walk-in pedestrian
traffic that exclusively uses the restroom. <span> </span>Thus, these restrooms will get more users, they’ll be harder
to monitor, and the vandals will soon come out of the woodwork.</span></span></div>
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</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSu_aR89DksaDvSggItk7Z2Dsf7vXBcJoCsHjNgPDQcavj9AFarZGwuqcxJTdfChoL14UjwVw2qt4E8ug-3UXAHyAt-L3g2YEX0f7wxkSPihJWYjRtMd6Vot47sCE9-SSwukY_yZmLrrM/s1600/DSCF2909.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSu_aR89DksaDvSggItk7Z2Dsf7vXBcJoCsHjNgPDQcavj9AFarZGwuqcxJTdfChoL14UjwVw2qt4E8ug-3UXAHyAt-L3g2YEX0f7wxkSPihJWYjRtMd6Vot47sCE9-SSwukY_yZmLrrM/s1600/DSCF2909.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Or at least they would.<span> </span>Removing the mirror deprives them of a popular canvas—a small
omission that inconveniences a few people while allowing one more safeguard
against any chances of diminishing the store’s aesthetic integrity.<span> </span>Six weeks after its opening, the
Indianapolis Marsh remains free of nail polish tags on its mosaic tiles or messages
on the men’s room stalls.<span> </span>And the
ambiance of a fresh bowl of guacamole pervades.<span> </span>Bon appétit.</span></span></div>
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AmericanDirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600555386886915000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9158467536239735339.post-44079016963789264672014-06-30T21:10:00.000-08:002014-06-30T21:17:16.168-08:00When a street is not a road.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My year and a half in Afghanistan working under the US Air
Force confronted me with a new acronym almost every day. One of the bases for which I wrote a
comprehensive plan required a “Glossary of Acronyms” in order to sort them all
out, ballooning to several pages in length. It was exhausting.
</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And then there are the words made up on the spot.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Generally speaking, I leave neologisms to the likes of
Buckminster Fuller. And even
though acronyms don’t qualify as newly minted words, they can serve largely the
same semantic function. It’s hard
not to scan the cultural forces that help to elicit both acronyms and neologisms
with a certain level of amusement.
I’ll admit that I’ve deployed a new word from my artillery from time to time. (I’d like to think I coined the term
“popera” long before it achieved musical relevancy, but no one will see me
phoning my lawyer.) Even though the output of fabricated labels within the
discipline of urban studies pales in comparison to the Department of Defense, I
still find that I’m rarely in the up-and-up when it comes to new trends or the
modish terms to describe them.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Which brings us to the <i>stroad. </i>I wasn’t aware of what a stroad was
until just a few months ago.
Semantically, it seems just as inaccurate as <a href="http://dirtamericana.com/2009/09/when-urban-revitalization-is-nothing-more-than-a-facade/%20http://dirtamericana.blogspot.com/2009/09/notes-when-urban-revitalization-is.html">the <i>façadectomy</i> that I have referenced a few times in the past</a>. After all, “stroad” is a
portmanteau of “street” and “road”, used to characterize an arterial that seems
to share features of both, but also nullifies their intrinsic advantages. But aren’t “street” and “road”
synonymous? According to <a href="http://www.citylab.com/commute/2014/01/dangerous-street-design-spreading-through-suburbs/8033/">a recent <i>City Lab </i>article</a>, Chuck Marohn, a “recovering traffic engineer”, coined the term “stroad” to
describe any right-of-way that “moves cars at speeds too slow to get around
efficiently but too fast to support productive private sector
development”. Therefore, a stroad
tries to achieve the most desirable characteristics of both roads (for their
ability to move vehicular traffic quickly) and streets (for their ability to
link neighborhood features in an aesthetic manner that remains safe and
appealing for all users). It fails
on both counts. According to Marohn, “anytime you are traveling between 30 and
50 miles per hour [as is typically characteristic of a stroad], you are
basically in an area that is too slow to be efficient yet too fast to provide a
framework for capturing a productive rate of return.” Marohn has <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6jFnOnjzrk#t=73">created a video</a> through his nonprofit <a href="http://www.strongtowns.org/">Strong Towns</a> that offers a
visualization of an archetypal stroad.
</span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My long-repressed English major has turned me into an
insufferable semantic nitpicker. Here
I criticize Marohn for placing two words—<i>street</i>
and <i>road</i>—into tidy, discrete semantic
boxes…two words that for most people are fungible. Beyond that, I need to chill out, because Marohn’s neologism
is effective in pretty much every other sense. Regardless of whether or not a stroad blends a street and a road,
as anyone else would define it, it still feels like a hybrid of two types of
right-of-way. Perhaps it cold be
called an arterial and a collector (a “collecterial”?), but then those two
terms are fully entrenched in the lingo of transportation engineers.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Stroad” really conveys another key point. It’s one ugly sounding word—clipped,
aggressive and vulgar. It almost
sounds like a blend of stoat and toad, two largely unloved animals. And, in my first real-life encounter
with a stroad (at least at a point when I knew what the word meant), the first
thing that occurred to me was the unattractiveness of the landscape. Here it is:</span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpa2TXTYJo3BKE5dNz8CymUGbhc7vzpuMgfZAK_kHL_eXlM1YSANf-ynTJDgGgRgk67vrz6aBAsfJMJV21bA6FyQ1neeWvk_wEPKWjt98zbqJFI-K5PpnA0FIGsiV1UukdktHsy-vcty0l/s1600/DSCF2298.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpa2TXTYJo3BKE5dNz8CymUGbhc7vzpuMgfZAK_kHL_eXlM1YSANf-ynTJDgGgRgk67vrz6aBAsfJMJV21bA6FyQ1neeWvk_wEPKWjt98zbqJFI-K5PpnA0FIGsiV1UukdktHsy-vcty0l/s1600/DSCF2298.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’m looking eastward down Michigan Avenue, in the Great Lake
State’s capital of Lansing. And
it’s obvious that this major street, which connects downtown Lansing to the
campus of Michigan State University in nearby East Lansing, has enjoyed a number
of investments that attempt to make it a more attractive environment for
pedestrians. Notice the vintage
lamps hugging the curbs. Another
angle reveals some “bulb out” sidewalk designs intended to lower the section of
the street necessary for walkers to cross at a given crosswalk, as seen below:</span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdbCmznlqaN_nBEeAVWa3GDyXKQO4ZlmpyqfXb6RYy6pgMm28DQwh8Yxt_UjD1IpXenjIQHE6KdR5ifDVWN9bvrhaYvUJnSsXpm5sTsKte_riyo963o0ZcahR299KcRhLzXeiB5KuQj_2/s1600/DSCF2297.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdbCmznlqaN_nBEeAVWa3GDyXKQO4ZlmpyqfXb6RYy6pgMm28DQwh8Yxt_UjD1IpXenjIQHE6KdR5ifDVWN9bvrhaYvUJnSsXpm5sTsKte_riyo963o0ZcahR299KcRhLzXeiB5KuQj_2/s1600/DSCF2297.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And, to be fair, quite a few of the structures on the north
side of the street (to the left in these photos) date from a time period when
most buildings directly addressed the sidewalk. But the side on which I was standing—the south
side—shows the fierce competition that those handsome old two-story buildings
must face.</span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yc2JtnJj9Cor6HO1Re-p5xfwDaFOrDdv2RsteACPUkiT4bOZdoG0vqAAncR0WKqZqSpNJ1mZWnVrzDRcUwJm5EqN8Fh1N4_RHlJPQ16UptiVoe4T51l20eIV8LfgkjmS1HveIZpeHRBX/s1600/DSCF2296.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yc2JtnJj9Cor6HO1Re-p5xfwDaFOrDdv2RsteACPUkiT4bOZdoG0vqAAncR0WKqZqSpNJ1mZWnVrzDRcUwJm5EqN8Fh1N4_RHlJPQ16UptiVoe4T51l20eIV8LfgkjmS1HveIZpeHRBX/s1600/DSCF2296.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To be fair, real estate speculators have caught on to the
notion that this is a redeveloping area, and someone is trying to market this
corner parcel to capitalize on what is ostensibly an emerging district for
young professionals.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiC0dcbKaLZ76TURK-oIvedNcpblTznglaxgLEctHLILGR9L6W18PnRJWjZ7jUH3B2A0ibykik6RjFquksYnA0ynq9Npn4kUTfpw9m7xQ6HUENfGQF2ui-bxgFn5iL0LH3YIcBbz-p2z_d/s1600/DSCF2295.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiC0dcbKaLZ76TURK-oIvedNcpblTznglaxgLEctHLILGR9L6W18PnRJWjZ7jUH3B2A0ibykik6RjFquksYnA0ynq9Npn4kUTfpw9m7xQ6HUENfGQF2ui-bxgFn5iL0LH3YIcBbz-p2z_d/s1600/DSCF2295.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I wish this developer the best of luck. He or she may very well succeed. After all, just a half-block to the
west, on the north side of the street, sits the Cooley Law School Stadium, an
apparent recent addition that has prompted certain civic boosters to brand this
stretch of Michigan Avenue as the “Stadium District”.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCg2KwYhiMgOWMxYuAwVqGfjJ1osatc_BgAv903iEhuGbM9mVPw-IRAMizIlECxdsnv4oNJ3T1HV5yM06Qt3ej-Q55W_A_Bc-Dnml9wpKn6kn3637FZE8XvkXCSs4KXQEafPZEW3m9BO3-/s1600/DSCF2287.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCg2KwYhiMgOWMxYuAwVqGfjJ1osatc_BgAv903iEhuGbM9mVPw-IRAMizIlECxdsnv4oNJ3T1HV5yM06Qt3ej-Q55W_A_Bc-Dnml9wpKn6kn3637FZE8XvkXCSs4KXQEafPZEW3m9BO3-/s1600/DSCF2287.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivIxVrT0raf8kXAGhyphenhyphensXCPVO2J6ssef2EYS_mGOh3Itsk1avaV37V9zZ2NlcoSxMnwFUHwuWnXrY8taBXbftqK9lYX8Bu84isuNAG534FvWkI4uDtJec91r3iwoys3heu8ZxhhKw4HDMf/s1600/DSCF2291.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivIxVrT0raf8kXAGhyphenhyphensXCPVO2J6ssef2EYS_mGOh3Itsk1avaV37V9zZ2NlcoSxMnwFUHwuWnXrY8taBXbftqK9lYX8Bu84isuNAG534FvWkI4uDtJec91r3iwoys3heu8ZxhhKw4HDMf/s1600/DSCF2291.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And on the otherwise desolate south side of the street,
another obviously recent mixed-use development sits just a little further to
the west, ostensibly <a href="http://gillespie-group.com/apartment/stadium/?back=67/district.htm">capitalizing on the Stadium District name</a>.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RvcT_coa1Up9J3Tyh_3B1wCZVibmP2H7-EAExLYOqwArNFDuwDk9P5IIhXbqm3wbRatpDSBsM6b6JLPAZ-fTBUJHSFkj_jXt1JCOyrwTyimde8peILofuadbNaKEzEze3S1tWOpt7vIb/s1600/DSCF2272.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RvcT_coa1Up9J3Tyh_3B1wCZVibmP2H7-EAExLYOqwArNFDuwDk9P5IIhXbqm3wbRatpDSBsM6b6JLPAZ-fTBUJHSFkj_jXt1JCOyrwTyimde8peILofuadbNaKEzEze3S1tWOpt7vIb/s1600/DSCF2272.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And, another block to the west, an old industrial building has
benefited from a repurposing into a mixed-use facility with restaurants on the
first floor.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UddPke9ZKtzu9RBshjvvAlhk3Wg4pkTSPlq9_bCiLIrLy78TUkZ8GqaML_8A7k5-qEWSda8-psXl0Pb05-WjVwU39FJVUdaanEJFpYDVMZkr57nSlSlGwg4630rluOvMxMW6yACUO1Il/s1600/DSCF2271.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UddPke9ZKtzu9RBshjvvAlhk3Wg4pkTSPlq9_bCiLIrLy78TUkZ8GqaML_8A7k5-qEWSda8-psXl0Pb05-WjVwU39FJVUdaanEJFpYDVMZkr57nSlSlGwg4630rluOvMxMW6yACUO1Il/s1600/DSCF2271.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Perhaps Michigan Avenue will come together wonderfully as a
corridor with densely interwoven different uses. It doesn’t hurt to be optimistic. After all, this stroad terminates just a few blocks further
to the east, at the Michigan State Capitol. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8sWHaOGF_dO-VJU1u_t524nbnqoOpGuS3UYWXI5KMfsk2zyk0xAg6TKSNqmeGBgQILBksZLCeuDeqIYb0Ln6o8tZKxX5APUoCfL3a2w-wFAJQ4H4spycOV5TxHpuwc5cAKsqanfbrQ5Z/s1600/DSCF2270.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8sWHaOGF_dO-VJU1u_t524nbnqoOpGuS3UYWXI5KMfsk2zyk0xAg6TKSNqmeGBgQILBksZLCeuDeqIYb0Ln6o8tZKxX5APUoCfL3a2w-wFAJQ4H4spycOV5TxHpuwc5cAKsqanfbrQ5Z/s1600/DSCF2270.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The elongated dome of the Capitol is visible in the
distance. So this Stadium District
is just a football toss away from Lansing’s downtown and the center of
Michigan’s government. (But,
incidentally, not the Ingham County seat. Lansing is among the only state capitals that is not also the
center of government for its respective county.) But compare Michigan Avenue to another, smaller commercial
thoroughfare in central Lansing:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkcsJL5UVJMepdJbXC2qKcUTigLAk5V-EKcLsavQ5manFWlPUewuZK7paVlsi2hdLaKfiyARco2WWg6UQHUcObg0MhB6hz_IyNlfctnC_R95hklqZ84qwtJKmNuhqd82xNWTBnitPSp3B/s1600/DSCF2278.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkcsJL5UVJMepdJbXC2qKcUTigLAk5V-EKcLsavQ5manFWlPUewuZK7paVlsi2hdLaKfiyARco2WWg6UQHUcObg0MhB6hz_IyNlfctnC_R95hklqZ84qwtJKmNuhqd82xNWTBnitPSp3B/s1600/DSCF2278.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0ogMrqpmaVQgGpQTx0mpX9oqStRyc4J08qEZD4P393BTvM5X4nmgoBH4Y0NDwY_3H-1kAR7Jus4sWi6mKIMVWG_OJvRAfv1sGAivgCIHxsqkmqRwh9HPSEZjSt7_6Lqn8CSl-KhngN0K/s1600/DSCF2255.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0ogMrqpmaVQgGpQTx0mpX9oqStRyc4J08qEZD4P393BTvM5X4nmgoBH4Y0NDwY_3H-1kAR7Jus4sWi6mKIMVWG_OJvRAfv1sGAivgCIHxsqkmqRwh9HPSEZjSt7_6Lqn8CSl-KhngN0K/s1600/DSCF2255.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKckJSpjq9SmECw1gmlUFE2sMaB1IHzyzoV0MlNJkagt1k-J_mSyPTHfTMin5vuwtUKhfHyYiMpqXlWBsiQ6Ub2-P6n4MKe3a0PtEs4rvW_uNI9tdKsjT3FoddSMYlwPNY9Cpu4e8zjRE/s1600/DSCF2281.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKckJSpjq9SmECw1gmlUFE2sMaB1IHzyzoV0MlNJkagt1k-J_mSyPTHfTMin5vuwtUKhfHyYiMpqXlWBsiQ6Ub2-P6n4MKe3a0PtEs4rvW_uNI9tdKsjT3FoddSMYlwPNY9Cpu4e8zjRE/s1600/DSCF2281.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The above pictures reveal the streetscape for Washington
Square, a street perpendicular to Michigan Avenue that runs just a block east
of the capitol. Both roads are
visible on the map below:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwftuaADtSsAnALvE4ETwHfqsrIdqmkTQAKj13slYYuEhXP3gML-wY6672O0i0vatJ5M47YmEmKFpvBi5Fv648LfBBGOQez6ZOPGOHKYKw1y4YZu__Mx26q1_NszsJEGs4RpE83iro4m_/s1600/Downtown+Lansing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwftuaADtSsAnALvE4ETwHfqsrIdqmkTQAKj13slYYuEhXP3gML-wY6672O0i0vatJ5M47YmEmKFpvBi5Fv648LfBBGOQez6ZOPGOHKYKw1y4YZu__Mx26q1_NszsJEGs4RpE83iro4m_/s1600/Downtown+Lansing.png" height="168" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">On Washington Square, cars can still get where they need to
be, but never while careening at 50 miles per hour. The abundance of on-street parking—most of it occupied on a
lazy Saturday afternoon—integrates peaceably with the copious sidewalk-oriented
buildings, resulting in an environment that is far more likely to foster higher
concentrations of pedestrians.
Compare once more with Michigan Avenue just a few blocks away:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeUjt9C26pKmyFylydgWCB1kxRK7UWls44dB_P2qj0gkM9AKOKxxFdxT8yn_IUpucczolHCHTqILOF7QWhevf3cw1Vp0miQCDgRtksipBo5IwePUrzMTobgA4qXQX0owNp2wUUPdnbiqz/s1600/DSCF2285.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeUjt9C26pKmyFylydgWCB1kxRK7UWls44dB_P2qj0gkM9AKOKxxFdxT8yn_IUpucczolHCHTqILOF7QWhevf3cw1Vp0miQCDgRtksipBo5IwePUrzMTobgA4qXQX0owNp2wUUPdnbiqz/s1600/DSCF2285.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUZy_BRVUv3LaPOzVUFRC_kirVtgEh_CJ4GES0JZLTRubykZP23aaCXWicNSEyTFjGZAI_SIwUu3zfFTDbrQ-yx3VqHN3Tsv5AWppok0atIuiWVG6htCEejr7p_i7bFKMzHEfJovpjbaq/s1600/DSCF2284.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUZy_BRVUv3LaPOzVUFRC_kirVtgEh_CJ4GES0JZLTRubykZP23aaCXWicNSEyTFjGZAI_SIwUu3zfFTDbrQ-yx3VqHN3Tsv5AWppok0atIuiWVG6htCEejr7p_i7bFKMzHEfJovpjbaq/s1600/DSCF2284.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Churck Marohn recognizes that stroads often boast
superlative investment. But to
what end? The sidewalk on the
right looks great, with decorative brick pavers, street trees, and wrought iron
gates. But the gaps between all
the buildings on the right suggest that most landowners in this area still
prefer setting aside plenty of space for off-street parking. Meanwhile, on the
left, abutting the Cooley Law School Stadium, is another big parking lot.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdXmiT_qoojKCPbm-7a-a7i1M-YaKSaVgQll1AGsygW2SLf6tHymljIUxscNeuOtf3d8xBxix7mT5y8coQ2KjltiqyRLTlppFM0Qn8WqsbpIYcCfM7xovT0LyKB8n7llaGtqvtBSn18RK/s1600/DSCF2288.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdXmiT_qoojKCPbm-7a-a7i1M-YaKSaVgQll1AGsygW2SLf6tHymljIUxscNeuOtf3d8xBxix7mT5y8coQ2KjltiqyRLTlppFM0Qn8WqsbpIYcCfM7xovT0LyKB8n7llaGtqvtBSn18RK/s1600/DSCF2288.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And since parking lots are not exactly a high-intensity land
use, chances are the land values along Michigan Avenue are significantly lower
than Washington Square.
Admittedly, Washington Square is in the heart of downtown, but Michigan
Avenue’s effort to assert itself as a competing Uptown district isn’t bearing
the same fruit.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">On his stroad video, Marohn asserts, “Parking lots don’t
employ anyone, and parking lots don’t pay a lot of taxes, so this environment
becomes very low-yielding.”
Frankly, it’s amazing that this stroad has even achieved what we see
now. But the investment to
get here has been formidable, and it’s hard to imagine that the buildings that
flank this seven-lane arterial will ever host sufficient density to make it hot
real estate that can attract college students away from the much better,
stroad-less street network in MSU’s hometown of East Lansing. The only conceivable way to scale down
this stretch of Michigan Avenue would be to turn it into a full-fledged
street—or at least Marohn’s definition of a street—by giving it a road diet
that invites the superfluous lanes to accommodate bicyclists, pedestrians,
carefully deployed greenery, or mass transit stops. But that, again, would require more infrastructural
investment—the exact sort of Pyrrhic victory that has borne so many stroads in
the first place. By this point,
that sort of money would go to better use in a complete urban dictionary. Or a guide to the US Air Force
acronyms.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
AmericanDirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600555386886915000noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9158467536239735339.post-21494823600671519752014-06-07T17:33:00.000-08:002014-06-12T03:39:27.128-08:00Aging at home: does it have to be an uphill climb?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Baby Boomers remain the largest generation by volume of any
recorded in the history of the United States. This label, part of common parlance from coast to coast,
imposes artificial bookends upon a group of people whose only real commonality
is that they were conceived in the years following World War II—a spike in the
birthrate that gives them gravitas, almost tautologically, again thanks to
their formidable numbers. They
have shaped everything, particularly as they grew up and passed legal voting
age, but then they continued to do so as they amassed wealth and earned a
previously inconceivable purchasing power. And their influence will undoubtedly continue in their wake
after the last of them dies out.
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Grim as it may be to talk about death, the <a href="http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/pr/babyboomerfiles-pr.htm">first baby boomer became eligible for social security on October 15, 2007</a> (turning 62 on January
1, 2008), and, while a generation widely characterized by ambition and upward mobility
is likely to defer retirement, eventually old age will catch up with it. The widespread proliferation of extended care facilities,
senior communities, and the younger “active adult” subdivisions is evidence that
a sizable portion of the population is demanding a residential typology that
scarcely existed 50 years ago, when most people were only expected to live a
half dozen years after retirement.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But how do we respond to those who have no desire to leave
the places they have called home for most of their adult lives?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9u0uf2QjvsWtnxzenAmZd4y6EhXu3i8C4eruWN86Zpa9bkpXgwaghIha8GEj1OULtxERoDRF3rMZRPXqxzwII8xtJWXItYcfauy6DUDTIUT2SK4SAJHX-llaWO2K7L7FBvBO18F4NKikU/s1600/DSCF2190.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9u0uf2QjvsWtnxzenAmZd4y6EhXu3i8C4eruWN86Zpa9bkpXgwaghIha8GEj1OULtxERoDRF3rMZRPXqxzwII8xtJWXItYcfauy6DUDTIUT2SK4SAJHX-llaWO2K7L7FBvBO18F4NKikU/s1600/DSCF2190.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A house like this, in the working class Detroit suburb of
Lincoln Park, downriver from the Motor City, may at least shed a flicker of
light on what’s happening. And, as
is often the case, I’m making assumptions with little more than my own peepers:
I have no idea the age or family make-up of the folks who call this tidy
bungalow home. But the outside
evidence suggests they are contending with the forces that father time imposes
on our muscles, bones and joints.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qDqA3-zGGJSGmQcGUNEf0EmpUVBLE6u65okVBOLkOkQZN8ay66g97NJrRV5JoPI0VV8qhmRMbFPpclfz8Yfap6P39v4XRlT9gGDRE0e5y48ERKtZ42kgxwvqv7EWHpmAWODv1D7XSMwP/s1600/DSCF2191.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qDqA3-zGGJSGmQcGUNEf0EmpUVBLE6u65okVBOLkOkQZN8ay66g97NJrRV5JoPI0VV8qhmRMbFPpclfz8Yfap6P39v4XRlT9gGDRE0e5y48ERKtZ42kgxwvqv7EWHpmAWODv1D7XSMwP/s1600/DSCF2191.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The contraption leading to the front door should make it clear
what I’m suggesting: it’s a wheelchair ramp. And it’s an elaborate one.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfpS7fexryiEHuwzDQ3FJDT0bcuNZPUSHWCSPcjTaOPZw0iNPLF5LUZ7KTXB54lJwcST7nlOo9BPXCqI15R7tY2zqqUjlUAydoKSLsJzItPDx3HW4tUm7gNA5jIU4-d4NU_dGcjjJpxoK/s1600/DSCF2192.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfpS7fexryiEHuwzDQ3FJDT0bcuNZPUSHWCSPcjTaOPZw0iNPLF5LUZ7KTXB54lJwcST7nlOo9BPXCqI15R7tY2zqqUjlUAydoKSLsJzItPDx3HW4tUm7gNA5jIU4-d4NU_dGcjjJpxoK/s1600/DSCF2192.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">More often than not, they have to be elaborate. Homes dating
from this time period (between the 1920s and 1940s, I’d suspect) rarely
accommodated people who depended on wheelchairs for mobility, partly due to
lack of any organized advocacy on behalf of disabled people and heavily due to
lack of demand. Not only were
people with access or functional needs less likely to expect navigability or
self-sufficiency, the world simply had fewer of them around. The life cycle simply didn’t mesh well
with disabilities, and disabled people likely depended on either family or
hired caretakers. Times have
changed, and homes with an extensive ramp like this one in Lincoln Park have
grown increasingly common.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Aside from the physicality of the house itself, the space
around it could pose a huge challenge. Wheelchairs require a very gentle grade change of 1:12. Otherwise, most users don’t have the
strength to apply the needed torque to proceed up the slope, or their
caretakers may be unable to push.
While motorized chairs can mitigate against topography to some extent,
they are undoubtedly more expensive and may not be desirable for those who have
enough upper-body capability to wheel themselves around. Thus, to get the ramp they need to
their front doors, many homeowners must sacrifice a good part of the front
yard.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What’s interesting about the house in Lincoln Park is that
it ostensibly <i>has </i>enough room, even
though it rests on what would typically be a small parcel in a relatively
dense, walkable pre-war neighborhood. While most of the homes in Lincoln Park claim
narrow lots, this homeowner has ample space for a ramp on the one side.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTj2s4vKW9BSH2cSZNYD19jw7fe8TK_FjcUSlQGeLpEITuvh1udJ-lQUldSSPi7IsjXvRBj7SwJO6Y4IZw_p6xJfMOydqKtRgL4coRL2zfzk5C7UPpgODD7b9bZ3JBVfa2hUrY2hPxIbPs/s1600/DSCF2194.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTj2s4vKW9BSH2cSZNYD19jw7fe8TK_FjcUSlQGeLpEITuvh1udJ-lQUldSSPi7IsjXvRBj7SwJO6Y4IZw_p6xJfMOydqKtRgL4coRL2zfzk5C7UPpgODD7b9bZ3JBVfa2hUrY2hPxIbPs/s1600/DSCF2194.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But why would there be such a gap between homes, when the
normal configuration for neighborhoods from this time period is much
closer-knit, with minimal side yards?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabJDEiUn2zdWVVUKSfAVHoGEvx75DQKogiLzdfNTN4EGNOJnHR03dcSE-pzagupeHEDcufrXseABE5U3m2vCTlVLugac43ebGFCelKevK-_AeXki28p10LXo9IKgMCJJlsqdu45aW2doF/s1600/DSCF2196.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabJDEiUn2zdWVVUKSfAVHoGEvx75DQKogiLzdfNTN4EGNOJnHR03dcSE-pzagupeHEDcufrXseABE5U3m2vCTlVLugac43ebGFCelKevK-_AeXki28p10LXo9IKgMCJJlsqdu45aW2doF/s1600/DSCF2196.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It would appear that this modest little yellow house used to
have a neighbor. Just beyond the
handicapped parking sign—to its left in the photo above—is a curb cut, with a
paved strip wide enough for a car.
It’s hard to imagine any other purpose for that than a driveway that
once led to a garage…to a garage that once served a house. The house almost definitely was
demolished, and enough of the pavement was removed to clear the ground for fresh
turf. All that remains is the
strip between the sidewalk and the curb cut.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It’s neither possible nor reasonable to postulate that the
owners of the yellow house bought the adjacent property, then demolished it, in
part to expand their yard and to provide enough room for the handicapped
ramp. That former home could have
befallen a million different fates.
But unlike Detroit, where demolished homes have routinely induced gaps
in the streetscape, a lacuna such as this is rare in Lincoln Park. And the generous side yard addresses
what otherwise could have been a great enough engineering challenge to preclude
this family’s ability to remain in their house.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sweeping wheelchair ramps in front yards may not jump out to
the unattuned eye—after all, we’ve seen the proliferation of accessible
commercial and public buildings over the two decades since ADA passed—but it’s
easy to surmise that their numbers are growing. After
all, those baby boomers may soon start facing the mobility impairments that
accompany old age, and few houses, both old and new, meet the sundry
requirements that allow households to <i>age
in place</i>. Aside from replacing
all stairs with ramps, wheelchair friendly structures require significant
additional retrofits. Hinges must
allow doors to pivot across a broader space in order to accommodate the gentler
turn radii of wheelchairs.
Cabinets cannot be placed too high. Knobs on stovetops—and the burners themselves—can’t be out
of reach from a seated position.
Toilets need ample room and often bars for leverage to allow ingress and
egress. The operability of the
most mundane household objects no longer seems so benign. And I can’t begin to guess how
the wheelchair-dependent person at this Lincoln Park house manages to get up to
the next floor. It may be
little more than an attic or auxiliary space. But if the bedroom’s up there, it’s probable that the family
had to retrofit a room on the first floor to serve as the bedroom. And since many older homes only have
one bathroom, that spatial arrangement could also pose a huge problem if the
loo is on what we Americans call floor two.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">“Aging in place” may soon become a household term as this
populated generation faces access and functional needs in an array of houses
not built to accommodate them. Americans with Disabilities Act
standards are already ubiquitous, and <a href="http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/disabilities/fhefhag">HUD provided accessibility guidelines for affordable housing</a>, coincident to the passage of ADA. Could this cohort’s demand for
ramps and broad bathrooms reach such an apex that it actually hurts the overall
market for conventional housing? Will
the younger, less populous, able-bodied generation seek out a glut of homes entering
the market? Perhaps the boomers
will resort to the tactics on display in these photos.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">A colleague at a recent conference cogently observed that we
rarely see sweeping ramps to front doors in high-income neighborhoods. They dominate blue-collar areas. A variety of cultural shifts over the
next decade could corroborate if the aging in place phenomenon is
socioeconomically driven, but it’s easy to speculate now whether such an
assertion is true. More affluent
neighborhoods use their homeowners associations to create covenants attached to
the deeds, which can restrict major modifications that could vitiate the
aesthetics of the community. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These
covenants may therefore require homeowners to find subtler and more expensive
means of solving mobility problems.
Affluent homeowners may amortize their loans at a slightly earlier point
in life, giving them more leverage in selling and moving to an appropriately
suited domicile after retirement—one that better allows them to age in place
than the one they enjoyed during their career years. Lastly, </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">affluent adults generally boast superior access to doctors and preventative
care specialists, meaning
they could be slightly less likely to face mobility impairments caused by
common conditions such as stroke, since <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/233456.php">heart disease or cardiovascular-related ailments routinely affect lower-income people</a> more often and at younger ages.</span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Regardless of how the baby boomers’ silver tsunami shapes future
sociological studies, a fixed asset such as real estate will have to adapt to
our morphing, creaky bodies. The
development world’s response to an as-of-yet undetermined demand shift could
exert a profound impact on the shape and appearance of residential
communities. And we won’t always
be able to bulldoze the home next door to make way for a new entrance.</span></span></div>
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AmericanDirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600555386886915000noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9158467536239735339.post-77325013060945374072014-05-22T17:32:00.001-08:002014-05-24T12:05:29.185-08:00Forbidden feet.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Travel any reasonable distance in this country, across
multiple political boundaries, and you will inevitably discover a variety
practices in handling traffic. We
see it everywhere: speed limit differences, right turns on red (or not), the
size and generosity of the turn radius at an intersection, the style and design
(or even the very existence) of pedestrian amenities. Though it may be a bit
hyperbolic to assert that these idiosyncratic distinctions arise from the
constituents applying representative democracy to get the system they desire
(within the bounds of federally mandated core standards, that is), it isn’t far
from the truth either. Some states
have developed their own characteristic strategies: <a href="http://dirtamericana.blogspot.com/2014/01/a-time-of-signs.html">the Michigan Left that I wrote about a few months ago</a> has earned its significant detractors, but enough traffic engineers recognize
its merits that other states have started adopting it. (They still call it a Michigan
Left.) And everyone on the East
Coast knows New Jersey’s penchant for the jughandle style of “left” turns,
which also has <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-04/new-jersey-jughandle-bill-seeks-end-of-left-turn-oddity.html">apparently generated enough backlash to prompt injunctive legislation</a>.</span></span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But one state has managed to surprise me with its dogged
tendency to feature a particular sign—something I have only seen on extremely
rare occasions elsewhere, but in this state the sign is commonplace.</span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qJWRvv3204FnrdkNpB4BGxPQ3ysZtLHhQ1wIZq2aeDMubhJ48ykaWPRW79cJ0sbpYptePZn-kqhnfEDDwL4g4t_GSBXPKd32sRjRM1zHvuhRvIFNqQiFw3APCmNi8Bqf-F9jOLgJCRN2/s1600/PA+no+peds+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qJWRvv3204FnrdkNpB4BGxPQ3ysZtLHhQ1wIZq2aeDMubhJ48ykaWPRW79cJ0sbpYptePZn-kqhnfEDDwL4g4t_GSBXPKd32sRjRM1zHvuhRvIFNqQiFw3APCmNi8Bqf-F9jOLgJCRN2/s1600/PA+no+peds+01.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Even amidst the dusky, grainy quality of the photo, it is
obvious what this sign is trying to convey: no pedestrians allowed here. Granted, it’s not an area that most
would consider a pedestrian paradise: a post-war suburb to a large metropolitan
area, in which big-box chains, strip malls, and sizable parking lots flank both
sides of a six-lane highway.
Again, the twilight haze might obscure the clarity of the photo, but not
enough to point out the obvious.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbx8zPG7WjEru9wjEpVT9C6NwotfxKdRLn8yIcW1RVewdBhzjr2zhs3JeBkH9IReedrUaUzEDOC0wxB-vrFSUznERarRprZLAk6Ev_BJlcvQ1qgVeHiXhO2yAsstAg_rOuxMx-J9HaM6m9/s1600/PA+no+peds+02.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbx8zPG7WjEru9wjEpVT9C6NwotfxKdRLn8yIcW1RVewdBhzjr2zhs3JeBkH9IReedrUaUzEDOC0wxB-vrFSUznERarRprZLAk6Ev_BJlcvQ1qgVeHiXhO2yAsstAg_rOuxMx-J9HaM6m9/s1600/PA+no+peds+02.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">These signs are not along a limit access highway, an
environment that disallows pedestrians through the vast majority of the
country. No, this is an area with
plenty of stop lights, curb cuts, and choke points for vehicular traffic. It’s not an attractive, desirable, or
particularly safe area for walkers, but must they be forbidden? Is it perhaps an isolated instance—a particularly
hazardous location in which the sign emerges out of a genuine public interest
to inhibit those without motors?</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">No, these signs are everywhere. Here’s another intersection a half mile down the road.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-oDUEjMnC3bHGC72WGUzIoNmFPFj5EAD-YtIx1aRTOEBAlgq8TYiTRU8X0UBnyNPkN5nHhQ-gI5-Iobf6pdujtpQoJzoO5l0bMY3t1zT3ohtbmQ0v-RgpSNreEf3rgPV_cchaadWs2V-N/s1600/PA+no+peds+05.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-oDUEjMnC3bHGC72WGUzIoNmFPFj5EAD-YtIx1aRTOEBAlgq8TYiTRU8X0UBnyNPkN5nHhQ-gI5-Iobf6pdujtpQoJzoO5l0bMY3t1zT3ohtbmQ0v-RgpSNreEf3rgPV_cchaadWs2V-N/s1600/PA+no+peds+05.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1Ka-jdHfQaEHNlm-t0BzExhL92uIs4YkhZJBxNQbNoPVGJjwwJmG5zLbp2kyYTSexrFfvTKP2nTYYJ-_Od9DT-con2aYP07XKFTEYGR0w0B20uI758OjH8KvLFlYbr9mMYGoSoOkVjT7/s1600/PA+no+peds+06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1Ka-jdHfQaEHNlm-t0BzExhL92uIs4YkhZJBxNQbNoPVGJjwwJmG5zLbp2kyYTSexrFfvTKP2nTYYJ-_Od9DT-con2aYP07XKFTEYGR0w0B20uI758OjH8KvLFlYbr9mMYGoSoOkVjT7/s1600/PA+no+peds+06.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Granted, it’s probably a horrible intersection to traverse
by foot. But to forbid it
altogether? Where <i>is </i>this?! The lighter sky helps clarify, while the concrete “Jersey barrier”
separating the directions of traffic flow might offer a hint as to what state
this is. But no, this isn’t New
Jersey.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIwTjmn54sMc9i9t41bVaHep3wauIfk_JGYF1wCV0qsU5fDebv5ci8dJopc6JfGdOaN_yotAOQpvRK2VyahudV2AnNKwPyz0rFixmC06uMLvhsDR7-LgrwkT4_wAW3j5Z-HWxqE2ZM_mO/s1600/PA+no+peds+08.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIwTjmn54sMc9i9t41bVaHep3wauIfk_JGYF1wCV0qsU5fDebv5ci8dJopc6JfGdOaN_yotAOQpvRK2VyahudV2AnNKwPyz0rFixmC06uMLvhsDR7-LgrwkT4_wAW3j5Z-HWxqE2ZM_mO/s1600/PA+no+peds+08.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It’s a larger and even more populous state: the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania. I’m not as well-traveled
as some people out there, particularly when it comes to the western half of the
US, but I have still never seen a state where “no pedestrian” signs are as
prolific. I frankly can’t recall
seeing them anywhere in most states except along expressways. But they’re just a part of the roadside
landscape in PA—in exurbs, rural areas, or major suburban thoroughfares like
this one.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I’d be shocked if local police enforce this regulation
outside of places where pedestrians typically are forbidden—i.e., legitimate limited
access highways. While it is
unfair to form flattering or degrading inferences about an entire state from
something as petty as a roadside sign, it’s hard not to wonder what elicited
this sign in a state like Pennsylvania, where the settlements, the housing
stock, and the roads largely existed before the automobile. To this day, most Pennsylvania cities
and towns—particularly those in the eastern half of the state, where this photo
comes from—stand upon a tightly wrought grid with narrow streets, tiny parcels,
small setbacks from the sidewalks and an overwhelmingly walkable character. The interstices between towns might be
filled with conventional suburbanization, but the old towns remain quite
compact. This pattern contrasts
sharply with a state such as Nevada, where virtually all inhabited areas owe
their layout to the ubiquity of the car.
Since around 1970, Pennsylvania has also remained one of the
slowest-growing states in the country; population growth in the 2000s was less
than 5%. Thus, Pennsylvania can
claim many more intact pre-automobile communities than most states. And its largest cities, Pittsburgh and
Philadelphia, have public transportation systems that, at least by American
standards, are fairly robust.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Keystone State should boast better-than-average
pedestrianism, and—for the most part—it probably does. But somehow, among its successive
legislatures, this red, white and black sign slipped into the inventory for
various municipal traffic engineers, and in quite a few places they have
deployed it with abandon. My hope
for those Pennsylvanians who lack the option or ability to drive is that <i>all</i> police offers turn a blind eye to
this regulation. While the photos
above don’t depict a particularly walkable environment (sidewalks are sparse),
how is anyone supposed to respond to a scene like this?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The municipality’s public works department has paved along
the sidewalk easement, but then it restricts people from walking through the installation of this
sign. It might not yet be dusk,
but it’s close enough to the twilight zone.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
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AmericanDirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600555386886915000noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9158467536239735339.post-30326907390125733532014-05-07T09:23:00.001-08:002014-05-07T09:23:35.134-08:00When the best preservation efforts go up in smoke.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My latest <a href="http://www.urbanindy.com/2014/05/07/when-the-best-preservation-efforts-go-up-in-smoke/">is up at Urban Indy</a>. It focuses on a charming Victorian double in the historic neighborhood of St. Joseph, immediately north of downtown Indianapolis, perfectly visible in this <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/@39.778973,-86.155342,3a,75y,174.01h,91.16t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1swExRIxFF40W8hDlDkyz57w!2e0">Google Streetview image</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">At least, that's how it looked in the summer of 2009. This is what it looks like now:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-beRtK6H3XbEeucgZy_LxBnV-dmDwkeH7jRi06n_eLmIqB2ngc33nVkJ4_-CctgUgUrJycctSV5rZ40nILFhzv_aSTepQRq2NpmiRvovmrzxqzrMqXwsBdDMVWbDmN-Ip2CsHq2RQdni/s1600/DSCF2067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-beRtK6H3XbEeucgZy_LxBnV-dmDwkeH7jRi06n_eLmIqB2ngc33nVkJ4_-CctgUgUrJycctSV5rZ40nILFhzv_aSTepQRq2NpmiRvovmrzxqzrMqXwsBdDMVWbDmN-Ip2CsHq2RQdni/s1600/DSCF2067.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's gone. Demolished. One could argue that protections for "contributing buildings" in Historic Districts don't give enough teeth to enforce demolition, but that wasn't the problem here. In the spring of 2010, the building burned to the ground--a fire of undetermined origin.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My research, revealed in full at Urban Indy, determined that it was <i>not</i> a suspicious fire by a landowner who wanted to rid himself of the structural albatross in order to offer the adjacent apartment buildings some quick-and-easy off-street parking. I actually spoke with the owner of this tragically destroyed home, who made every attempt to save it. The actual narrative, and the parcel's uncertain future, get full exploration, in an attempt to reconcile the need to preserve the "character" of a historic district (always a fuzzy word) with the understandable aspiration to maximize the marketability of a small, constrained piece of land. Comments and further observations are strongly encouraged--residents of the St. Joseph neighborhood would certainly appreciate what outsiders might have to say!</span></span><br />
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AmericanDirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600555386886915000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9158467536239735339.post-39118814660626833562014-04-30T17:16:00.000-08:002014-05-02T18:07:26.268-08:00Urban recycling: not a bad (unironic) beer in the box.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A recycling station housed in an old factory building might
not seem like a novel concept, particularly in a city with a plethora of
underutilized or vacant industrial space.
Like Detroit.
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEoNVP0ICdFL9JNp9I85u3tF8OVlcT0KKi2kKMxJykNBFrDZLTfMIHue3Ocm0qLUd_yWVbJ-IjgeWVQDEg6EUJKJjsGFWpTciFFaBj8ZzAJT8lfZxC03LtytD-pqL3NioeJgaikGNKdmvg/s1600/DSCF2230.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEoNVP0ICdFL9JNp9I85u3tF8OVlcT0KKi2kKMxJykNBFrDZLTfMIHue3Ocm0qLUd_yWVbJ-IjgeWVQDEg6EUJKJjsGFWpTciFFaBj8ZzAJT8lfZxC03LtytD-pqL3NioeJgaikGNKdmvg/s1600/DSCF2230.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And even the appearance of it—a pastiche of industrial chic,
street artistry, found objects, and, yes, even a pretty extensive panoply of bins
of reusable materials, all monitored by reliably bearded and tattooed staffers—is
probably closer to the mental image of what community recycling could, or
should, look like. “Taking out the
trash” isn’t just utilitarian and mundane; it’s fashionable, eye-catching and
even sorta fun.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Despite my evocation of hipster clichés, <a href="http://www.recyclehere.net/">Recycle Here!</a> feels like a
novelty, at least in part because it’s among the few ways that residents of the
Detroit can divert their discarded objects from landfills. Long notorious as the largest city in
the country without a municipal recycling system (both elective and compulsory),
Detroit has also striven <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20130104/NEWS01/301040090/Retread-recycler-seeks-new-use-for-dumped-tires">to find creative ways to curtail the illegal dumping</a>
that took place on its copious vacant lots—much of it recyclable material. A group of
Wayne State University students founded Recycle Here! in 2005 as a response to
the obvious dearth of options serving Midtown, then as today an emerging
neighborhood with visible signs of homespun reinvestment.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As smart as the initiative was, it couldn’t easily both fund
itself and support a demand that clearly stretched well beyond Midtown. By 2007, the Greater Detroit Resource
Recovery Program (GDRPP) <a href="http://www.modeldmedia.com/features/beegreen413.aspx">began funding Recycle Here! as the City’s de facto recycling center</a>, all while expanding its outreach by offering additional
drop-off days, a broader array of recyclable materials, and satellite locations
elsewhere in the city. In addition, the partnership has
allowed curbside recycling pilot programs in three neighborhoods: Rosedale
Park, East English Village and Palmer Woods/University District—with intention
to grow throughout the city in the long-term. The <a href="http://placemaking.mml.org/recycle-here/">Michigan Municipal League website</a> points out some
of the other accomplishments: a growth of over 50% each year since opening; a
non-profit spin-off called Green Living Science that has educated Detroit
Public Schools on recycling initiatives; a for-profit arm called GreenSafe that
sells recycled products to major consumption events, like Detroit Lions
games. </span></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Even if it’s essentially an arm of city government, the
Recycle Here! facility never for a moment feels like one. The loudspeakers churn out tunes from a
diverse array of genres, no doubt reflective of the eclectic taste of whoever
is in charge at that moment. On
the busiest days of operation (typically Saturdays), a local vendor offers
cheap French press coffee, and various food trucks tote their comestibles in
the outside parking lot. Another
staffer sells screen printed t-shirts, virtually all of them featuring the
ingenious and ubiquitous Recycle Here! bumblebee logo, designed by local artist
Carl Oxley III:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYEMnTwwKXTkCqRiCNVfmVn87Le45QxWxXMyC03XVZMRRw2s83JblYdJg18XKMpyf1A7WwJIUlTWlNINYGzNvv37ZVK0KAj4eGBpdMWuTQo3MwltQzAOwatBhwXqnhZc9J7RWtF4oIaom/s1600/DSCF2218.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYEMnTwwKXTkCqRiCNVfmVn87Le45QxWxXMyC03XVZMRRw2s83JblYdJg18XKMpyf1A7WwJIUlTWlNINYGzNvv37ZVK0KAj4eGBpdMWuTQo3MwltQzAOwatBhwXqnhZc9J7RWtF4oIaom/s1600/DSCF2218.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1eMRZbN4wudcRlgmEdHXemWbKnTA_OIdtT9v1ZcuBZXKy-4G-yFF16xXMn1ccd7nD2zSnOSAD6iQ-G2StjWlbGIJipFzDWXfi78ibTTEB6U-tBeR6mjg6MIi2_ch8QfW4HbTMXwRacAv/s1600/DSCF2220.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1eMRZbN4wudcRlgmEdHXemWbKnTA_OIdtT9v1ZcuBZXKy-4G-yFF16xXMn1ccd7nD2zSnOSAD6iQ-G2StjWlbGIJipFzDWXfi78ibTTEB6U-tBeR6mjg6MIi2_ch8QfW4HbTMXwRacAv/s1600/DSCF2220.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCs-ZUo5rixB17vT0UGrl0QToLMcbfP9aymmoFfay2kTw5-41uxhi06T1XCLU-_zFF01HbX4A3zPhOi0TfJCgvKBKQM0pCBftIo0bg53rhzpTkKy1q_7btMW2w5SCHftwS4viND8JQDNGR/s1600/DSCF2222.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCs-ZUo5rixB17vT0UGrl0QToLMcbfP9aymmoFfay2kTw5-41uxhi06T1XCLU-_zFF01HbX4A3zPhOi0TfJCgvKBKQM0pCBftIo0bg53rhzpTkKy1q_7btMW2w5SCHftwS4viND8JQDNGR/s1600/DSCF2222.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And the bumblebee receives its share of competition from the
other sculptures and murals that form a consistent backdrop to the more
utilitarian goings-on up front:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEefgcy-bUH6oTkfP1uxxbHOSBHRKXagSr0ek5k-Iy-lj95USP3kYcjhiASmPGl9Ja6dZjl1lFV799EZtGCwyIT2yKaBIHhDfDBPZziGjAteOAB1C99tPAoce9lLHy4o63mz4xNR0fmuE-/s1600/DSCF2234.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEefgcy-bUH6oTkfP1uxxbHOSBHRKXagSr0ek5k-Iy-lj95USP3kYcjhiASmPGl9Ja6dZjl1lFV799EZtGCwyIT2yKaBIHhDfDBPZziGjAteOAB1C99tPAoce9lLHy4o63mz4xNR0fmuE-/s1600/DSCF2234.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQcHbr3UpfLj5jr0PALPBDcTclK_wVZNnTScxi8iYYZ2JO0lPw9w_gD51Ll4SrGt6cR9jWm0x60AbA7q2URg-iRTowj8chq1MR-czIEW7MBWwJH3rSjEFPrbtj1F-ShdwQW4G8PQyvr2-/s1600/DSCF2236.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQcHbr3UpfLj5jr0PALPBDcTclK_wVZNnTScxi8iYYZ2JO0lPw9w_gD51Ll4SrGt6cR9jWm0x60AbA7q2URg-iRTowj8chq1MR-czIEW7MBWwJH3rSjEFPrbtj1F-ShdwQW4G8PQyvr2-/s1600/DSCF2236.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If it isn’t already obvious, Recycle Here! has achieved what
it ostensibly needed to do in order to ensure survivability: it evolved into a
smartly-branded community gathering place. And it’s a good thing it works so well: the process of
recycling here is far from hassle-free.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaWMOi948_Lalu2FVF1Ky7f98jFo_3psQ3YGzq5NHor2xUU8A3NtXwWgl5WyVu02X6ZD6PSJDVdfppRs-8nQHua1PVbe975KvIuwnLE7Aj9siDlrLQ8eZSTWdOlCrMKhqw2KvMpnsHGr3/s1600/DSCF2232.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaWMOi948_Lalu2FVF1Ky7f98jFo_3psQ3YGzq5NHor2xUU8A3NtXwWgl5WyVu02X6ZD6PSJDVdfppRs-8nQHua1PVbe975KvIuwnLE7Aj9siDlrLQ8eZSTWdOlCrMKhqw2KvMpnsHGr3/s1600/DSCF2232.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yes, the bins separate Styrofoam peanuts from other types of
Styrofoam. Visitors also have to
hold all their plastics up to the light to see if the etching indicates a #1 or
#2 (one bin) or #3 through #7 (a separate series of bins). And cardboard gets separated from office
paper, which in turn has a separate bin from newspaper, as well as glossy
paper.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And less common materials need separating too.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkdpWbVj556eQaspMm5d5SuiU6yW6edUlBBjEYoY61FyDqJGph8ScqxlhWXt8PxxktHG7ulMGGEX-nd9bNtvOFPRjyW4LnjxSoVyiRX8fDYzcZoP2e1ddgU0qLR8PAM72-4grX7K73Nh9/s1600/DSCF2247.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkdpWbVj556eQaspMm5d5SuiU6yW6edUlBBjEYoY61FyDqJGph8ScqxlhWXt8PxxktHG7ulMGGEX-nd9bNtvOFPRjyW4LnjxSoVyiRX8fDYzcZoP2e1ddgU0qLR8PAM72-4grX7K73Nh9/s1600/DSCF2247.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3qsAlJTS7OK8OvajS16_blypMvYIz0ggZUGDsGVfaRBfFGYbQvI1_Fk7_kLaBVGD3NNhjLxCo8MLuJew2YxeqjkPoablKyc9kGcp40rmekvAy7gco1_UuTSH0DUGCtyw-wUu-WWUo6D2/s1600/DSCF2248.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3qsAlJTS7OK8OvajS16_blypMvYIz0ggZUGDsGVfaRBfFGYbQvI1_Fk7_kLaBVGD3NNhjLxCo8MLuJew2YxeqjkPoablKyc9kGcp40rmekvAy7gco1_UuTSH0DUGCtyw-wUu-WWUo6D2/s1600/DSCF2248.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Clear glass could contain a lot of items: salad dressings,
pasta sauce, artichoke hearts, pickled pigs’ lips. But colored glass usually captures a discrete family of
consumable products.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1OPfkc3YfigD4efm1gXRrJtg1QNDSOnkvnXEww_Bb0GmENN3WVa_FzbwDODM4_fgwgFfstNZf8hAgWYthKalrZgM62E0pNLerlhyphenhyphenPa5GF5NWbIGdhq3RJCI9alFvZUtXubi9A_h-dXm8s/s1600/DSCF2249.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1OPfkc3YfigD4efm1gXRrJtg1QNDSOnkvnXEww_Bb0GmENN3WVa_FzbwDODM4_fgwgFfstNZf8hAgWYthKalrZgM62E0pNLerlhyphenhyphenPa5GF5NWbIGdhq3RJCI9alFvZUtXubi9A_h-dXm8s/s1600/DSCF2249.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Booze. These
days, varietals of wine do not delineate social strata that easily; even a few
highbrow wines might reach the dinner table in a cardboard box. But it’s very easily to distinguish consumers
by the type of beer they drink.
And the beer bottles at Recycle Here! overwhelmingly fit a certain
category: the non-corporate.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnwD38uUdBwX3Zb3LDK0Y8GAC5Un9yD_cJcVkyjQBMsGImgwm1aOvGDw8nJMDn6FxTRJoSZIu1M8g4glKl8eSpMiQL4kpYEA_4VMITs6B21OvKlVpJX1c-Jv5Ykb1IuP5Ic6Bt4UeFtuz/s1600/DSCF2244.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnwD38uUdBwX3Zb3LDK0Y8GAC5Un9yD_cJcVkyjQBMsGImgwm1aOvGDw8nJMDn6FxTRJoSZIu1M8g4glKl8eSpMiQL4kpYEA_4VMITs6B21OvKlVpJX1c-Jv5Ykb1IuP5Ic6Bt4UeFtuz/s1600/DSCF2244.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Whether it’s a microbrew from the Upper Peninsula or a
Singaporean IPA, the beers being recycled here are the opposite of what about 85%
of America drinks. No watered-down
Coors, Michelob, Budweiser. The
only beers found in the bins that would pass as mainstream working-class
Americana are Pabst Blue Ribbon or this Miller High Life, like the one strangely
perched, unopened, on the rim of the Clear Glass bin.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsxXvFcoyjoyLqpeqiK4gXH5o_MQcg7UIoOm4jUNSuZJv8r7yRRuqKb-jom5_NSalRWqxbouSuzfluaJhtEDGiXBzxRkwyZrWxEskZqDWVPdGtaJDpkbhTbht19eKMyDvoN1YfAPYBtN_/s1600/DSCF2243.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsxXvFcoyjoyLqpeqiK4gXH5o_MQcg7UIoOm4jUNSuZJv8r7yRRuqKb-jom5_NSalRWqxbouSuzfluaJhtEDGiXBzxRkwyZrWxEskZqDWVPdGtaJDpkbhTbht19eKMyDvoN1YfAPYBtN_/s1600/DSCF2243.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In other words, hipster beers.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Probably I’m going out on a limb by making inferences about cultures by the type of beers they consume, but not really, or at least not
enough. I don’t think we witness a
dearth of Budweiser bottles because Detroiters simply don’t drink cheap
beer. I think the beers we see in
these bins broadly reflects the ethos of people who go out of their way to
recycle, and in Detroit, “going out of the way is” precisely what most people
have to do. In short, the act of
recycling not only requires the active involvement of driving to the facility
(at least for everyone outside those three affluent pilot neighborhoods), it
also requires extensive separation once you get there. If you have two boxes to deposit, it
could take you over an hour to get it all done. The staff at Recycle Here! makes the compelling
argument that their approach not only ensures more material gets successfully
recycled than if it all gets lumped together, but it also encourages the
population to become more invested in the process. While this may be true, it almost undoubtedly also scares
off a huge contingent who simply doesn’t want to be bothered.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thus, Recycle Here! succeeds because there are enough Detroiters,
favorably disposed toward urban living, educated enough to have some disposable
income, and predominantly left-of-center, all of whom at least value the idea
of sustainability in its various incarnations: locally sourced food, fair trade
or free-range growing practices, and non-corporate brews with higher alcohol
content (and higher prices). It
fits like a hand in glove, and the fact that quality French press coffee gets
served on Saturdays makes as much sense as the absence of a vendor selling
McDonald’s, no matter how much Mickey Dee’s coffee has improved in recent
years. Through Recycle Here! and
the pilot programs in those selective, higher-income, stable neighborhoods, the
Greater Detroit Resource Recovery Program has found the right niche to plant a
seed. It offers a confident start
to set the trajectory for a city-wide recycling system.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now if only they could figure out where
all those bottles of Bud Lite are going.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>AmericanDirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600555386886915000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9158467536239735339.post-66706801440377886802014-04-23T07:38:00.000-08:002014-04-23T07:38:24.760-08:00Who initiated the scrawled controversy? We know (k)nothing.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In a city as replete with illicitly painted buildings as
Detroit, it isn’t hard to find graffiti in which the subject matter both
polarizes and fully illustrates the ongoing debate between two parties.<span> </span>In some parts of the country, these
polemics rarely stray outside of the stalls of men’s restrooms.<span> </span>They’re low-key and almost
private.<span> </span>But in Detroit, the
debates can take place in the great wide open, on the walls of buildings,
lampposts, trashcans, or even the side of a water tower, as <a href="http://dirtamericana.blogspot.com/2013/09/water-tower-repartee.html">I noted a few months ago</a> <span></span><span></span>
when I witnessed how one artist transformed the raised fist of solidarity into
the heavy metal “sign of the horn”, thereby deflating its potentially
incendiary political implications.
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0mOXvY11mqPfGdWEPmd7x7mExhhixEyGDnhK1nSkxoqZAvjDVEgx-fWZEFjMpHdclOFelsNkdN8OpxjCY0Qn5KxOJjE_jYQXOMZdanoKc3AdbIwbuKyBmBntZqiuvoCiwJA-rn8regUO/s1600/hang+ten+water+tower+03-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0mOXvY11mqPfGdWEPmd7x7mExhhixEyGDnhK1nSkxoqZAvjDVEgx-fWZEFjMpHdclOFelsNkdN8OpxjCY0Qn5KxOJjE_jYQXOMZdanoKc3AdbIwbuKyBmBntZqiuvoCiwJA-rn8regUO/s1600/hang+ten+water+tower+03-001.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But you don’t always have to look at the horizon line for
inspiration.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFlwpf97eLmDw3sqyQ6-qDX6VfNsb6hGdsHeqa4O7CWdaoRI1P8Q_rZSG4qIRmH6W8c903JYzndh-iKQrs03AJ5VT1QrSCSuXA2go-1fhhb5UlNAS2k_Bm4Jdr-JGzuxuQPUjAFQSfUDv/s1600/DSCF2207.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFlwpf97eLmDw3sqyQ6-qDX6VfNsb6hGdsHeqa4O7CWdaoRI1P8Q_rZSG4qIRmH6W8c903JYzndh-iKQrs03AJ5VT1QrSCSuXA2go-1fhhb5UlNAS2k_Bm4Jdr-JGzuxuQPUjAFQSfUDv/s1600/DSCF2207.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Addison Building on Woodward Avenue, originally designed
by “the architect of Detroit” Albert Kahn around 1905 and restored as
market-rate apartments, offers an interesting point-counterpoint at the
storefront level.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZim9gGl_Yh8VXACZWn4Ai90KJgtBazF7oZdj3v1QVF65WTjkpSb_jvBpCpmVhroSxZZwJIo61MIWq8nwE2T7ri3SuNrbWBU2jbMGjVR4trWY1bDwh2iJ9dzFRASKEO78WUMU_2eBNDde/s1600/DSCF2199.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZim9gGl_Yh8VXACZWn4Ai90KJgtBazF7oZdj3v1QVF65WTjkpSb_jvBpCpmVhroSxZZwJIo61MIWq8nwE2T7ri3SuNrbWBU2jbMGjVR4trWY1bDwh2iJ9dzFRASKEO78WUMU_2eBNDde/s1600/DSCF2199.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Scrawled in what appears to be a thick Sharpie is some
artless text in all caps:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRR8CB74NdSNtUL-v8RTgMNxEhH_lmx9oVGvgste9TNwzC3_tz86-BG3P3KfoluIjd3eQrOARd20CBgevlLvSzD67A1hP03h5wQqC2DvLD2rsC0pxmnjGVw49-4CqChiTa_xHWcgRtzCS/s1600/DSCF2200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRR8CB74NdSNtUL-v8RTgMNxEhH_lmx9oVGvgste9TNwzC3_tz86-BG3P3KfoluIjd3eQrOARd20CBgevlLvSzD67A1hP03h5wQqC2DvLD2rsC0pxmnjGVw49-4CqChiTa_xHWcgRtzCS/s1600/DSCF2200.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It says—or at least appears to say—“VOTE NOPE”, which
doesn’t convey any precise political directive.<span> </span>But it’s actually a loosely modified variant of a more
common graffiti trope found throughout the Motor City.<span> </span>Here, on a building at that same
intersection as the Addison, is the more common wording.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6dM9MCbDYur19E2fOYBk_2A5iV4B9JRsztMjHCtljFEmXc0mGzk0XK2AUapKOqMfODv2jJcOTDsk1isvu1aWVXPq6PKOWnKbJEtrH4joo9aVCavHJtxs606R8ST1lMGrcGx0-f_IEjFy/s1600/DSCF2206.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6dM9MCbDYur19E2fOYBk_2A5iV4B9JRsztMjHCtljFEmXc0mGzk0XK2AUapKOqMfODv2jJcOTDsk1isvu1aWVXPq6PKOWnKbJEtrH4joo9aVCavHJtxs606R8ST1lMGrcGx0-f_IEjFy/s1600/DSCF2206.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It clearly says “Vote NCP”.<span> </span>And the tag shows up all over the place.<span> </span>Again, the meaning isn’t necessarily
clear, unless you know what the acronym NCP stands for. <span> </span>And most people, it seems, do not.<span> </span>It was a mystery when I arrived in
Detroit last summer; it took some real detective work to draw any conclusions.<span> </span>The most thoughtful discussion came from
<a href="http://www.detroityes.com/mb/showthread.php?17204-What-is-quot-Vote-NCP-quot">a DetroitYES! forum</a>, where a number of participants offered their ideas.<span> </span>One of the most likely contenders is the <a href="http://www.electionfund.org/Committee/New-Century-Party-Organizing-Committee">New Century Party<span></span></a>, a PAC run on the west side, but its
hard to reconcile this recent and short-lived organization with the general
observation that these scribblings have been around for awhile.<span> </span>And why wouldn’t a registered political
organization choose a more legitimate (and legal) way to promote its cause?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thus, the word on the information superhighway is that NCP
stands for “No Colored People”—about as overtly racist of a statement as one
can expect to see, except, of course, that it isn’t particularly overt at all.<span> </span>Anything less ambiguous would probably
attract local media attention, but this branding has never amounted to much of
anything, despite the fact that it’s everywhere in downtown and Midtown: buildings,
awnings, trashcans, billboards.<span>
</span>The general penmanship is always the same, so a graphologist might be
able to determine if it all belongs to the same person: a solitary, cowardly,
anonymous provocateur.<span> </span>I can vouch
from experience that, until recently, the tag on the Addison building said
“Vote NCP” like all the others. A closer look at the lettering shows how
someone else has modified what used to be the letter C into an O, filled
the void with a sad face, </span></span><style><!--
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--> </style><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">then added an E to the bottom.</span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHK7QfgDXTxoC_Em8aIoozkOsSaKOjTZV2bRmKhR0n3UXYcArvFeNiJhL5va7n-s5LgQantzRb0v9PFzfrOcjcdNo9D0iXs-cHghQCWDXV0r5lWglfgrwzFJLc5O1JlgAxeDIqFFt7cnEr/s1600/DSCF2201.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHK7QfgDXTxoC_Em8aIoozkOsSaKOjTZV2bRmKhR0n3UXYcArvFeNiJhL5va7n-s5LgQantzRb0v9PFzfrOcjcdNo9D0iXs-cHghQCWDXV0r5lWglfgrwzFJLc5O1JlgAxeDIqFFt7cnEr/s1600/DSCF2201.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So it appears another vandal has attempted to douse the fire
by undermining the implicit racial hostility of the original message.<span> </span>“VOTE NOPE” conveys apathy at the very
least—far more preferable than racism.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But that’s not all: another clown made a separate
contribution to this aesthetically challenged palimpsest.<span> </span>In faint green ink, just above the “N”
from “NOPE” is another letter.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEc0cudv4VLSUtTO470DzjAvLu_yVK2MkR5UpV6Ti0CSPihLEdLYkBBP9iAMZ_wpk3Ppj15vYDgxwjkY3MwO7h1DoiLvQETVFuY8xnxnzJRbqk-UiwadGiuWxhLe_Y1bts6wTdG2GV1I5Q/s1600/DSCF2202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEc0cudv4VLSUtTO470DzjAvLu_yVK2MkR5UpV6Ti0CSPihLEdLYkBBP9iAMZ_wpk3Ppj15vYDgxwjkY3MwO7h1DoiLvQETVFuY8xnxnzJRbqk-UiwadGiuWxhLe_Y1bts6wTdG2GV1I5Q/s1600/DSCF2202.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It’s a “K”, spelling “KNOPE”, or “VOTE KNOPE” in totality—an
obvious hat-tip to <a href="http://www.knope2012.com/">Leslie Knope from NBC’s <i>Parks and Recreation</i></a>, a show whose devoted, cult-like fan base (and this cult’s ability to extract
memes from the show’s script and characters) has helped it overcome lackluster
Nielsen ratings.<span> </span>It doesn’t seem
that our crusading anti-racist gigglefritzes made it too far though; virtually
all of the other “VOTE NCP” tags downtown have retained the vitriol of the
original message.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Whether 30 feet tall on a water tower or 18 inches near a
storefront window, graffiti’s intrinsic deviant and anti-establishment nature
effectively smashes through any constraints imposed by artistic license.<span> </span>It involves unsanctioned
self-expression that doesn’t violate the First Amendment because of the
disregard to private property embedded in the expressive act.<span> </span>Beyond the commission of a property
crime, the only true boundaries to graffiti artists are an individual’s
creative limitations and the laws of physics.<span> </span>Because a vandal cannot litigate if someone else defaces his
or her art, anything is fair game.<span>
</span>Thus, in terms of intellectual property, the hastily scribbled rants on
a public restroom stall are semantically no more or less powerful than a
lovingly-conceived fist of solidarity, or a cryptically racist chant that
achieves visibility through its ubiquity.<span>
</span>Virtually any provocative message on men’s room walls will eventually
elicit an equally inflammatory anonymous response directly below it.<span> </span>The “VOTE KNOPE” and “sign of the horn”
involve the same ethos as the tit-for-tat near the gas station toilet, only the
respondents have more time on their hands, a lot more ink, or much less fear of
getting caught.<span> </span>But then, can’t we
say the same about even the most widely admired graffiti?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
AmericanDirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600555386886915000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9158467536239735339.post-28223463837065718122014-03-31T19:42:00.001-08:002014-03-31T19:42:58.700-08:00Separate the ersatz and collect up all the cream.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">While the interplay between the built and natural
environments occupies the bulk of my ruminations, every now and then I can’t
help but indulge myself.<span> </span>And I
step fully into the world of pure imagination.<span> </span>The aisles of a Meijer discount hypermarket store might not
be exactly what Roald Dahl had in mind through his chocolate factory (or Leslie
Bricusse), but it’s just about as fabricated as a movie set... </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-Zofar4qiWljaGR-QMDGBhJA7DQCif-ElDio-gz_Vgp8-Vqo30TmgIAY51UdkMynC_HJ-vEnL7cpbuipkKDlNvufHNezW-MfoCOE6xe5Gej0yokbz71Ykv15QPJBF0AQ6Ir6iJqhyLPz/s1600/IMG_20140331_203818_133.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-Zofar4qiWljaGR-QMDGBhJA7DQCif-ElDio-gz_Vgp8-Vqo30TmgIAY51UdkMynC_HJ-vEnL7cpbuipkKDlNvufHNezW-MfoCOE6xe5Gej0yokbz71Ykv15QPJBF0AQ6Ir6iJqhyLPz/s1600/IMG_20140331_203818_133.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">…and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.<span> </span>For those who live in Michigan, Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois or Kentucky, Meijer is as much a part of the shopping landscape
as Walmart.<span> </span>It’s a fierce
competitor in these five states, and I have no doubt it continues to frustrate
the executives in Bentonville, Arkansas—my suspicion is that Walmart’s market
share in this part of the country is lower than it otherwise would be, thanks
to this modest chain that germinated just outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan
exactly 80 years ago, making it nearly 30 years older than the world’s largest
retailer.<span> </span>But how did Meijer
remain confidently ensconced in its Midwestern niche when Walmart dethroned so
many others?<span> </span>(Ames, Pharmor, and
Venture went the way of passenger pigeon well over a decade ago, even if <a href="http://dirtamericana.blogspot.com/2013/03/vesuvius-erupts-in-prairie.html">some telltale labelscars remain</a>.)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I could expound on how Meijer has effectively cramped
Walmart’s style for a few decades now, all while refusing ever to go
public.<span> </span>It avoids far-flung
locations like its home state’s Upper Peninsula, no doubt saving it a fortune
in logistical costs.<span> </span>It expands its
territory slowly, preferring to densify <a href="http://www.meijer.com/custserv/store_locator.jsp">within its five signature states</a> for the
time being;
rumors of an inaugural location in Wisconsin have yet to materialize.<span> </span>It has attempted to broaden its scope
through standalone discount department stores (without the groceries),
pharmacies, warehouse clubs (like Sam’s Club), and specialty clothing.<span> </span>None of these concepts proved fruitful,
so the home office closed them within a few years.<span> </span>Yet it continues to flourish in that cluster of great lakes states
(and Kentucky).<span> </span>Last year, Meijer
<a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20130724/BUSINESS06/307240146/Meijer-Detroit">opted to open a store in the Detroit city limits</a>, seen in the photo above--a breakthrough of sorts, since many other major retailers (including the
goliath from Arkansas) have shunned the Motor City.<span> </span>These conservative strategies may have helped Meijer survive
the competition that Walmart decimated, but I’d like to think another tactic
has helped give the regional chain its edge.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAwGqGINkdWGdwqE2GVqrFz3D35t_xnZcOyay2VIWS95idZUkIhG35mcUEMWGMSt3R_FDXqDq_qWiey1nuePYGV7G8fn1HMVTfN2JKThT6p1LdbHuJc8z-8EkWO1G_esBDhtEPmoFyDpze/s1600/IMG_20140214_192907_210.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAwGqGINkdWGdwqE2GVqrFz3D35t_xnZcOyay2VIWS95idZUkIhG35mcUEMWGMSt3R_FDXqDq_qWiey1nuePYGV7G8fn1HMVTfN2JKThT6p1LdbHuJc8z-8EkWO1G_esBDhtEPmoFyDpze/s1600/IMG_20140214_192907_210.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Virtually every Meijer that I’ve seen has an entire row in
its well-maintained grocery devoted to ethnic foods.<span> </span>The specific location often dictates exactly what options it
sells, but regardless of the offerings, most evidence suggests that the company
has done its research.<span> </span>Rarely will
you see Walmart accommodate an ethnic group (such as <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/markstravelandadventure/6203025003">Amish buggy parking in Northern Indiana</a>). But online forums like <a href="http://britishexpats.com/">British Expats</a> routinely refer to Meijer—not Walmart—as the go-to for hard-to-find European
goodies, and most locations have at least a small but well-stocked British shelves,
including the one in the Detroit suburb of Allen Park featured above.<span> </span>This particular location, with a trade
area that includes sizable Mexican, Polish, and Arab populations, not
surprisingly offers generous Latino, Eastern European and Middle Eastern sections.<span> </span>It also distinguishes the Indian
subcontinent from the rest of Asia.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkQP5BUx5PA3JPBZbYhjj288xHTPKdqcsfXMybuPSN-jU4YtnvBe4mcOwlxV4zoJYoIjjJCHUJtoY7yGYhOEzm6AvYCyRijGcSslmPLTjpZcisi5UnII6DWtmtGV2I_L8jnzZ4loqjpss/s1600/IMG_20140214_192857_921.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkQP5BUx5PA3JPBZbYhjj288xHTPKdqcsfXMybuPSN-jU4YtnvBe4mcOwlxV4zoJYoIjjJCHUJtoY7yGYhOEzm6AvYCyRijGcSslmPLTjpZcisi5UnII6DWtmtGV2I_L8jnzZ4loqjpss/s1600/IMG_20140214_192857_921.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But what really caught my attention was the adjective before
these regional references.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oE_BEImvC9l7NK7kZcf7dqTNbK4vs3rVmB6wF7AhaM7jiBOihNoILg9gHFawzYkXCZhPFb7sEzRCtdvoDDDesuuR4znMEuS76uOAOTxaFaKui3_0tgn3jZ8ki3pz6-T6MBJGIMsxAWOi/s1600/IMG_20140214_192834_347.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oE_BEImvC9l7NK7kZcf7dqTNbK4vs3rVmB6wF7AhaM7jiBOihNoILg9gHFawzYkXCZhPFb7sEzRCtdvoDDDesuuR4znMEuS76uOAOTxaFaKui3_0tgn3jZ8ki3pz6-T6MBJGIMsxAWOi/s1600/IMG_20140214_192834_347.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We see “authentic Italian” followed by “pasta”.<span> </span>Does this imply that the pasta section,
for whatever reason, is otherwise inauthentic?<span> </span>Or is it pasta from other countries?<span> </span>Meijer also splits hairs on the other
side of the aisle, providing its customers with “authentic Mexican”—</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxOi0-Wsp-qmsTYqDthnyeBF3ygO2a2ieKi6__Omnz2vMtE7dO9BYxFTd0-7Oa0Hdc129srU_o3kpeWeDLtfo5xyTPOd9CcngjAisqu0IVEe2N1m9pPfW4YyzHn95UqkDPkKALGmG9x86/s1600/IMG_20140214_192806_641.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxOi0-Wsp-qmsTYqDthnyeBF3ygO2a2ieKi6__Omnz2vMtE7dO9BYxFTd0-7Oa0Hdc129srU_o3kpeWeDLtfo5xyTPOd9CcngjAisqu0IVEe2N1m9pPfW4YyzHn95UqkDPkKALGmG9x86/s1600/IMG_20140214_192806_641.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">and “Mexican” without the authenticity.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCR4H6VIsw8aEmO3oG1_DH-oIBbwM4G0SvrXFquxYyHLANLJIcvRjKsIJGltskDS7yQQjMzBjVKWDH0RL18ZQhriz9MREvorpLBaQ1WV57UZzUyVr5pwkNRfbV-1h89Ruq1jkrdX6P2hM_/s1600/IMG_20140214_192819_115.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCR4H6VIsw8aEmO3oG1_DH-oIBbwM4G0SvrXFquxYyHLANLJIcvRjKsIJGltskDS7yQQjMzBjVKWDH0RL18ZQhriz9MREvorpLBaQ1WV57UZzUyVr5pwkNRfbV-1h89Ruq1jkrdX6P2hM_/s1600/IMG_20140214_192819_115.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tex-Mex.<span> </span>Or
American Mexican.<span> </span>A <i>taqueria</i> versus Taco Bell.<span> </span>Various studies have shown three ethnic
cuisines in the United States consistently vie for the title of most
popular—and, not surprisingly, the most ubiquitous.<span> </span>While the US has more Chinese restaurants than McDonald’s,
Italian cuisine has long rated most highly.<span> </span>But the surge of Mexicans and the cultural influence have
elicited a concomitant <a href="http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/4/prweb10668628.htm">increase in the popularity of cuisine from south of the border</a>.
Virtually all ethnicities, however, <a href="http://press.grubhub.com/2013-07-16-GrubHub-Data-Highlights-Growing-Diversity-in-Americas-Takeout-Habits">can claim a rise in the popularity of their cuisines</a>.<span> </span>Thirty years ago, Thai and
Indian restaurants were relatively rare outside of the biggest metro areas; now
they are fairly easy to find in a small city of 50,000.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The inevitable result of this?<span> </span>We see more Americanized knock-offs, as well as Meijer’s
need to distinguish between the “authentic” (often imported) and the
bastardized.<span> </span>No doubt in another
decade, with the ascendancy of falafel, hummus, and shawarma, Middle Eastern
cuisine will approach mainstream status, just as it already has in Metro
Detroit, home of one of the largest Arab populations outside of ethnically Arab
countries.<span> </span>We already have hummus
flavors that would constitute blasphemy in many parts of the world, adulterated
to meet mainstream American tastes.<span>
</span>The “authentic” partition in the grocery aisle will soon envelop new
nations, impelling greater need to distinguish idiosyncratic, ethnically precise
merchandise from its vanilla counterparts…and another opportunity for Meijer to
capitalize on something it already does well.</span></span></div>
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AmericanDirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600555386886915000noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9158467536239735339.post-79140711891838526172014-03-24T16:57:00.000-08:002014-03-27T13:41:12.804-08:00Retrograde retail: there’s weakness in numbers.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Some businesses just fail to quit, though it’s not necessarily
from lack of trying.
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And if all the negatives in that sentence dilute the
denotation, that might be the whole point…at least when the businesses in
question are former retail leviathans like Kmart and Sears.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I’ve written about both chains many times in the past on
this blog, but little to nothing since 2010 or so. Truthfully, neither has changed much. The two brand names, formerly separate
companies but merged since 2005, continue to hobble along, shedding a few of
the most underperforming stores each quarter, while even the ones that linger
still leave onlookers scratching their heads. How do these retailers—now essentially one company called
Sears Holdings Corporation—manage to stay in business?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">To a certain extent, they employ the <i>Star Trek</i> mantra: going where no man has gone before…or, to be
frank, where no one else is willing to go anymore. So they aren’t exactly doing it boldly. Kmart’s approach (which <a href="http://dirtamericana.blogspot.com/2010/01/battle-of-marts-part-ii.html">I blogged about four years ago</a>)
frequently involves lingering in early automobile-oriented suburban areas that
peaked in the late 1950s—the point in time when Kmart was still a juggernaut
for discount shopping. However, these
aging suburbs, which typically offered the coveted homeownership ideal to an
emergent middle class within a car-dependent milieu, are no longer so
savory. Check out the surviving
few Kmarts in Indianapolis, from the blog post above. Generally speaking, these areas have declined enough
economically that the robust Walmart won’t touch them. In Kansas City, the formerly thriving
Bannister Mall area began to tank in the 1990s; today, it represents one of the
largest expanses of blighted suburban retail I have ever seen anywhere,
featured <a href="http://dirtamericana.blogspot.com/2012/11/montage-inside-out-of-inner-city.html">in this prominent post</a>. But, as of the fall of 2012, the
Kmart at Bannister survives…pretty much the only well-known sign amid the retail
wreckage. (Well, that and the
notorious Burlington Coat Factory, but that’s another story.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then there’s Sears, whose brand image isn’t quite as weak
these days as Kmart, mainly because it still clings to its aggressively
middlebrow origins, a contrast from the always low-budget offerings at
Kmart. (Though Kmart has managed
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL4lSavSepc">the more effective viral commercials</a>
in recent years.) The department
store remains a staple at most middle-class malls. But enclosed shopping malls ain’t what they used to be, for
the most part, and if a mall is starting to show weakness in the form of
diminishing occupancy levels, it’s often safe to guess which area will get hit
the hardest. That’s right—the
Sears wing. I <a href="http://dirtamericana.blogspot.com/2009/12/retails-softer-side.html">blogged about it</a> awhile ago, at the primarily successful Castleton Square Mall in Indianapolis,
where vacancy was low throughout this super-regional shopping hub…except for
the hallway leading to the Sears.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Meanwhile, Cortana Mall in Baton Rouge took the ailing Sears
corridor to a whole new level. My
first trip to Cortana in December 2005 confronted me generally busy shopping
center, even though locals had longed viewed Cortana as the “other mall” in
Baton Rouge, at least since Mall of Louisiana opened in 1997 in a more affluent
part of town. In 2005, most of
Cortana flourished (perhaps due to the holidays), except for the hallway
leading to Sears, which was overwhelmingly populated with local, mom-and-pop
tenants…the type that pervade a struggling mall. Jump ahead to April 2010—the time <a href="http://dirtamericana.blogspot.com/2010/04/mall-rot-how-they-do-it-in-dixie.html">of my blog article</a>—and Cortana was peppered with vacancies throughout the structure, while the
Sears corridor was dead as a doornail. Pretty much no inline tenants left, except for Sears. Even in the most vibrant of malls, the
Sears wing tends to host the highest concentration of off-name retailers,
clearly suggesting that 1) national brand names don’t want to lease space close to
Sears, and 2) mall management, desperate to maintain good occupancy rates, must
lower the cost of leasing space, consequently attracting retailers who cannot afford the
higher costs in the corridors leading to Macy’s or Dillard’s. Thus, Sears gets the off brands…when
it’s lucky.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A recent trip to suburban Detroit revealed another example
of an anemic shopping hub anchored by Sears, but this time within a different
typology.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM48PISnLj4VMpJM1WWI_JQy1gY251zpqBdlOIy2FKiuNltnLBtKyq6bxiabjaWtt4Q9XmU9hmfwhlzfZOmhdcSm8YuJMwu9Z7EQpYLgLWC10G3QrvNgqeOOSOzFPx322EcsQyLDZUhyQ3/s1600/DSCF1890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0111Opf1ExNGEEsJFUw4SVNi8kYzFCcpmXQ3doDsqPkgk_rVF9rNQUBnO9hkxm1qgaEEHJ2bZfucRzc58ww4_j2NFV9LCKIbSPa4DLPGB9OzjmPxvHh5C29n4hsrVKx2Nb4W5klHmwmmY/s1600/DSCF1893.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sure, it doesn’t really look that different from your
typical Sears in a mega-mall.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But it’s a freestanding Sears—formerly a mainstay of
American retail but now relatively uncommon. It is untethered to any larger mall; no other department stores are nearby. While the standalone Sears might still occasionally splay
out along the highway in the purlieus of a small city (under 25,000 people, for
example) the one in the photos below is anything but rural. It’s in Lincoln Park, a blue-collar
inner-ring suburb belonging to Detroit’s “Downriver” communities, which is the
local term for the extensive concatenation of municipalities that band along
the Detroit River as it eventually distends into Lake Erie. A fully built-out suburb that exploded
after World War II, Lincoln Park is also surrounded in almost all directions by
other tightly packed suburbs from more or less the same time period.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Freestanding Sears operations made sense in large towns or
small cities surrounded by farmland, since those settlements didn’t necessarily
have the trade area to support a regional mall. But Lincoln Park can claim hundreds of thousands of people
within a 10-mile radius. Perhaps,
because of this, one could speculate that this particular Sears serves as a
more effective anchor than others: not only does it serve a huge trade area,
but it isn’t competing with other, more robust department stores like Macy’s.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Such a guess would be wrong.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZVZWIXn3gM33rAnjz9oPuyLTVYlJJFS2Ofc7e4ZwRx4p2-q4v3lEL5bLbil4vsWTrd19LYGcLopbeupvueCZdaENcvi0aAGCnCDYcj-NV4Do94FPmIm08AlPoCso04wYfhBVxXmOrpXX/s1600/DSCF1895.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZVZWIXn3gM33rAnjz9oPuyLTVYlJJFS2Ofc7e4ZwRx4p2-q4v3lEL5bLbil4vsWTrd19LYGcLopbeupvueCZdaENcvi0aAGCnCDYcj-NV4Do94FPmIm08AlPoCso04wYfhBVxXmOrpXX/s1600/DSCF1895.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This is the remaining strip mall attached to the Lincoln
Park Sears. In the first photo,
the edge of the Sears portion is partly visible on the far left.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8k7x5v_z2Hf5H-yPITddLa018r0Emiiy7d7JKJLjsyucYrl7TSRVdPFIJXGbYVEFWsDjJV_1mYLKLUt0TVKq5xJ1LhumJFsHm308M1G1XnP7_ZuenpSqOdWU0EOhLgG6GJxf-WOOejrAi/s1600/DSCF1897.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8k7x5v_z2Hf5H-yPITddLa018r0Emiiy7d7JKJLjsyucYrl7TSRVdPFIJXGbYVEFWsDjJV_1mYLKLUt0TVKq5xJ1LhumJFsHm308M1G1XnP7_ZuenpSqOdWU0EOhLgG6GJxf-WOOejrAi/s1600/DSCF1897.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD51Dx5DOahkVWnvpL0Dee8g-cixi5lrt6d0PSwRQknGv_Hw9_8EfnaK5Mif2srRLEWu-GbIazsWnfVBQBZsFXUAGF5cY3XJ9LE9URo8VKc-lGoBdtYxH1uqyGAp-VuWfY6TPG-88L0Y8Y/s1600/DSCF1899.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD51Dx5DOahkVWnvpL0Dee8g-cixi5lrt6d0PSwRQknGv_Hw9_8EfnaK5Mif2srRLEWu-GbIazsWnfVBQBZsFXUAGF5cY3XJ9LE9URo8VKc-lGoBdtYxH1uqyGAp-VuWfY6TPG-88L0Y8Y/s1600/DSCF1899.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It’s almost completely vacant, with the exception of a
Dollar Tree and an outparcel Big Boy restaurant.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtW5EtLklCCNPGSh3nuCUbDW_4cVqBnWh9Dy2ZabFTC8k5QzNOIfovsQc9Fi0KyuWh0JzJfKl8J1cgeqr6R510zN5DrQrUsugTXuJBA3ZKc8gL1URz8H9c1mTCSRaqwupImEL2D-vbjnhA/s1600/DSCF1902.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtW5EtLklCCNPGSh3nuCUbDW_4cVqBnWh9Dy2ZabFTC8k5QzNOIfovsQc9Fi0KyuWh0JzJfKl8J1cgeqr6R510zN5DrQrUsugTXuJBA3ZKc8gL1URz8H9c1mTCSRaqwupImEL2D-vbjnhA/s1600/DSCF1902.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Predictably, a shopping plaza such vacancy levels won’t
shell out the cost for basic common area maintenance; drivers have to proceed
with caution to avoid huge potholes or neglected debris.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FyQdVE8hSwujNrKSNup9VSTMrENQwvu0v76Mj6PTFOa2OuyQEu7yWrek5DSqraTaaGOee-rFxUlGWArYHCjPLDvD15s93gKQtuBGeXVo87GTCQrzZO63oBfwy47p5yDF4k7jvHnphAG0/s1600/DSCF1910.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FyQdVE8hSwujNrKSNup9VSTMrENQwvu0v76Mj6PTFOa2OuyQEu7yWrek5DSqraTaaGOee-rFxUlGWArYHCjPLDvD15s93gKQtuBGeXVo87GTCQrzZO63oBfwy47p5yDF4k7jvHnphAG0/s1600/DSCF1910.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Does Sears Holding Company, parent of Sears and Kmart, know
something the rest of us don’t?
Both chains are born from major Midwestern urban centers—Sears from the
Chicago area, and Kmart from metro Detroit (in Troy, MI, just 25 miles
northeast of Lincoln Park) but customers in their home states aren’t showing
any greater loyalty to their brands than they are anywhere else. The business expansion practices that
impelled these brands to stretch from coast to coast may very well be doing
them in; most Midwesterners don’t even know the brands came from their part of
the country. Compare this to
southern department stores Dillard’s and Belk, which are still mainstays south
of the Mason-Dixon and have ever so slightly begun to expand, though never to
the ubiquity of the two former titans above.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I will be amazed if this Lincoln Park Sears is still
operating two years from now.
Beyond that, I see only two other plausible courses of action: the company
sheds virtually all of its locations outside the Midwest and concentrates its
energy by reinvigorating loyalty in its region of origin (which happens a lot
with restaurant chains); or, it folds altogether as a brick-and-mortar entity
and becomes an online wraith, akin to the formerly pre-eminent but now
essentially defunct Montgomery Wards (as <a href="http://wards.com/">Wards.com</a>) and
<a href="http://servicemerchandise.com/">Service Merchandise</a>. It’s not exactly boldly going
anywhere, but the cybermarket offers the best chance scoping fertile pastures
when finicky customers reject all but the choicest grapes on the vineyard.</span></span></div>
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</span></span></div>
AmericanDirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600555386886915000noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9158467536239735339.post-22636674383189776992014-02-27T13:12:00.000-09:002014-02-27T13:26:26.169-09:00A chip off the old bulb.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Seven months after the announcement, it still seems like the
largest municipal bankruptcy filing (at least up to this point) is the stuff of
legend—the culminating event, after successive blunders. The apex. Or the nadir.
No doubt those of us living here are guilty of a degree of chauvinism as
we experience how it plays out firsthand, but it’s easy for anyone with even
moderate media curiosity to see how much the city has hogged the headlines. It may be for all the wrong reasons, but
Detroit is prominent once again.
</span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yet it was only weeks—if not days—after the declaration made
international news that, in order to convey to the world the magnitude of the
city’s financial woes, journalists honed in on more mundane failures—failures
that, by virtue of their banality, were all the more shocking. Locals have known about them for
ages. A portfolio of abandoned
public school real estate larger than many cities’ functional school systems. An absence of snowplows, even after
heavy storms. A stonewall of
silenced civil servants, hogtied from effectively carrying out duties by daily
uncertainty about the security of those same jobs. The virtual absence of any emergency response, resulting in
two-hour waits for an ambulance or a police call.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But the one that crowds out the rest, no doubt at least
partially due to its ubiquity and ordinariness, is the persistent
non-functionality of those streetlights.
One of the editorialists for the <i>Free
Press</i> <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20131117/COL33/311170070">has branded it “the city’s deepest embarrassment”</a>.
By most estimates, <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2013/07/40-per-cent-street-lights-detroit.html">up to 40% are out on any given night</a>. Anyone passing
through can tell when crossing into the city limits for this exact reason: even
huge stretches of the interstates are black, although they’re state or federal
highways. It’s hard to determine if
these shadowy streets originate from a cash-strapped DPW’s inability to replace
the bulbs—which obviously require periodic maintenance—or an oversight that far
precedes the checkered Kilpatrick administration, when the city’s fiscal woes
first garnered national attention.
All it takes is a trip down Mack Avenue on the city’s east side to
postulate that the problem is a half-century in the making.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3reCIioXeIcCvd9yuf9r2dGcilProBqHyvF-cehnIC-bRKAptuwRJ0_gCkSUbsIeRJjOhStdgf8cciw86DLqpnm0EdD1eHOuo9iLstORJ_09BJ4gE7I7e_Yhw02_Ny4YSXr9gj0TIssfk/s1600/DSCF1831.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3reCIioXeIcCvd9yuf9r2dGcilProBqHyvF-cehnIC-bRKAptuwRJ0_gCkSUbsIeRJjOhStdgf8cciw86DLqpnm0EdD1eHOuo9iLstORJ_09BJ4gE7I7e_Yhw02_Ny4YSXr9gj0TIssfk/s1600/DSCF1831.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Silhouettes of streetlights punctuate the dusky penumbra, but
even at a distance, the shape of these lights seems odd. Antiquated? Probably. And a
closer view confirms it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-qf2SJw1t-S1vsM7TRnLp4AMYVymOxteebGfnGowaIMvTopkMioYuopZms52NO6jAJ_Ap5cuDyeiRn25nIk409Kw-o5hEX-3Ds_y4KoPXOF5oqV8ogGjU-mVIbfyw_oHzpTPZI5YTUCQ/s1600/DSCF1827.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-qf2SJw1t-S1vsM7TRnLp4AMYVymOxteebGfnGowaIMvTopkMioYuopZms52NO6jAJ_Ap5cuDyeiRn25nIk409Kw-o5hEX-3Ds_y4KoPXOF5oqV8ogGjU-mVIbfyw_oHzpTPZI5YTUCQ/s1600/DSCF1827.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">To be frank, I can’t recall seeing lights like this before
anywhere else in the country, and I’m well-traveled across some of the more
economically deprived pockets.
From the baroque iron filigree work of the stanchion to the acorn shape
of the light itself, my guess is this streetlight comes from an inventory that
most cities had fully retired over three decades ago. And there’s probably good reason for that: this one is
broken.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ekI6SkO4A8irXqGGPBsHIa4jYtJ_dzpjJb4HbLMIZstMgGrPyaOTvrisBgZ-94gCe3t6Ab3gB39Hs1vqYWkPHjoHgWaikzL2B8G81wjEfNw2PqvRJVFe9hv1amfubY-lz5iBtfwqBF8T/s1600/DSCF1828.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ekI6SkO4A8irXqGGPBsHIa4jYtJ_dzpjJb4HbLMIZstMgGrPyaOTvrisBgZ-94gCe3t6Ab3gB39Hs1vqYWkPHjoHgWaikzL2B8G81wjEfNw2PqvRJVFe9hv1amfubY-lz5iBtfwqBF8T/s1600/DSCF1828.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And so is another one half a block away.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIL6VIbYSNOblc1Hz7TIbmV7sLW2DPaKXNAqCp0DNYyO507RuswVM3bAEH5msgRfKRrPF_P3uTIXBTn62_kr_3Jv-pEwrEsBHlYIMMDKbjHJHU2R4HKctvJAcVru7JxjdcOGAPGwnMCpZb/s1600/DSCF1830.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIL6VIbYSNOblc1Hz7TIbmV7sLW2DPaKXNAqCp0DNYyO507RuswVM3bAEH5msgRfKRrPF_P3uTIXBTn62_kr_3Jv-pEwrEsBHlYIMMDKbjHJHU2R4HKctvJAcVru7JxjdcOGAPGwnMCpZb/s1600/DSCF1830.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">About half of the lights along this stretch of Mack use this
design, and most are cracked. A
big distended bulb offers more surface area encased in glass—more space for
something to wrong. Whether hit by
flying debris hit or (my suspicion) deliberately smashed by a passer-by, this
streetlight is almost definitely non-operational. And the visible hardware is only half the problem: inside
that quaint, clunky bulb (your grandmother’s streetlight) is—or was—a mercury
vapor lamp. Detroit is one of the few cities <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20131117/NEWS01/311170085/Detroit-Orr-bankruptcy-street-lights">that still depends heavily on this
less efficient, increasingly obsolete</a></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20131117/NEWS01/311170085/Detroit-Orr-bankruptcy-street-lights"> method of illumination</a>; most other large cities have
replaced their inventory with superior metal halide lamps. <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/17/detroit-finances-dark-streetlights/3622205/"><i>USA Today</i> also noted</a> that Detroit and Milwaukee share the dubious distinction of being
the only large cities that still deploy series circuits for much of the
streetlight network, meaning that if one transformer box breaks down, the whole
strip of lights goes dark, like an old string of Christmas tree lights. While the Mack Avenue streetlight
featured above remains attached to a wood, other lights in the city append to
metal poles, presumably the same age as the lights themselves, characterized by
rust, peeling paint, and sometimes even open cavities at the base. The whole contraption has seen better
days.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But viewing these cracked eggs through a cultural lens can
help temper some of the scorn. They
might not work well as modern lamps and they’re much easier to vandalize, but
they’re relics—they’re curiosity items.
And they’re particularly eye-catching along Mack Avenue because there
are so many of them, yet they’re still interspersed with more contemporary
designs. This cool pic doesn’t win
awards for clarity, but it still shows the juxtaposition of old and new
streetlights, through their silhouettes.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoEN_YqX4f4LXfQaE8vOM96LAijgfYuimpR4QljNEImzK9iuyU5TI_szF8nrjOcYV-em2JMXfbNCkPpBWoFM6QfyOHvM0Ej7DLKyyL6b24G7KE-rfm6YezhDVEEaIFiqwyovXHazZRJ0J/s1600/DSCF1836.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoEN_YqX4f4LXfQaE8vOM96LAijgfYuimpR4QljNEImzK9iuyU5TI_szF8nrjOcYV-em2JMXfbNCkPpBWoFM6QfyOHvM0Ej7DLKyyL6b24G7KE-rfm6YezhDVEEaIFiqwyovXHazZRJ0J/s1600/DSCF1836.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Or on opposite sides of the street.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3BZSG5ymNJ4CT9DG7LwLM3R7Fq3yyFnkZ-4LkPaovbrUVBdUGytTQAP_Ux5VM08qTSfLg-Rhr-Luilahj4XZuwBpHqijpMc0rzkQV41U0FAp-9EIuv5KJdD5D3gmDbXKYr5a7guXe9o2/s1600/DSCF1837.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3BZSG5ymNJ4CT9DG7LwLM3R7Fq3yyFnkZ-4LkPaovbrUVBdUGytTQAP_Ux5VM08qTSfLg-Rhr-Luilahj4XZuwBpHqijpMc0rzkQV41U0FAp-9EIuv5KJdD5D3gmDbXKYr5a7guXe9o2/s1600/DSCF1837.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And on a depopulated residential street not so far from
Mack, a different kind of lighting style emerges—perhaps not as old-fashioned
but still an oddity.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttghMwRR3RvJSqp_AI_DCrMEiJX13gunAC3I0f59onLPYDtPpIoiHopBkgZm3Xu9V4nDvhswNwpbkUq4M8KHMaigY_cEiyK9lOdhyphenhyphen0AQ5IQuIDpY_AkDLG1Ii-wqKp9jI1HJTqD3tr39e/s1600/DSCF1825.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttghMwRR3RvJSqp_AI_DCrMEiJX13gunAC3I0f59onLPYDtPpIoiHopBkgZm3Xu9V4nDvhswNwpbkUq4M8KHMaigY_cEiyK9lOdhyphenhyphen0AQ5IQuIDpY_AkDLG1Ii-wqKp9jI1HJTqD3tr39e/s1600/DSCF1825.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOs6yKyW6ceJdH6zd_cTXSRrl8HvzffJoHv_b-bPCADX9UmNnn8Mdp1TUw7EnDgGjRjk42Volcux1UzFDaN_rgSqlyXdyZrSBmpjN5ZXz8QOjFPQtOKQNYRzbrf3_5_e9uOp-8B7k_nJLD/s1600/DSCF1826.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOs6yKyW6ceJdH6zd_cTXSRrl8HvzffJoHv_b-bPCADX9UmNnn8Mdp1TUw7EnDgGjRjk42Volcux1UzFDaN_rgSqlyXdyZrSBmpjN5ZXz8QOjFPQtOKQNYRzbrf3_5_e9uOp-8B7k_nJLD/s1600/DSCF1826.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Perhaps a style and technology that never caught on?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The irony of the 1950s-era (or maybe even 1940s) lighting
that lingers on in Detroit is that, in a broader spatial context, it
exemplifies technological advancements playfully defying shifts in taste
culture for a particular design.
On Mack Avenue, ancient streetlights bespeak a broke, ineffective
government. And yet, elsewhere in
the metro, they convey something else.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjMLenj8uLJc6buXhnnUxtzOTbfvf7NkLZanyQCVRIrrj0qEgJgay1131IX2zkJ35cpxzmkPXeL7MgBwHqvwt0cOtJnLJcIKF_i3h-N3dr6bROTD07RQEjR5KNW_Y3-pwqJegVDNXcdPz/s1600/IMG_20140214_171623_958.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjMLenj8uLJc6buXhnnUxtzOTbfvf7NkLZanyQCVRIrrj0qEgJgay1131IX2zkJ35cpxzmkPXeL7MgBwHqvwt0cOtJnLJcIKF_i3h-N3dr6bROTD07RQEjR5KNW_Y3-pwqJegVDNXcdPz/s1600/IMG_20140214_171623_958.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Forgiving the quality of the photo, it’s still easy to see a
similar style of lighting to the ones on Mack Avenue, but this time they’re impeccable.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXEsQ8a6RGquNfAzmX56VV5KsftVMzvTcXaTCCCE2qy_nIxzKnefEm7iBkUkg2dqrdSbK7aTJkjykpDAx22OUmZ57fGgJYZ-jHBoa0G5T6_yRe2nYKzJAWhZkEQNSpxxE5ICI1dJu6I_u/s1600/IMG_20140214_171634_021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXEsQ8a6RGquNfAzmX56VV5KsftVMzvTcXaTCCCE2qy_nIxzKnefEm7iBkUkg2dqrdSbK7aTJkjykpDAx22OUmZ57fGgJYZ-jHBoa0G5T6_yRe2nYKzJAWhZkEQNSpxxE5ICI1dJu6I_u/s1600/IMG_20140214_171634_021.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But this is the comfy suburb of Livonia, presumably part of
a streetscape improvement along a thoroughly auto-oriented corridor of strip
malls and big boxes. And they no
doubt were a deliberate choice from the Public Works Department because they <i>look good</i>—providing a vintage, old-timey
feel. Apparently they don’t worry
in Livonia about ne’er-do-well pedestrians throwing rocks at these distended
bulbs. Maybe it’s because Livonia
has few ne’er-do-wells….and even fewer pedestrians. But even some of the economically healthier neighborhoods
within Detroit have caught the bug, replacing older streetlights with a newly
vintage design, like these twin lamps in Midtown, near Woodward Avenue:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7BuQMqy2vUjnUgemxkBbTXq3MhqqxKlHbJUAJKYsrpVtIJN8kEWuNJWBrurg2W1jUIFMaAQbNrhZTMy0wakFyPvg4dKCuD7H6Vhj3EmymKIdfDf5V14PAT2ixqES8SNjn4bozGcfqAEnh/s1600/DSCF1843.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7BuQMqy2vUjnUgemxkBbTXq3MhqqxKlHbJUAJKYsrpVtIJN8kEWuNJWBrurg2W1jUIFMaAQbNrhZTMy0wakFyPvg4dKCuD7H6Vhj3EmymKIdfDf5V14PAT2ixqES8SNjn4bozGcfqAEnh/s1600/DSCF1843.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This inversion of taste cultures pervades streetscapes
across the country, where everything old is new again, in order to exploit
nostalgia among a generation that never really experienced a normative walkable
environment—a landscape that was still the standard during the era when city
crew first installed those acorn mercury vapor lamps. We’re seduced by nostalgia and novelty; a hybrid of the two
is doubly sweet. Just go to the French
Quarter in New Orleans, where a city equally negligent in modernizing its
utilities now capitalizes on this same inertia—the flickery gas lanterns that
once were a backwater embarrassment are now ambiance. Detroit isn’t yet so lucky to take similar advantage of its
obsolete lighting (and the fact that most streets like Mack are a hodgepodge of
styles doesn’t help), but that doesn’t mean that an emergent cultural voice
won’t someday call those lights “genuine retro”, and the preached-upon choir will
be listening.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The periodic “freshening” of basic urban infrastructure is
only partly due to necessity, as it may very well be in Detroit. But a great deal simply has to do with
keeping up with the joneses, resulting in often needlessly costly capital investments. For example, the standard for
pedestrian signals at intersections now typically involves a “countdown” timer,
telling pedestrians exactly how many seconds they have left to cross. While useful, are these timer boxes
essential? Regardless, public
works departments are rapidly phasing out the single-box approach for these new
timer-boxes, with little evidence of public advocacy one way or another
(despite the fact that the public inevitably is paying for most of these
replacement costs). From
decorative viaducts to Day-Glo yellow road caution signs, jurisdictions hell-bent
on an infrastructural one-upmanship should look to Detroit as an inverse
exemplar—what might happen when profligacy goes perpetually unchecked. Unless, of course, these granny-and-gramps
streetlights become hip and cool again, in which case the Motor City might have
the last laugh.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
AmericanDirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600555386886915000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9158467536239735339.post-75113526342060540142014-02-19T18:21:00.000-09:002014-03-27T12:57:00.645-08:00Plowing the factories to plant a field.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Cities large and small have borne the brunt of criticism
from economic development experts for investing heavily in sports venues, in an
effort to bring people back—and thus to help revitalize—their old
downtowns. I’ll admit it: I’ve
been one of these critics in the past as well, <a href="http://dirtamericana.blogspot.com/2010/02/rethinking-behemoth-preseving-banal.html">heaping three successive blog articles of scorn to the City of Evansville</a> in its decision to tear down a
block of century-old commercial buildings in order to build a new arena. To be honest, I directed my “scorn”—a
pretty overblown word—mostly toward the decision to demolish old commercial
buildings, rather than act of relocating an arena downtown in general. Regardless, I’ve continued to receive
comments from naysayers who think that the site of the Evansville arena was
perfect, and that my criticism was unfounded. Maybe I will eat crow someday, but I hold my ground that an
indoor arena is hardly a panacea for an ailing downtown, especially when it replaces
a structure that is superior from an urban design standpoint.
</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The City of Toledo offers another target for those
venom-tipped arrows—a baseball diamond that precedes its basketball counterpart
in Evansville by a good decade.
Though a larger metro than Evansville (at 650,000 to Evansville’s 350,000),
Toledo still has a long way to go before it could become an alpha/first-tier
city, either in the Midwest or even in Ohio. And, based on the current trajectory, its not a likely aspiration:
in recent decades, Toledo’s population has plunged 25%, while even the
suburbs—most of which are comfortably middle class—have remained flat. But in 2002, the MiLB’s Toledo Mud Hens
christened the brand-new Fifth Third Field, a significant relocation from its
predecessor, the Ned Skeldon Stadium in the suburb of Maumee.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">According to <a href="http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=20020414&id=21hPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6wMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5565,3667719">a <i>Toledo Blade</i> article from 2002</a>, quite a few civic leaders perceived Ned Skeldon Stadium as less than ideal,
just years after Lucas County Commissioner Skeldon brought the Mud Hens back to
Toledo in 1965 after a ten-year absence.
Teaming with a local banker, Skeldon had converted a county racetrack at
the fairgrounds to this Lucas County Stadium. Despite an abundance of parking, an on-site restaurant,
several suites, and the MiLB standard provision of at least 10,000 seats, this
suburban stadium never drew great crowds.
A <a href="http://ballparkdigest.com/200903221614/minor-league-baseball/visits/fifth-third-field-toledo-mud-hens"><i>Ballpark Digest</i> article</a>
recognizes that the stadium suffered from uncomfortable bleachers, numerous
seats behind support poles, and the complete incapacity to expand the luxury
boxes critical to generating good revenue through corporate rentals. In 1988, shortly before Skeldon’s
death, the City renamed the facility after him in his honor. And just weeks after filling the dirt
over his casket, officials announced their interest in building a new stadium
downtown. Over the next decade, as
more of the pieces fell into place, successful ballparks opened in Louisville
and Indianapolis, further galvanizing enthusiasm for an equivalent edifice in
Toledo.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6X5JpPWo50O19rdvhPrLG0B6xy0Sk2FKsoLRZb52sVp-KYkDmnRMBamlldIEowWExl7v5w5gXx8TnSSE4MWvAkiRW2-qLlR1uXuzsselx4iNsDYAPiZd2u4I7fn8wEndnMaL0l-YEdGMv/s1600/DSCF9096.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6X5JpPWo50O19rdvhPrLG0B6xy0Sk2FKsoLRZb52sVp-KYkDmnRMBamlldIEowWExl7v5w5gXx8TnSSE4MWvAkiRW2-qLlR1uXuzsselx4iNsDYAPiZd2u4I7fn8wEndnMaL0l-YEdGMv/s1600/DSCF9096.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Fifth Third Field Toledo (not to be confused with the
identically named ballpark in Dayton, Ohio) sits snugly within the downtown
warehouse district, tucked among sturdy brick midrises from the late 19<sup>th</sup>
century. Try as I might to probe
the history of the site, I can find no evidence of any controversy to the
location that Mayor Carty Finkbeiner and other officials ultimately decided
upon for the ballpark. The only
conclusion I can draw is that, like the Evansville Arena, the City eliminated a
block of public right-of-way in order to procure the needed contiguous space to
build such a large facility. The
Google Map below shows the obvious gap where Superior Street used to continue
uninterrupted.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdBRQEL-yNALAptEoSwznLt36F4gQaYhwNFZWsONGv7WIthXu_IUmNh2xJO2ZrGfAvHz-tLuOzGjjDfVLzwwBNae3PRx3bC5w7YgoyMDGS1QL_M6boShvFQlazDgR57zVozRazfO20x-9/s1600/DT+Toledo+map.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdBRQEL-yNALAptEoSwznLt36F4gQaYhwNFZWsONGv7WIthXu_IUmNh2xJO2ZrGfAvHz-tLuOzGjjDfVLzwwBNae3PRx3bC5w7YgoyMDGS1QL_M6boShvFQlazDgR57zVozRazfO20x-9/s1600/DT+Toledo+map.png" height="213" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Did the choice to locate in the heart of downtown ruffle any
feathers? Did any prominent or historic buildings have to come down? Or was the surrounding neighborhood so
blighted and bereft of investment that few people questioned this decision? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The April 2002 <i>Blade</i>
article announcing the Field’s opening only manages to expound upon the mild
question of whether the City needed a new structure badly enough to justify
over $30 million in expenditures, especially in the face of considerable demand
for a new juvenile justice center and Sixth District Court of Appeals. No hand-wringing over what got
demolished to make room for the new venue. But a partnership between the City and local
businesses—coupled with lucrative advance sales of the luxury suites—helped to
finance construction. The result
stands as a proud and lively achievement in harnessing energy back to the
historic city center, manifested on a sunny Sunday summer afternoon.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmcw4xSWmnUyGDn4Vg1ah6sfYIGOtth0LcUkQ61rfq-43Tl_KSjuE8N-zEU8MDb-wubkY7RzuHfJGI_TDX1dVWUhspsI-q_2eUaXRR13uWwcr1UhhaazD0RIw2PBnvpcSbeEQDft_v6rH/s1600/DSCF9092.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmcw4xSWmnUyGDn4Vg1ah6sfYIGOtth0LcUkQ61rfq-43Tl_KSjuE8N-zEU8MDb-wubkY7RzuHfJGI_TDX1dVWUhspsI-q_2eUaXRR13uWwcr1UhhaazD0RIw2PBnvpcSbeEQDft_v6rH/s1600/DSCF9092.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">While <a href="http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2012/05/downtown-toledos-minor-league-mojo/2028/">this <i>The Atlantic Cities</i></a> article
speculates that city officials were originally chary to build a stadium without
any explicitly dedicated parking, it might have been prudent in the long
run. Visitors to downtown Toledo must
either seek garages a few blocks away or on-street parking in the surrounding
neighborhood. Which, apparently,
is exactly what they do.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrQjYZhgzID7JhkjtDmHPPwh5yuRn1yNS5GH2fcDgCWtYduDzmicIP4DXOl6-uVSnaN93BhZ-eddalAzxdh4mEqBtFgz2MZXxfKwbiWnDud1nbavm27D8EHbPRKSNbdtGdnd8Fc0Cinu8/s1600/DSCF9101.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrQjYZhgzID7JhkjtDmHPPwh5yuRn1yNS5GH2fcDgCWtYduDzmicIP4DXOl6-uVSnaN93BhZ-eddalAzxdh4mEqBtFgz2MZXxfKwbiWnDud1nbavm27D8EHbPRKSNbdtGdnd8Fc0Cinu8/s1600/DSCF9101.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCECyyeWUYNNYk3_7LpftHuQOH7SoNQgma735e0LjYLqI33n-edNXy1LmLEDpBJENPrV9qiws07R2qLPF5zLQprG-ZR7xHvvYXiuCj5yuIZAlFGpVnlQ8VhCG_zAj1u-k8VXt50qDYiZkg/s1600/DSCF9091.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCECyyeWUYNNYk3_7LpftHuQOH7SoNQgma735e0LjYLqI33n-edNXy1LmLEDpBJENPrV9qiws07R2qLPF5zLQprG-ZR7xHvvYXiuCj5yuIZAlFGpVnlQ8VhCG_zAj1u-k8VXt50qDYiZkg/s1600/DSCF9091.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This same article also observes (again, quite speculatively)
that the opening of Fifth Third Field represented the first time many Toledans
had paid for a parking spot downtown, walking by buildings and storefronts that
were slowly enjoying a mild rebirth, as investment began to recentralize
through the installation of this new activity hub. Many of the blocks immediately surrounding the ballpark now
offer bars and restaurants.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsjlmEG2M74QI040h7B0H4EEb8UBXlx9VdfTMN4c36EtNil7PCvpYZmHYPdm-5xbZlR1bvKGWLILPk8TUi7PoMQYcKz8OI3J0sHe0IiQZwEA9eNNm0hTQ_Q5fJjTEh0Kc7YUVQt_683Mg/s1600/DSCF9094.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsjlmEG2M74QI040h7B0H4EEb8UBXlx9VdfTMN4c36EtNil7PCvpYZmHYPdm-5xbZlR1bvKGWLILPk8TUi7PoMQYcKz8OI3J0sHe0IiQZwEA9eNNm0hTQ_Q5fJjTEh0Kc7YUVQt_683Mg/s1600/DSCF9094.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8bYgovnTkol8lzBX5PFoHEK034IeVl5405xgHi_kBYw9xjMqAhLj4_zKyF5yCbETHy2D_LsXrdbb4esseXU9AqzS4QESFILhA7PlXHOj6WX2ZsH6sU-nzK5aUQi6kCeK3O9oEjnKZDGw/s1600/DSCF9100.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8bYgovnTkol8lzBX5PFoHEK034IeVl5405xgHi_kBYw9xjMqAhLj4_zKyF5yCbETHy2D_LsXrdbb4esseXU9AqzS4QESFILhA7PlXHOj6WX2ZsH6sU-nzK5aUQi6kCeK3O9oEjnKZDGw/s1600/DSCF9100.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Fifth Third Field undoubtedly helped breathe life into a
downtown that ostensibly had tumbleweeds blowing across main street on weekends
in the 1990s. Nonetheless, few
visitors would ever label today’s downtown Toledo “flourishing”. While a few of the blocks in the
immediate vicinity of the stadium are quite lively, any perspective of downtown
more than two blocks further portrays an entirely different scenario.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs92e6BL451imnXpdxEFwSHsa8-Zo3dcJh6-Ama2kaqoUOlfaOkSgQ3s71DgFhnw9PlrqYZTuzWWUQ06K8ZBYlUrYn_dRLWXaZ5GiGYHahjVJ0VId2saPyA_qxcHnVtul7z7szB4z3863P/s1600/DSCF9090.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs92e6BL451imnXpdxEFwSHsa8-Zo3dcJh6-Ama2kaqoUOlfaOkSgQ3s71DgFhnw9PlrqYZTuzWWUQ06K8ZBYlUrYn_dRLWXaZ5GiGYHahjVJ0VId2saPyA_qxcHnVtul7z7szB4z3863P/s1600/DSCF9090.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9MkHANOqN-fDT8iH0LS5ejklFYkd_p68SYYQi8vLQQei75qx2slsBvhERUI560dE6H_wM9Jc8Vpkwtr_jlHtUGm0bGNT1lbZD1ATH6Dp0RgPG5-1g2kUtzdm0JPgF0BKolfaLb1jYG6W/s1600/DSCF9083.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9MkHANOqN-fDT8iH0LS5ejklFYkd_p68SYYQi8vLQQei75qx2slsBvhERUI560dE6H_wM9Jc8Vpkwtr_jlHtUGm0bGNT1lbZD1ATH6Dp0RgPG5-1g2kUtzdm0JPgF0BKolfaLb1jYG6W/s1600/DSCF9083.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGYoaqD-IQA9ERtWECt_cJiVGaUmRGxlnLKRsdnwWtYrXElg17GIPJswzofxm39IU0Feu9QTV_-O4ea4S-FesUKk-82t2_yJs9ZPYwr_iYz4S6CrZpATIZiMgtZjvX3P4O8VJYuQMx6SU/s1600/DSCF9095.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGYoaqD-IQA9ERtWECt_cJiVGaUmRGxlnLKRsdnwWtYrXElg17GIPJswzofxm39IU0Feu9QTV_-O4ea4S-FesUKk-82t2_yJs9ZPYwr_iYz4S6CrZpATIZiMgtZjvX3P4O8VJYuQMx6SU/s1600/DSCF9095.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">To be fair, I could have framed my pictures so that they
deliberately lack people, using that <i>mise
en scene</i>to demonstrate dishonestly that much of downtown Toledo isn’t
vibrant. And, of course, Sunday
afternoon is never a fair assessment, because even America’s liveliest cities
can appear sleepy on this day of rest.
But notice that most of the buildings in the above photos lack any
discernible tenant. Nothing is
animating the structures from the <i>inside,
</i>let alone the outside. The
energy simply remains so concentrated in an isolated portion that the resulting
impression is that downtown Toledo has a lively little restaurant row right
around its baseball field—not that the downtown is lively in itself.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In defense of Mayor Finkbeiner and the ballpark boosters,
Fifth Ford Field really did arrive on the downtown Toledo scene with the best
of intentions. If the City had
decided to finance a parking garage, not only would the end product cost much
more, but it would have further steered motorists into a dedicated space
immediately next to the stadium, unnecessarily concentrating human movement to
a single facility. By forcing
suburbanites to find their own parking, they have no choice but to toddle
around the adjacent streets. Also,
several of the stadium’s walls are completely permeable, meaning that the
architects avoided turning the stadium into a fortress. Notice, for example, <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=fifth+third+field,+toledo&hl=en&ll=41.648184,-83.537507&spn=0.002349,0.008186&sll=45.00109,-86.270553&sspn=10.02068,16.765137&hq=fifth+third+field,&hnear=Toledo,+Lucas,+Ohio&t=m&z=17&layer=c&cbll=41.648183,-83.537504&panoid=4uwXYwR5apHNv8QCV5fVgA&cbp=11,332.71,,0,-0.24">this Google Streetview from St. Clair Street</a>. Passers-by can look right in, giving sensory appeal from the
streetscape.
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">On two of the four corners, the designers maintained corner
buildings with retail frontage, or else they decided to add some of their own,
manifested by this photo:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-KQbqBeZpyd29NOgxuGxcXSXbSZqaBWOXAo3N39t0B1q-XrH7vKhmQ7O1PP2cXYAdY2mUkSqbAWJzlIHqycbhy93s61COARkvUAmuReKpVMrKVfy5uu-AqTXbu6VB9F4WH36MhhfMAQU/s1600/DSCF9099.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-KQbqBeZpyd29NOgxuGxcXSXbSZqaBWOXAo3N39t0B1q-XrH7vKhmQ7O1PP2cXYAdY2mUkSqbAWJzlIHqycbhy93s61COARkvUAmuReKpVMrKVfy5uu-AqTXbu6VB9F4WH36MhhfMAQU/s1600/DSCF9099.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Unfortunately, the portion of the stadium fronting Huron
Street achieves an effect that is antithetical to good urbanism, <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=fifth+third+field,+toledo&hl=en&ll=41.64887,-83.539749&spn=0.001174,0.004093&sll=45.00109,-86.270553&sspn=10.02068,16.765137&hq=fifth+third+field,&hnear=Toledo,+Lucas,+Ohio&t=m&z=18&layer=c&cbll=41.648871,-83.539751&panoid=B8rRY7YV4CizvSdb-7gPnA&cbp=11,61.46,,0,0.12">as evidenced again by Google Streetview</a>. Here it does look like a fortress; pedestrians
cannot engage with anything visually.
The walk along this block is empty and forlorn, and <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=fifth+third+field,+toledo&hl=en&ll=41.64887,-83.539749&spn=0.001174,0.004093&sll=45.00109,-86.270553&sspn=10.02068,16.765137&hq=fifth+third+field,&hnear=Toledo,+Lucas,+Ohio&t=m&z=18&layer=c&cbll=41.648871,-83.539751&panoid=B8rRY7YV4CizvSdb-7gPnA&cbp=11,326.86,,0,-7.9">the buildings across the street</a> show very little evidence of new investment. Perhaps things are beginning to change since these summer
2011 Google Streetview pics, but obviously Huron Street isn’t picking up steam
nearly as quickly as other blocks in Toledo’s Warehouse District, despite the
fact that these old buildings are immediately across the street.
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Like just about everything in life, Fifth Third Field endures
both merits and deficiencies, most of which are intrinsic to stadia and their
inevitable programming. These facilities
never offer the sort of day-to-day visitor intrigue that a museum or even a
downtown department store might offer. Their hours of operation are simply too limited. Arenas and stadiums are moribund when a
game isn’t in session. But a downtown
football stadium may be the most fatuous example, since it requires a titanic
floorplate, a tremendous cost, and the space only hosts a dozen home games in a
given season, at best. At the very least, <a href="http://www.milb.com/documents/7/7/0/63721770/2014MHSchedule_a507ftsv.pdf">the Mud Hens’ 2014 schedule</a>
proves something that most of us knew already: that baseball convenes much,
much more often than football. During
a given season, Hens get only five or six days off, giving many opportunities
to bring suburban Toledans to the downtown on a given afternoon. From this metric alone, it would appear
easy to conclude that ballparks serve as a far better economic development tool
than football stadia: they have more impact in a month than an NFL team can
offer through an entire season.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But the ballpark only reigns supreme during the sunny summer
months. By early fall, the coach
turns back to a pumpkin. And,
during the colder half of the year, an outdoor-oriented venue poses a distinct
disadvantage. Whereas the enclosed
Evansville arena can host a variety of events through the dead of winter, Fifth
Third Field is unlikely to attract Cirque du Soleil in January…or much of
anything else. The unconventional configuration
of a baseball diamond—and its surrounding horseshoe-shaped seating/concession
area—becomes a serious liability for most travelling performance companies
seeking a venue, even during the summer season. So it’s a good thing the Mud Hens stay so busy from April to
September, because this stadium likely remains pretty empty during a succession
of away games, or through the other six months of the year. Downtown Toledo enjoys a moderately
active entertainment district, thanks to Fifth Third Field and the cluster of
bars and restaurants that it spawned.
But I suspect many of the nightlife spots seriously cut back on their
hours of operation from October to March, unless the city of Toledo has devised
a cold-weather counterpart.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Which <a href="http://www.huntingtoncentertoledo.com/">it has, just two blocks to the north of Fifth Third Field</a>. No doubt the economic development team responsible for this
one-two punch of sports venues thought a hockey arena (Huntington Center) and ballpark (Fifth Third Field) would complement
one another. And maybe that’s
exactly what they’ve done. But
sporting events still fall far short of the magnetism that downtown Toledo could
boast in 1950, when it survived as the hub of all commercial and retail
activity for the metro. Those days
are but a memory, even in cities whose central city economies are surging. Although the popularity of suburban
shopping malls has seriously waned (supplanted by lifestyle centers, category-killing
big boxes, or—most potently—online shopping), we have yet to witness a
recentralization of downtown retail …at least anywhere near the levels after
World War II.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Toledo and its peer cities have sought alternative means of
replacing that consumerist energy by bringing America’s great pastime to the
city center. But for all that
hubbub, sports venues are rarely the tried-and-true institutions that their
champions make them out to be.
Toledans were lukewarm toward Ned Skledon Stadium, probably because at
least a few could recall <a href="http://www.toledoblade.com/Mud-Hens/2001/10/05/Swayne-Field-was-full-of-history.html">its predecessor, Swayne Field, home to the Mud Hens from 1909 until the club disbanded in 1955</a>. Demolished a year after the
Hens’ departure, its convenient location (closer to downtown than Ned Skeldon
but not as close as Fifth Third Field) is now a middling strip mall. But even Swayne wasn’t Toledo’s first:
<a href="http://sabr.org/bioproj/park/30843621">Armory Park preceded it</a>, at a site currently
occupied by the civic center and government campus—and more less downtown.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, with Fifth Third Field, we’ve come around full circle. How
many more years before 1) civic leaders decide another part of town needs
rejuvenation or 2) technological advances and shifting customer demand render
the facility obsolete? Will this
ballpark last forty years? Or will
it eventually be as old as the surrounding warehouses are today? I guess the answer depends on whether
sports fans are any more or less capricious than shopaholics. And I’m not willing to hedge my bets.</span></span></div>
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</span></span>AmericanDirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600555386886915000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9158467536239735339.post-65216540002158431952014-01-31T03:18:00.003-09:002014-02-01T03:50:18.043-09:00A time of the signs.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">It should go without saying that a clear indicator of an
effective sign is its ability to communicate its intended message. Whether the sign’s intent is to
advertise, to inform, or to admonish, it loses most of its power if its capacity
to denote doesn’t come easily or quickly (and quickly nearly always translates
to easily). This condition may be
true in most milieus, but it’s particularly relevant among roadside
signage. After all, at least in
the US, most people approach roadways from the perspective of a motorized
vehicle, meaning they are moving across the landscape quickly enough that small
objects pass by with little time to absorb them. So those signs <i>have</i>
to be clear…otherwise how can they get their point across?</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">At a fundamental level, there’s nothing wrong with this
unusual sign in Southfield, MI, a large, busy suburb of Detroit with definitive
Edge City characteristics.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeWJ-912t0iFKHeJwoOQa0t-jLl0hTNxDAkEAE2qSib2D88ppc52GcSNsDctaonMUPl2ISevOYjx8oCoGCOyC5AuSfqWe2SjCSSz-zKIOeLjxlOLpoEkgIqbegGpXIBynXhEk5mJQ0R0y/s1600/IMG_20140117_155759_694-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeWJ-912t0iFKHeJwoOQa0t-jLl0hTNxDAkEAE2qSib2D88ppc52GcSNsDctaonMUPl2ISevOYjx8oCoGCOyC5AuSfqWe2SjCSSz-zKIOeLjxlOLpoEkgIqbegGpXIBynXhEk5mJQ0R0y/s1600/IMG_20140117_155759_694-001.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">Although signs restricting motorists from turning during
certain hours are hardly commonplace, they certainly aren’t unheard of. Obviously, a succession of cars waiting
to make a left turn at a busy intersection can create a logjam, deteriorating
the Level of Service of any busy arterial, especially during peak travel
times. But look at the hours
listed on this particular sign.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxGBTdVsxCk-VdxJGB0LYviXpJQmNrvePDhIHvJqGe8vuG5RWUd4MOS_ZdEZ4tXUCZKcbl8aMEW-N3D5ZUkbWfYk6Ql6KuLGHzx09Xdns7InqohTvZR1MV3H3vz59-yx2O1rDrTqwiDPo/s1600/IMG_20140117_155806_114-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxGBTdVsxCk-VdxJGB0LYviXpJQmNrvePDhIHvJqGe8vuG5RWUd4MOS_ZdEZ4tXUCZKcbl8aMEW-N3D5ZUkbWfYk6Ql6KuLGHzx09Xdns7InqohTvZR1MV3H3vz59-yx2O1rDrTqwiDPo/s1600/IMG_20140117_155806_114-001.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">Contrary to our expectations, this isn’t a morning
restriction. Left turns are off
limits here from 6:00a all the way until midnight—a whopping 18 hours. Only in the middle of the night (or
early morning), from 12:01a to 5:59a, are vehicles permitted to turn on red.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">It probably makes sense: the traffic volume here on
Telegraph Road, just south of W. Twelve Mile Road, is so intense that cars seeking
to turn left probably should have to wait, at least through most of the day. But how likely is it that the human eye
and brain will interpret this correctly the first time around, even when
stopped at the light? After all,
both the beginning and ending restriction times are AM. Most signs advertising use restrictions
only regulate for brief intervals; not three-quarters of the day. Even if a
driver stops here for quite some time, the brain is likely to require time to
process the fact that this restriction completely encompasses the PM hours. And
for those who pass by quickly, then plunge ahead, will they necessarily
interpret the information on this sign accurately? This sign’s unconventional regulation could make it an easy locus
for law enforcement to “catch” motorists in a moving violation. (“But officer,
I thought the sign said…”)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">Truth is, this restriction is nothing more than a refinement
of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_left"><i>Michigan left</i></a></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">, a fairly common traffic management practice throughout
urban areas in the Wolverine State—but pretty rare just about everywhere
else. This tactic, in which a
motorist makes a right and then a carefully controlled U-turn (often regulated
by stop lights as in the Southfield example above), no doubt reduces chances of
gridlock induced by a left-turn lane, albeit by diverting vehicles across a
more convoluted path. Michigan’s
famously broad thoroughfares, coupled with generous medians, make the Michigan
left superlative at mitigating against the hazard of motorists demurringly
seeking a left turn across a broad intersection. But for the unfamiliar (i.e., the non-Michiganders) the
approach confuses and annoys, because it seems so counter-intuitive. And a road sign with bizarre restrictions
only amplifies this confusion.</span>
</div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">In MDOT’s defense, the Michigan left is catching on: <a href="http://www.wthr.com/story/21450123/allisonville-introduces-michigan-left-monday">Indiana installed one at a busy intersection a few years ago (at the border of Indianapolis and the suburb Fishers)</a>,
and southwestern DOTs have begun adopting them. Meanwhile, my former home of New Orleans is perhaps even
more enamored with wide medians than Detroit (though they call them “neutral
grounds” down there), and the city has long embraced a variant on Michigan, in
that motorists usually must make a U-turn at a later point just beyond the intersection,
rather than an immediate left turn at the convergence of the two streets. But the approach involves much more
elaborate signage with the Michigan left in metro Detroit, akin to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MichiganLeftSigns.png">this graphic</a>.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">Will the creeping dissemination of the Michigan left across
other parts of the country eventually make the “6am to 12am” time frame easier
to interpret? Probably not, unless
signage featuring this interval becomes commonplace. And why should it?
Wouldn’t it have been more straightforward simply to say “left turns
allowed – 12am to 6am only”? Or to
depict the interval through military time? But would American civilians ever catch on to the 24-hour
approach, common throughout most of the world? Yeah, that’s about as likely as switching to the metric
system—or surrendering our sovereignty to France. Which pretty much amount to the same thing.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1KlavPkfF7wqGM7Z2x6V1Y7Rm_6wvdm2efb1EpVH5N13VQcbeKNJo_qinlBedRvw3azqJycFKXoXa9J25Ker6DOVVyuET_RjI_7NTTAXaHKgH5mvasGkn2lfWmOBL9RQ6Hk57KyI_LOj/s1600/IMG_20140117_155759_694-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></span></span></div>
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AmericanDirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600555386886915000noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9158467536239735339.post-53624525632700276602014-01-15T17:18:00.001-09:002014-01-15T17:18:31.106-09:00Meditations on the Marott Center.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">While I continue to iron out the kinks for my own domain version of American Dirt, I want my readership to know when I'm actively contributing to other blogs. <a href="http://www.urbanindy.com/2014/01/14/with-the-marott-center-in-new-hands-could-the-property-use-some-elbow-grease/">My latest post is up at Urban Indy</a> as of last night.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It focuses on the Marott Center, a hundred-year-old building on Massachusetts Avenue, one of Indianapolis' most desirable urban retail/entertainment corridors. It just <a href="http://www.ibj.com/century-old-mass-ave-landmark-changes-hands/PARAMS/article/45357">got bought by a new owner,</a> along with its adjacent parking lot.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAszLtfinA_ULmeem73n-kvPSKq9WoFKDmbVXiDrZguacX8tuiwZb0t5XdzA_m_fqcf9CrQxZvI9XDf6eW-rh8h9n1LNT42pHoHyTKq7fwoDevpjHY4t6KF1d1M5eJaQGPapy4m0nrbt5/s1600/DSCF1752-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAszLtfinA_ULmeem73n-kvPSKq9WoFKDmbVXiDrZguacX8tuiwZb0t5XdzA_m_fqcf9CrQxZvI9XDf6eW-rh8h9n1LNT42pHoHyTKq7fwoDevpjHY4t6KF1d1M5eJaQGPapy4m0nrbt5/s1600/DSCF1752-001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The building sits on the right of the photo above. By most assessments, a change in hands is unremarkable. But the Marott Center has belonged to the law firm of Rubin and Levin since the partners faithfully restored the structure in 1984--a time when Massachusetts Avenue was little more than a derelict skid row.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNoyBer5MYpc_PbTR5LOGuRarhoVZDY7kAQ0mVkIpy-Y-HRMWLoL3j6M_IF44sKbvjoJsUGtX2p7SrGZuTkSD_psmFssE0RZYHDSPFWF3mnbMyrfShowieeWZlTTUwQWaKiyrM-4bV7W34/s1600/DSCF1751-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNoyBer5MYpc_PbTR5LOGuRarhoVZDY7kAQ0mVkIpy-Y-HRMWLoL3j6M_IF44sKbvjoJsUGtX2p7SrGZuTkSD_psmFssE0RZYHDSPFWF3mnbMyrfShowieeWZlTTUwQWaKiyrM-4bV7W34/s1600/DSCF1751-001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Rubin and Levin deserve praise for saving the handsome building; if it weren't for their efforts, it could have turned into a parking lot like the one visible to the side of the building in the above photograph. But a new owner (Gershman Partners) opens a wealth of new opportunities for redevelopment and maximizing the utility of the Marott Center---something it is unclear if Rubin and Lavin did in the latter years of the firm's ownership.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My post at Urban Indy scrutinizes multiple opportunities for building upon the site's intrinsic strengths, so that it can maximize its contributions to the lively commercial corridor upon which it sits. Only time will tell what the new owners decide to do with the Marott Center, but we can always provide our own input through the blogosphere. Comments as always are welcomed.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
AmericanDirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600555386886915000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9158467536239735339.post-54369686437124601452013-12-31T14:19:00.002-09:002013-12-31T14:19:26.270-09:00Winding down.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My apologies for how quiet it has gotten around here. Truth be told, I've been very busy writing...as well as transferring American Dirt to a new domain. Within the next few days, I will provide a link to my permanent site, which will host all prior posts as well as the future ones. This URL eventually will not post any new active updates the blog.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">At this point, I am still working out some final kinks to my domain, which I was hoping to complete before 2014, but, alas, it was not meant to be. Stay tuned, thanks for your patience, and have a happy New Year.</span></span></div>
AmericanDirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600555386886915000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9158467536239735339.post-91555594524163794022013-12-15T14:15:00.000-09:002013-12-18T19:04:01.081-09:00A signal to retreat to the suburbs? Too late.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Scattered throughout various locations throughout the City
of Detroit, one is likely to run into this sign.</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicS01ZVMHPU3gHBMqs9bSKbWXwc9idp0q-yRm8At6U8Gogca19s8C20c1Rw4jZk_q9gIH66yp4ZWqq6J6Zn75ocyANvkNOexbrZ-D8kDz2zmgkGLVagdzy9aGHUTwoas-c-9_IF1RBhPl3/s1600/DSCF1658.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicS01ZVMHPU3gHBMqs9bSKbWXwc9idp0q-yRm8At6U8Gogca19s8C20c1Rw4jZk_q9gIH66yp4ZWqq6J6Zn75ocyANvkNOexbrZ-D8kDz2zmgkGLVagdzy9aGHUTwoas-c-9_IF1RBhPl3/s320/DSCF1658.JPG" width="320" /></a> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It may be unusual in almost any other urban area, but not
the Motor City. In due time, the
city could end up removing this traffic light at the intersection of Peterboro
Street and Second Avenue altogether.
It stands just a little over a mile from Campus Martius Park, this
absolute center of downtown. But
why would the City’s Department of Public Works consider removing a traffic
light in an area so close to highest concentration of jobs and workers?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It’s not rocket science. This intersection no longer endures the volume of traffic to
justify a stoplight. Or, at least,
the City is pretty sure it doesn’t.
<i>Curbed Detroit</i> <a href="http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2013/01/traffic-map.php">featured an article on this assessment</a> much earlier in the year. In many regards, it’s not too
surprising, given the hierarchical importance of these two streets. Second Avenue would most likely qualify
as a <i>collector</i>, an intermediate
street that does not provide the length or support the volume of vehicles that
a more prominent <i>arterial</i> would (such
as Woodward Avenue). Meanwhile,
Peterboro Street is little more than a <i>local</i>
road, just four blocks in length and not intended to handle any major traffic beyond
access to residential quarters. The
Google Map below better demonstrates this relationship.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7nphkuIw2nGsgSOn6iJ-gMtvbE2zzl87jQC5a6VhcoWa1XZS3rTE-D9Wtqqhf2S57wzZuefE7KB0N4p-b6rS4bxA1h-ndyfUYV_AQrzP-8AnNEXD8l_eUqmf1mh1GzBBxdLq6PBFVz4Vl/s1600/cass+peterboro+map.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7nphkuIw2nGsgSOn6iJ-gMtvbE2zzl87jQC5a6VhcoWa1XZS3rTE-D9Wtqqhf2S57wzZuefE7KB0N4p-b6rS4bxA1h-ndyfUYV_AQrzP-8AnNEXD8l_eUqmf1mh1GzBBxdLq6PBFVz4Vl/s320/cass+peterboro+map.png" width="320" /></a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Detroiters know that Second Avenue is hardly a street on par
with Woodward, just three blocks to the east; it terminates just a few blocks
to the south, at Temple Street and Cass Park. And Peterboro, the cross street, is only four blocks
long. Considering the built
environment in the area today, its hard to conceive of a time when the density
of commerce and vehicles was ever enough to warrant a stoplight here. But, in many regards, that is the
marvel of Detroit. Here’s a
clearer view of the intersection looking northward down Second.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohx9Tk_fZC0gYHaIJ_ZH5PSOe46TKOTQTuR3QUhvas18nWq-BXR9KDfNLFbqN2kFkn7Z6jl4ORWC6txH4FNF6lO3hkvBxWoGE5FJ5a_prMfC9wYKm0c5EdoSossxQXfAZ2ejJHjTA38fR/s1600/DSCF1659.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohx9Tk_fZC0gYHaIJ_ZH5PSOe46TKOTQTuR3QUhvas18nWq-BXR9KDfNLFbqN2kFkn7Z6jl4ORWC6txH4FNF6lO3hkvBxWoGE5FJ5a_prMfC9wYKm0c5EdoSossxQXfAZ2ejJHjTA38fR/s320/DSCF1659.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One could make excuses for the general feeling of emptiness,
considering that I took these pictures in the late afternoon on a
Saturday. But judging from the absence
of major buildings flanking either side of Second Avenue, is there any reason
to believe these lanes (all one-way northbound) are ever congested?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Historically, one of Americans’ favorite gripes about their
respective cities is the snarling traffic problem, indicative of streets that
no longer have the capacity to handle the vehicles that pass through. However, even the pro-car
stalwarts (and the Motor City has more than its share) would have to argue that
Detroit’s roads suffer the opposite capacity issue. Simply put, these streets don’t handle nearly the magnitude
of traffic for which their designers originally anticipated and intended.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Both <a href="http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,7-151-9622_11033_11149---,00.html">Michigan DOT</a> and <a href="http://www.semcog.org/data/Apps/trafficcounts.report.cfm">Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG)</a> offer reports on Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) counts. SEMCOG, with a smaller geographic focus,
also seems to offer much greater detail in its AADT research. For example, <a href="http://semcog-all.ms2soft.com/tcds/tsearch.asp?loc=semcog-all&mod=tcds&mpo_id=17553">this table</a> provides the AADT for Peterboro Street west of Second Avenue, part of the
intersection featured in the above photographs. At 380, the number doesn’t seem that high even without a
comparative context. After all,
this is only a mile from the absolute center of Detroit, and much less from
what would generally pass at Detroit’s downtown. Compare it with <a href="http://www.semcog.org/data/Apps/trafficcounts.report.cfm">the AADT of other street segments of this very minor street</a> and its clear that only two intersections involving Peterboro can even expect
1,000 cars to pass by in a 24-hour period.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But it gets worse.
Compare this with an intersection between a collector and an arterial a
quarter-mile closer to downtown, for example:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKcWE265URzh6ycCmnD0FNrV1BA1HNSdgLIljTpeWDiJ8U4aYNKxEwHEMU8sLfT-0MseXeZcp6cTOcXcSbnjZNbRIfbev1n_PqGeD4GYDz4RAJQpoc_Or_qkC8g-cSkeP2chMG3N_QOPB/s1600/DSCF1662.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKcWE265URzh6ycCmnD0FNrV1BA1HNSdgLIljTpeWDiJ8U4aYNKxEwHEMU8sLfT-0MseXeZcp6cTOcXcSbnjZNbRIfbev1n_PqGeD4GYDz4RAJQpoc_Or_qkC8g-cSkeP2chMG3N_QOPB/s320/DSCF1662.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This photo looks eastward on Temple Street at the point
where Second Avenue terminates, visible on the left, with the mammoth Masonic
Temple immediately behind it. Just
in the distance are two more intersections with stoplights. The purple circles in the map below indicate
the locations of stoplights on Temple.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6s4zeVIQatfEj-g8tdqLSGT6HZc-63ASjckSt_BX0BUHeTTKYDB05bJxDq7bk68gxUO9ix0YKjis5kAemvoM7uIVOgPxHxbJDm5hzvIj4kedCXfXHBfk3WfATVE9guXmWPbk1rAiZyPsA/s1600/cass+park+temple+map+edited.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6s4zeVIQatfEj-g8tdqLSGT6HZc-63ASjckSt_BX0BUHeTTKYDB05bJxDq7bk68gxUO9ix0YKjis5kAemvoM7uIVOgPxHxbJDm5hzvIj4kedCXfXHBfk3WfATVE9guXmWPbk1rAiZyPsA/s320/cass+park+temple+map+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It amounts to one of the most excessive traffic light
schemes I’ve seen in any major city center. Because the two segments of Second Avenue are
non-contiguous, they cannot share a stoplight. However, in this instance, not only is the traffic volume insufficiently
heavy to demand stoplights, but the flow of the traffic further weakens the need. In the photo below, I’m standing
between the two intersections (represented by the purple circles to the left
and center on the map), looking eastward.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeLgsiuvronNrcNOKsQUtHnDoN_0rh95t9iTtSZYgIM2byf7bGGo-MVY8QmiUZALy3vFORT-40-0VRQDPHCMWJPnGAdph-N2CN1QTen8vihnV4TTL5FJUhKy5YRpTOUxvvb-Bb9KesCRt/s1600/DSCF1665.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeLgsiuvronNrcNOKsQUtHnDoN_0rh95t9iTtSZYgIM2byf7bGGo-MVY8QmiUZALy3vFORT-40-0VRQDPHCMWJPnGAdph-N2CN1QTen8vihnV4TTL5FJUhKy5YRpTOUxvvb-Bb9KesCRt/s320/DSCF1665.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This stoplight regulates traffic on a segment of Second
Avenue that is just one block long and only one-way northbound. Thus, the light exists only for
vehicles leaving Second Avenue onto Temple Street; cars along Temple can't do anything. Why isn’t a stop sign
sufficient?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The other intersection (the farthest purple circle on the
left) is even more unnecessary.
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmW1tr7LSxPm05ABmyyTsG_Mt0FTuYylPvcvopuqHrImm0J2GsZfDelywjdUE2hShgYjaNoFRXj8sDV6Ohbhv2MRCTJXCdGuaW07DAD4pUHedgrbzssEoJT1H3QLr7axrls5KCBRGfdVcU/s1600/DSCF1667.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmW1tr7LSxPm05ABmyyTsG_Mt0FTuYylPvcvopuqHrImm0J2GsZfDelywjdUE2hShgYjaNoFRXj8sDV6Ohbhv2MRCTJXCdGuaW07DAD4pUHedgrbzssEoJT1H3QLr7axrls5KCBRGfdVcU/s320/DSCF1667.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The stoplight directs traffic between Temple and Second, but
yet again, Second is a one-way northbound street. Thus, a stoplight exists only for vehicles leaving Temple to
turn onto Second; no cars can legally travel the other direction. Since westbound cars on Temple only
need to turn right to enter onto Second, they would not need traffic regulation
under any circumstances. The
stoplight only regulates cars turning left—no other purpose. If these were high-traffic streets,
some other form of management might be useful. But remember what Second Avenue looks like:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5prHuOAmBaCQvjmFEgokRD1LnREXUqekV0MTuedrFaVKAoe0FJ2D1ekzPcivMxFtgg0newO-gVPUU-gHnONIKUwQbL5FeDwZ5Dhd0EE9h8scXXzt5EJWTXUIP9bYX9Do0OnfbXTUzTsfT/s1600/DSCF1672.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5prHuOAmBaCQvjmFEgokRD1LnREXUqekV0MTuedrFaVKAoe0FJ2D1ekzPcivMxFtgg0newO-gVPUU-gHnONIKUwQbL5FeDwZ5Dhd0EE9h8scXXzt5EJWTXUIP9bYX9Do0OnfbXTUzTsfT/s320/DSCF1672.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Not just a yawning chasm of unused pavement, but a <i>one-way</i> yawning chasm.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I will concede that the Masonic Temple, as a performing arts
venue and meeting space, can bring reasonable crowds when a show or indoor
festival is in town.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7yHOK3tsi4jH74n2YGPjAD-yJJARbWXrzTu-ffS2r1XJpeUMpFHGdJQoNDx6X5_AaRwijk8Ux2OnrxBouyFPpIjP853M8CEBscIayLZP5iusqUA0-DNuPmiRgF4wb0U6kpZR9ORb3eC8/s1600/DSCF1669.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7yHOK3tsi4jH74n2YGPjAD-yJJARbWXrzTu-ffS2r1XJpeUMpFHGdJQoNDx6X5_AaRwijk8Ux2OnrxBouyFPpIjP853M8CEBscIayLZP5iusqUA0-DNuPmiRgF4wb0U6kpZR9ORb3eC8/s320/DSCF1669.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But in a city with numerous magnificent theaters, the
Masonic Temple doesn’t really dominate the scene. It rarely hosts an event more than three nights a week, and
while these can get crowded, does a street really need stoplights for just a
few hours here and there? After
all, whether urban, suburban, or rural, one typically expects at least a little
bit of traffic bottlenecking when a major show lets out.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I’m hardly an advocate for high-speed traffic flow
as an easy remedy, especially in urban settings where numerous pedestrians
could be present. But the
conditions for motorists along this stretch of Temple Street are almost
comparable to waiting in line for a ride at Disneyworld. Cars along Temple Street lurch only 100
feet from one stop light to the next, while waiting for absolutely nothing. The lights aren’t timed to expedite
flow, so it is common for a car to stop at all three intersections represented
by the purple circles. Worst of
all: these lights are <i>not</i> under any
study for removal…yet.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This predicament may seem minor in a city that has lost over
two-thirds of its population since its peak (and is continuing to hemorrhage in
most neighborhoods), but it is an inevitable consequence. The lower east side of Detroit, home to
some neighborhoods that have lost over 90% of the population from the 1950
peak, has none of these “removal” signs.
No decommissioned stoplights planned, although the condition of stopping
at lights for no reason is ubiquitous on that side of town.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As a result, the fact that the Department of Public Works’
Traffic Engineering Division is assessing the possibility of removing traffic
lights seems like lemonade out of lemons.
Not only is it good for people getting around by car in the Motor City,
who won’t suffer the inefficiency of stopping at lights that no longer need to
exist (a Pareto optimality under just about any argument that comes to mind). The win-win resolution prescribed here
may seem out-of-touch with the broader concerns of job loss and concentrated
poverty, but any bankrupt city that needs to divest of some of its most fulsome
assets (and their associated operational costs) will inevitably have to
confront the phenomenon of traffic management in an environment that no longer handles
much traffic. Even if the City
sells its tri-color portfolio to fast-growing metros that need them, it will
probably only amount to a drop in the bucket when it comes to reducing some of
the catastrophic debt. But this
strategy is both relatively easy to implement and unlikely to generate the sort
of controversy that one might expect from, say, stripping the Detroit Institute
of Art of its collection. One
final aspiration: that the Department devises a tactic so that a single “study
for removal” doesn’t cost more than the value of the intersection’s stoplights
themselves. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
AmericanDirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600555386886915000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9158467536239735339.post-73666493820166901392013-11-30T23:47:00.001-09:002013-12-01T00:26:57.839-09:00And on the seventh day...He created a market.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">With this article I venture into what may prove one of my
most overtly political topics ever, possibly against better judgment.<span> </span>Yet I wade into these waters as a
deliberate challenge to myself, since I strive to separate the intensive political
controversy that this tourist attraction elicits from what I think is more
interesting and ultimately more cogent: the sustainability of its business
model. <span> </span>Despite being relatively
new, this attraction has already lured millions of visitors.<span> </span>Although tens of millions more have not
visited (and have no intention of doing so), the heated debate generated from
its opening in the summer of 2007 has inevitably foisted it further in the
limelight than its conceivers had ever expected.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I’m referring to the Creation Museum in Petersburg,
Kentucky, in the outer reaches of suburban Cincinnati, just ten miles west of
the Greater Cincinnati Airport (CVG) and also a two-minute drive from the I-275
bridge over the Ohio River that leads to Indiana.<span> </span>The museum is (at this point in time) the highest-profile
project of <a href="http://www.answersingenesis.org/">Answers in Genesis</a> (AiG),
a non-profit Christian apologetics ministry that principally advocates for a
literal interpretation of Genesis.<span>
</span>Both the museum and its parent organization, now housed at the same
address at the museum’s campus, owe a great deal of their size and influence to
the tireless efforts of Ken Ham, who first founded a creationist organization
in his native Australia in the late 1970s.<span> </span>After several acquisitions and reorganizations that
eventually whisked Ham across the Pacific to an American agency, Answers in
Genesis was born, bringing together a smattering of creationist enterprises
from the US, Australia, South Africa, Canada and New Zealand under one
umbrella, all under Ham’s directorship.<span>
</span>In the intervening years, Ham has achieved national recognition for his
tireless fundraising, which culminated in the $27 million of private funds to
build the 70,000 square-foot Creation Museum—a goal of AiG since its inception.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Even among other Biblical creationists, the Creation Museum
has aroused controversy.<span> </span>It
largely serves as the visitor-friendly, public relations arm of Answers in
Genesis, which in turn concords with Ken Ham’s theological views.<span> </span>Ham is a Young Earth Creationist (YEC),
meaning that he believes that God created the earth according to the account in
Genesis, approximately 6,000 years ago.<span>
</span>Not only does this defy fundamentals to Charles Darwin’s evolutionary
theory, it also boldly contradicts most geological or cosmogonal studies of the
age of the earth and the origin of the universe.<span> </span>Thus, when compared with competing perspectives such as Old
Earth or progressive creationism, whose proponents have also publicly debated
Ham and AiG, the Creation Museum is probably the most at odds with contemporary
scientific inquiry.
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">AiG’s creative team could have tried to accommodate other
creationist views to expand its audience base, but they wisely decided it
wouldn’t be necessary: Young Earth Creationism aligns with the views of a
sizable portion of American Evangelical and conservative Christians.<span> </span>According to <a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/155003/hold-creationist-view-human-origins.aspx">a 2012 Gallup Poll</a>,
46% of Americans surveyed believe that God created humans within the last
10,000 years—a percentage essentially unchanged since the polls began 30 years
prior.<span> </span>Thus, the Creation Museum
did not need to cast a wide net in order to find its demographic base.<span> </span>Initial speculation was that the Museum
would see 250,000 visitors in its first year, but it ended up <a href="http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20071103/NEWS0103/711030409/&nclick_check=1">achieving that number within five months</a>.<span> </span>Almost immediately, AiG began
planning to double the size of the parking lot, along with a retention pond to
capture stormwater runoff, preventing it from flooding or polluting a nearby
creek.<span> </span>By the end of that first
year, the Creation Museum welcomed over 400,000 visitors.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The photos featured throughout this article are no longer
all that current; they’re from the summer of 2009, when the museum was about
two years old.<span> </span>The Creation Museum
seems to be operating on a trajectory that involves steadily expanding its programming
and amenities, though it already seemed extensive during my visit.<span> </span>A few paragraphs back, I consciously
used the word “campus” to describe the site, and while the word may be an
overstatement, the museum is more than an isolated building.<span> </span>The park-like grounds are extensive.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Aside from the outdoor seating, the museum’s property features
an huge garden, a rope bridge, and a petting zoo.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Though I’m hardly well-versed in landscape architecture, it
was obvious that AiG had invested considerably in both the design and the
regular maintenance of these grounds.<span>
</span>The results were, at the very least, pleasing to my own two peepers, but
I have no idea if Ken Ham and his team intended for these grounds to feature
plant species indigenous to northern Kentucky, or an approximate recreation of
prelapsarian Eden, or something else.<span>
</span>There was no way I <i>could</i>
know.<span> </span>The entire garden lacked any
signage referring to plant species, Biblical relevance, or anything that would
explain context or rationale.<span> </span>It
ostensibly existed simply as a treat for the senses, adding to the attraction
for a museum that, thanks to the combination of the exhibits and the outdoor
amenities, could easily consume an entire day for visitors.<span> </span>Since the museum sits in the middle of
former farmland, with no other commercial presence nearby, it needed something
for its patrons to eat during their visit.<span> </span>And, characteristic of the largest children’s museums, it
offers an entire food court.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Since my 2009 visit, Answers in Genesis has added 20 zip
lines and a network of 10 sky bridges to the museum, making it the biggest
course in the Midwest. <a href="http://www.wcpo.com/news/zip-lining-among-new-attractions-at-the-creation-museum">http://www.wcpo.com/news/zip-lining-among-new-attractions-at-the-creation-museum</a></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Inside the museum, the curators have added a new section on
dragons, based on the supposition that the Bible’s reference to “behemoths”
might not just be describing the museum’s much-celebrated dinosaurs but also
other mythical creatures that could have existed before the flood.<span> </span>But these newest features only further
beg the question: what do dragons and dinosaurs (not to mention zip lines) have
to do with the story of creation, or anything explicitly referenced in the
Bible, for that matter? <span> </span>These inclusion
are entirely within AiG’s right, but its hard to see them as corresponding with
the organization’s ultimate ministry.<span>
</span>If visitors pay for the museum’s outdoor element and spend all day on
zip lines, how are they having anything but a secular experience? <span> </span>Instead, the attractions outside of the
museum’s walls are ostensibly new goodies to enhance the museum’s ambition as a
day-long (or even multi-day) destination in an of itself, rather than a museum
that amuses the kiddos for 2 or 3 hours.<span>
</span>Ken Ham smartly located the Creation Museum sufficiently close to
several important metros: besides Cincinnati, we have Lexington, Louisville,
Dayton, Columbus, and Indianapolis within a two-hour drive.<span> </span>But when I visited, the license plates
often came from much greater distances than the tri-state region.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcaq-NWHJKEUmNIQVFbmLPCEHRIWm0duUjifbO85tgZ7IlsbR_GtJ7ofnUD53vxBkyXDD2-AaHjBwM3HmcLjHEjczF9bUX8cMai5dsC5c57ettJ6DRXGDzCBxCms31XttCTwPXrWfc2ac/s1600/Creation+Museum+006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcaq-NWHJKEUmNIQVFbmLPCEHRIWm0duUjifbO85tgZ7IlsbR_GtJ7ofnUD53vxBkyXDD2-AaHjBwM3HmcLjHEjczF9bUX8cMai5dsC5c57ettJ6DRXGDzCBxCms31XttCTwPXrWfc2ac/s320/Creation+Museum+006.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It would seem that the Creation Museum has succeeded
overwhelmingly in its aspirations; after all, by April 2010 it was celebrating
its millionth visitor.<span> </span>But a
closer scrutiny at those numbers suggests that all is not well.<span> </span>After all, if it attracted over 400,000
after one year in operation, which equates to May of 2008, shouldn’t it have
reached the one million point at some point in late 2009 if those numbers
continued to surge?<span> </span>The fact is,
after a booming year one, the attendance has dropped in each subsequent year. <a href="http://citybeat.com/cincinnati/article-26546-creation_museum_atte.html">http://citybeat.com/cincinnati/article-26546-creation_museum_atte.html</a>
The year ending June 2012 reported attendance at 254,000—barely over the
original expectations.<span> </span>The museum
blames the persistently weak economy, which surely does have something to do
with it—except that the museum opened just months before the Great Recession,
and its most successful first year transpired while we were watching Lehman
Brothers and Countrywide Financial collapse.<span> </span>And AiG’s response to sagging sales was to raise the ticket
price in July of 2012: from an already steep $24.95 per person up to $29.95.<span> </span>It seems like some of those new
attractions may reflect AiG’s realization that the Creation Museum is in
serious trouble if it keeps moving along this path.<span> </span>It’s declining faster than a Mainline church.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The response?<span>
</span>Answers in Genesis boldly announced its latest project: a $73-million
replica of Noah’s greatest achievement, in the <a href="http://arkencounter.com/">Ark Encounter,</a> under
construction about 40 miles away from the Creation Museum in Grant County,
Kentucky. <span> </span>In addition to the ark,
it will apparently feature a replica of the Tower of Babel, the life of
Abraham, the plagues of Egypt, and the birth of the nation of Israel—all as
part of a seven to eleven-minute ride. <span> </span>But it’s facing a few snags: the project is years behind
schedule and has only raised about one-fifth of its budget, and the delays are
pushing the estimated total budget up to $150 million—almost six times the cost
of the Creation Museum.<span> </span>The
situation is so dire that <a href="http://www.kentucky.com/2013/11/27/2957538/city-seeks-to-jump-start-stalled.html">the neighboring City of Williamstown has issued $62 million in bonds</a> in an attempt to salvage the initiative. <span> </span>Fortunately the city won’t have to
repay these bonds back, since anticipated revenues for Ark Encounter will do
the trick. <span> </span>But these bonds aren’t
rated, making them little more than junk.<span>
</span>Among the risks to investors: sicknesses transmitted among the ark’s
many animal pairs; lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of a religious
project receiving tax breaks; those persistently declining attendance figures
at the Creation Museum.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">None of the aforementioned news featurettes fully underline
why the Creation Museum and perhaps Answers in Genesis are possibly in such serious
trouble.<span> </span>The ministry’s current
struggles ultimately foreshadow a cultural misalignment.<span> </span>When news of the Ark Encounter made its
way to some of the Evangelical Christian newsmedia outlets, it understandably
elicited reaction, both favorable as well as a fair share of atheist catcalls.<span> </span>One quote caught my attention: an
anonymous commenter who I have no way of finding or reaching; otherwise I would
give credit.<span> </span>I simply copied and
pasted the comment.<span> </span>Here it is:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">“What I find so amusing about this
whole project is that... Christians don't seem to realize that by giving their
Bible stories a Disney like experience... they are essentially highlighting the
very mythological basis of their faith. In my opinion for most Christians the
[Old Testament] is an out of sight out of mind type thing (because Christians
don't actually read the bible) so by bringing focus to these stories in a
modern scientific context... only the extremely delusional are going to find
the encounter "spiritual" everyone else will gauge the experience by
the entertainment value for the dollar...the same as visiting any other cartoon
based amusement park.”</span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Obviously this quote isn’t lacking in condescension toward
Christians in general and creationism in particular.<span> </span>I don’t condone it one bit, nor does it reflect my own
sentiments.<span> </span>I would experience no
Schadenfreude if Answers in Genesis were to go bankrupt; it’s obvious the
Creation Museum had quite an impact on the tourist economy of northern
Kentucky, and it has generated hundreds of jobs for the region.<span> </span>It would be callous to wish all of this
to fail, no matter how dubious the museum’s attempt to reconcile contemporary
scientific inquiry with the first book of the Old Testament. <span> </span>For all the criticism lobbed at the
Creation Museum for branding itself as science/history, it suffers no
shortcomings as a religious museum, and my philosophy is overwhelmingly
laissez-faire when it comes to addressing what matters of faith parents wish to
impart on their children—in contrast with what our tax-supported public schools
teach.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That said, the comment above nails it in the in the final
sentence or two.<span> </span>Answers in
Genesis may have sealed its own demise by embarking on this basic
undertaking.<span> </span>The more goodies it
crams into the overall experience and the more it blurs sacred and profane, the
more obvious it become that the business model echoes that of Disneyland,
regardless of the original intentions.<span>
</span>And if it becomes just another amusement park, even in the eyes of its
most ardent Evangelical Christian supporters, it’s not going to be able to
sustain itself, because the museum really <i>will</i>
end up competing with places like Disneyland (or King’s Island in the
Cincinnati area).<span> </span>Meanwhile, since
it does give “their Bible stories a Disney-like experience”, it will make new
believers out of exactly nobody.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The other major aspect of the Creation Museum that I think hints
at its questionable long-term viability is a simple display sign that, at the
time of my visit, was poised strategically near the exit.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_Kpxq0QBkgE3QVaDqABdf72OJi8vfbSFt9fuibhI_RlHadgRe9t29pml9kIy2N8VBu9iaUKmOnE1ZKJjIT62Rw0BniMDIksK5uqBDJcWPw66StWrB4uQT7mI-TNRNsh4VJq7UVxLCq6n/s1600/Creation+Museum+055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_Kpxq0QBkgE3QVaDqABdf72OJi8vfbSFt9fuibhI_RlHadgRe9t29pml9kIy2N8VBu9iaUKmOnE1ZKJjIT62Rw0BniMDIksK5uqBDJcWPw66StWrB4uQT7mI-TNRNsh4VJq7UVxLCq6n/s320/Creation+Museum+055.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
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</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Okay, so the kids love those dinosaurs, and you can never go
wrong with letting people pet the animals on display.<span> </span>But is that enough for people to come back—let alone
multiple times in a single year?<span>
</span>It would be interesting to know how many annual passes the museum sold
even in its wildly successful first year, and, for that matter, how many
families actually used those passes.<span>
</span>Color me cynical, but my suspicion is that low sales on the annual pass
should have offered the early warning sign.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Over its six years in operation, the Creation Museum has
expanded its programming.<span> </span>But it
has never reported any change to its exhibits—a huge contrast with most
children’s museums (which are typically heavily science-themed) or most amusement
parks.<span> </span>These attractions recognize
that exhibits must come and go all the time in order to keep the overall
experience fresh.<span> </span>Sometimes
children’s museums will simply update their exhibits to reflect breakthroughs
in scientific discovery.<span> </span>But the
Creation Museum is based on the unchanging Word of God.<span> </span>It cannot evolve; pardon the pun.<span> </span>Thus, what incentive do parents have to
go back and see it all over again, especially when the museum is trying so hard
to serve as a destination for families coming from hundreds of miles away?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When Answers in Genesis opens its Ark Encounter (<i>if</i> it opens), the whole enterprise very
likely will benefit from a surge in attendance.<span> </span>But how long before the Ark Encounter replaces the Creation
Museum as <i>the</i> premier Biblical
attraction of Northern Kentucky?<span>
</span>Can AiG sustain both, especially with those prices?<span> </span>And what adult or child is seriously
going to want to return within the year, just to experience the exact same
spectacle all over again?<span> </span>All of
this ministry’s herculean efforts—and colossal spending—may just become <a href="http://io9.com/5882369/jim-bakkers-christian-amusement-park-is-now-a-post+apocalyptic-ghost-town">the next incarnation of Heritage USA</a>, the largely forgotten South Carolina Christian theme park that exploded in
popularity in the early 1980s, then crashed almost as quickly after America
learned of the peccadilloes of its founder, Jim Bakker.<span> </span>I would never want to analogize Ken Ham
to a convicted felon.<span> </span>But barring
a tremendous shift in American culture that has little to do with growing
percentage claiming “religion: none”, the quixotic Australian’s empire may
prove even more short-lived.</span></span></div>
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AmericanDirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600555386886915000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9158467536239735339.post-80281215883100197932013-11-25T20:24:00.000-09:002013-11-25T20:24:10.436-09:00Time to shake hands…now that you’re on your way out the door.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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--></style><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">While traveling one of the main thoroughfares in metro
Detroit, I came along this modest little billboard.
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYBKG56Je-1QPjvTx3C11EyZOkBy9dNE1cEK8ZObhgXyCFMeSFdlZ4e5uBh4Edvp094DlVR0V3JoMfDW1DvzNCXqCSmFy9LjHNC4QRuref9y4D-QWay_xoh-mSaCOD_t4lAzoWn6pZKWh/s1600/Hello+Detroit+billboard+11-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYBKG56Je-1QPjvTx3C11EyZOkBy9dNE1cEK8ZObhgXyCFMeSFdlZ4e5uBh4Edvp094DlVR0V3JoMfDW1DvzNCXqCSmFy9LjHNC4QRuref9y4D-QWay_xoh-mSaCOD_t4lAzoWn6pZKWh/s320/Hello+Detroit+billboard+11-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I call it modest because the one behind it and above it—of
Detroit’s omnipresent powerhouse litigator Joumana Kayrouz—is a little bit
bigger. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcgjA83qbF924an6gCBIUu2kze_gZtxEoJiwFLQZC4eXxLCwd5rogxOw1Pf3ZLui6RQmbidDG30Voqu7O89-eKL_78TFE-loc1vlSpCEQFXXIEwY4azw0YHokw97LJ09O80BBJeI6_qHd/s1600/Hello+Detroit+billboard+05-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcgjA83qbF924an6gCBIUu2kze_gZtxEoJiwFLQZC4eXxLCwd5rogxOw1Pf3ZLui6RQmbidDG30Voqu7O89-eKL_78TFE-loc1vlSpCEQFXXIEwY4azw0YHokw97LJ09O80BBJeI6_qHd/s320/Hello+Detroit+billboard+05-001.jpg" width="180" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In fact, from a moderate distance, Ms. Kayrouz not only
dwarfs the Target Corporation, but the tree’s branches almost completely
obscure the minor billboard.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCxwVrzA0Q97Zu_hFHPzJNNMlQsYTWNvewJeYgMpzrFHtr4RRlfcE5NwMKyIXoWe5ctiaS0mUkX8mOZlUIl3AxcYSlsFOCd-xPjPW82SAPSnEt-i60T_Fr4dikDwfnnyw813Fp1pL2VE5/s1600/Hello+Detroit+billboard+10-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCxwVrzA0Q97Zu_hFHPzJNNMlQsYTWNvewJeYgMpzrFHtr4RRlfcE5NwMKyIXoWe5ctiaS0mUkX8mOZlUIl3AxcYSlsFOCd-xPjPW82SAPSnEt-i60T_Fr4dikDwfnnyw813Fp1pL2VE5/s320/Hello+Detroit+billboard+10-001.jpg" width="180" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Still, for the purposes of this meditation, this Target ad
is more compelling, if a lot less assertive.<span> </span>Sure, it’s nothing much to look at, but, as is often the
case, the context is what really matters.<span>
</span>The billboard says “Hello Detroit” while featuring a bunch of fruits and
vegetables.<span> </span>Okay—no big deal.<span> </span>To some extent, it makes perfect sense;
the sign stands at Eight Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, the widely-known,
almost mythologized boundary between the big city and its affluent northern
suburbs.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What’s so special about this billboard?<span> </span>Well, it sits at the north side of
Eight Mile Road, in the suburb of Ferndale.<span> </span>Not the city of Detroit at all.<span> </span>Here’s what you’d see if you pivot 180 degrees.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zugR0ZRCNR7O1cpe34NKZOoPBMSJ-dLyE3wx4bfu9pXJ6sMLw2aPjV7wuevF9Mlk0BUQjTaexrkl2uP1ZKOjtXo5b9OC9PC4Me-FAxsbkR4lIw3BxtoAyCyyGaZGmkeNgElxpFHTKwRG/s1600/Hello+Detroit+billboard+08-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zugR0ZRCNR7O1cpe34NKZOoPBMSJ-dLyE3wx4bfu9pXJ6sMLw2aPjV7wuevF9Mlk0BUQjTaexrkl2uP1ZKOjtXo5b9OC9PC4Me-FAxsbkR4lIw3BxtoAyCyyGaZGmkeNgElxpFHTKwRG/s320/Hello+Detroit+billboard+08-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioI9-MJAnpJ5RhAUSF5S7cO3ixGoGRKiBz8l8W0iYs5df49lNs8aAR9gmxdvByfYvELiGO6ygvIH47z8iwUiW69cBzRa1mRySWKYvW4LEM9YhFa_Nd_OoFF-s4_B_DIYTSQNiK-hhN_d6j/s1600/Hello+Detroit+billboard+06-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioI9-MJAnpJ5RhAUSF5S7cO3ixGoGRKiBz8l8W0iYs5df49lNs8aAR9gmxdvByfYvELiGO6ygvIH47z8iwUiW69cBzRa1mRySWKYvW4LEM9YhFa_Nd_OoFF-s4_B_DIYTSQNiK-hhN_d6j/s320/Hello+Detroit+billboard+06-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">On the opposite (south) side of Eight Mile Road sits the one
and only Detroit location of a Meijer, Michigan’s highly successful alternative
to Walmart.<span> </span>This Meijer, which
<a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20130724/BUSINESS06/307240146/">only opened earlier this previous summer</a>, represented a coup for the Motor City, since it anchors a large shopping
plaza that appears so far to be successful, thereby figuratively (and possibly
literally) representing a much-needed infusion of taxable commercial real
estate for a city that is revenue-starved, to put it delicately.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It still baffles the senses to see a “Hello Detroit” sign
precisely targeting motorists as they <i>leave</i>
the Motor City. <span> </span>More likely than
not, it is implicitly greeting Detroiters arriving in this suburb, welcoming
them to the bounty of shopping available in wealthy Oakland County (including
many Target stores).<span> </span>But a huge
proportion—perhaps a majority—of the people seeing this billboard are returning
to their suburban homes after a commute from the big city’s downtown.<span> </span>Otherwise, it is essentially bidding
salutations to true-blue Detroiters—that same population that the suburbanites
have been steadfastly fleeing for sixty years.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So is it fair of me to draw blanket conclusions about the
prevailing sentiment fueling <a href="http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijpr/2012/207532/tab2/">America’s 14th largest metro</a>
<span></span>from a single billboard?<span> </span>Of course it isn’t.<span> </span>Still, it easily hints at something the
Target Corporation seems to speculate about its regional consumer base: that
Detroiters’ identification with their beleaguered city has grown increasingly
untethered from the clearly defined political boundaries.<span> </span>Hundreds of thousands of commuters pass
this billboard daily, returning home from work, and most probably think nothing
of it.<span> </span>They are figurative
Detroiters, even if they’ve never hung their hats in the city limits.<span> </span>Even if they live in Auburn Hills or
Brighton (25 and 30 miles from the <i>outer</i>
Detroit border, respectively), Detroit is most likely where they’d claim
they’re from if they encounter someone from Boise or Bradenton.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This ostensibly split personality doesn’t distinguish
Detroit.<span> </span>Virtually every large
metropolitan area operates under similar conditions. As an economic engine, the
core city of Michigan’s largest metro may sputter as it runs on seriously diluted
oil, but the psychological centrality of Detroit (or Cleveland or Pittsburgh or
Salt Lake City) remains the primary point of reference for the majority of
Americans who have never heard of Auburn Hills or Brighton.<span> </span>And Detroit might not even be an oddity
for the share of its metro that lives outside of the city limits: the change in
US Census parameters for metro areas between 2000 and 2010 makes it difficult
to cross-reference, but rough 2010 estimates indicate that about 16.5% of those
living in the MSA call the city home, a rate higher than similar former industrial
strongholds such as Pittsburgh and St. Louis, where 12.9% and 11.4% of the
metro residents live within the core city limits.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But the world hears much, much more about Detroit’s woes
these days.<span> </span>And even if dozens of
Rust Belt cities continue to endure declining populations and tax bases, the
only ones that can claim something on par with Detroit’s staggering 25% drop
from 950,000 to 710,000 between 2000 and 2010 are places like Gary, IN (21.9%),
East St. Louis, IL (14.4%), Cleveland (17.1%) and Youngstown, OH (18.3%) and
Detroit’s neighbor Flint (18.0%).<span> </span>Nonetheless,
a first-grader could still point out that all of these numbers are lower than
25.<span> </span>And, to Detroit’s detriment,
the percentage of 25 has its own semantic equivalent that, denotatively, sinks
like a stone: “Detroit lost <i>one quarter</i>
of its population in the last decade!”<span>
</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Truth be told, the marketing team at Target probably thought
nothing of leasing this advertising space, nor did CBS, who owns the billboard.<span> </span>For me to infer both an underlying
motive or some broader sociopolitical implications is more an indication of my
own hyperanalytical zeal than any true issues at hand.<span> </span>But it’s hard to fathom that no one
considered the irony of a Detroit greeting standing just a stone’s throw from
the actual municipal boundary—especially considering that this city of 700,000
people does not contain a single Target, nor is there evidence that it can
expect one any time soon.<span> </span>I can
only guess if Target’s generally very savvy marketing campaign would plop a
similar billboard ad right outside the boundary of any other American
city.<span> </span>Or whether Meijer would
dream of doing the same in Detroit.<span>
</span>At least Meijer voluntarily opened a new store branch—in the Motor City
limits, no less.</span></span></div>
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AmericanDirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600555386886915000noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9158467536239735339.post-21289477430099629532013-11-14T13:58:00.001-09:002013-11-14T13:58:20.943-09:00Sharpening the Cut.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My latest <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-mcafee/the-dequindre-cut-assessi_b_4258580.html">appeared at <i>Huffington Post</i> a few days ago</a>, but thanks to persistent wifi problems, only today have I been able to link it. Sorry about that.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It focuses on the Dequindre Cut, a high-profile rail-trail conversion in Detroit, whose Phase I (extending about 1.2 miles, from Gratiot Avenue to the Riverfront) has been quite popular for cyclists and pedestrians. A conversion of the Grand Trunk Western Railroad that, until the early 1980s, could take commuters from the suburb of Royal Oak southward within a few blocks of the Renaissance Center, the line sat vacant and derelict for many years. Now, this southern spur offers a generous linear park that is almost completely grade separated.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeQyZLXE4848Uw_h92eWBoOnP_wCVSMtN5Q3b1kfqQC9DUQSCfrAoJNY4lGhU5CJ7CPuvxiHIcBS-L-yQ0OfnCuZ63khNvMxjdoCVv9IT2w1C5XIE0BLRomrmmnU0veWWr1Rh-oUFp4uO/s1600/DSCF1583-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeQyZLXE4848Uw_h92eWBoOnP_wCVSMtN5Q3b1kfqQC9DUQSCfrAoJNY4lGhU5CJ7CPuvxiHIcBS-L-yQ0OfnCuZ63khNvMxjdoCVv9IT2w1C5XIE0BLRomrmmnU0veWWr1Rh-oUFp4uO/s320/DSCF1583-001.JPG" width="320" /></a> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For the vast majority of the cut's northward trajectory, it looks like this--lots of room for different modes, regularly spaced lighting (and emergency phones), along with an expansive grassy buffer to the trail's west. But at the southern terminus near Atwater Street (yes, when you are <i>at </i>the <i>water</i>), the right-of-way for the Cut broadens even more. At this point, the Cut meets with street grade, and the whole thing transforms to something different.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0M1-T0G32N9yKZv5naclx2fypHe-AzhNwp7jcQxruaBolQSmO1-gTLmGTxOnx2KMhefVC-2KpzzOMfjdesQWFtOaJDYbna9ecsMtfHed-quoICHczfGkji9b7JU17Ym7asUTT79GU5__o/s1600/DSCF1588-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0M1-T0G32N9yKZv5naclx2fypHe-AzhNwp7jcQxruaBolQSmO1-gTLmGTxOnx2KMhefVC-2KpzzOMfjdesQWFtOaJDYbna9ecsMtfHed-quoICHczfGkji9b7JU17Ym7asUTT79GU5__o/s320/DSCF1588-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1hMCTHolyh5B7lyveLzX5oyHytGPiLmNV92Qnl9AzJ86XHwGmsNGeqhmzxmJodqeuBdDl0gygwQ7Jgcv1Ri9vq7pZwaSoQyKJFPImSmjxPU6gPOkXG9aHuEWoD8ld4Cqz6ix3yCfHUED/s1600/DSCF1594-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1hMCTHolyh5B7lyveLzX5oyHytGPiLmNV92Qnl9AzJ86XHwGmsNGeqhmzxmJodqeuBdDl0gygwQ7Jgcv1Ri9vq7pZwaSoQyKJFPImSmjxPU6gPOkXG9aHuEWoD8ld4Cqz6ix3yCfHUED/s320/DSCF1594-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Essentially, the designers of the Dequindre Cut decided to sculpt this section into a plaza with benches and landscaping, but, as the second photo indicates, the bike lanes in particular get goofy, meandering in an S-shape, then splitting. What's going on? Anyone not expecting this change--which is pretty much anyone coming along the Cut from the north </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">for the very first time </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">and headed southward--is going to be confused by this. And it shows. Pedestrians have to stop short; bicyclists have to veer out of the way. It's an accident waiting to happen.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Approaching the trailhead from the river and looking northward, the image also poses a problem.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0EXDP0XFeRP6OViPBVFznP8oCqb846t4GqqKXGGi9FhZu5U6Pf8DOhb2NW1ZWRlP56Izcc3txDSmTdOaGqqgLi7hi2emwMnjGla0k_3sKs22XWRxQ0BYFePx-FSCqNYloUJclCuxK902/s1600/DSCF1604-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0EXDP0XFeRP6OViPBVFznP8oCqb846t4GqqKXGGi9FhZu5U6Pf8DOhb2NW1ZWRlP56Izcc3txDSmTdOaGqqgLi7hi2emwMnjGla0k_3sKs22XWRxQ0BYFePx-FSCqNYloUJclCuxK902/s320/DSCF1604-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Quite simply, it doesn't look much like a trail; it just looks like a plaza. The first time I went running along the Detroit Riverwalk, I ran right past the Dequindre Cut and had to ask someone where it was. And I know I'm not the only one. My hope is that, as Phase II begins (extending the conversation northward to Warren Avenue) the designers focus on clean simplicity and don't try to gussy things up with fulsome programming. In my estimation, they over-programmed Campus Martius Park as well (which <a href="http://dirtamericana.blogspot.com/2013/09/plugging-passed-over-pocket-park-with.html">I blogged about several weeks ago</a>). But I'm confident they'll redeem themselves through the remaining segments of what someday will--<i>inshallah</i>--be a fantastic way to connect the burbs to the River.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As always, comments are welcomed, either here or on <i>HuffPost</i>, where I've included the full article along with lots more pics.</span></span></div>
AmericanDirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600555386886915000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9158467536239735339.post-3194560760564120542013-10-31T13:59:00.000-08:002013-11-11T21:56:42.378-09:00Not a fork in the road as much as a spoon.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">While it’s easy to derisively brand American suburbia as
homogenous and essentially unchanging since it emerged as the preferred
settlement pattern for the majority of Americans fifty years ago, we hardly
need an intense study to see how much they’ve evolved since the postwar housing
boom that began in the late 1940s.
In fact, this “study” glosses over it about as superficially as you
can. But it gets the point across,
and it provides the backdrop for an interesting glimpse at what innovations (if
that’s the right word) we typically see today.
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Go back in history and take a look at the street pattern
from subdivisions that sprouted across the purlieus of major metros in the
1950s and early 1960s—about the same time that the Federal Aid Highway Act of
1956 galvanized construction of limited-access expressways through the hearts
of medium and large American cities.
By the time President Eisenhower authorized the Federal Interstate
Highway System, this segment of Levittown, PA (outside Philadelphia) had
already enjoyed several consecutive years of astronomical growth:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzKxJA_dTGvkcHD_S1tiZl41guMqgnQeVw1M3wJLMJ-s3i9qXO8b1pwQUO_lAQXF9QBGzb-CPLjIytqJ0mwrnw9yJ5-LPC5R8RQjEseDi5TTrFLLkyOquajB7Uf6P2Xge_wNkTGLri4aQD/s1600/Levittown+map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzKxJA_dTGvkcHD_S1tiZl41guMqgnQeVw1M3wJLMJ-s3i9qXO8b1pwQUO_lAQXF9QBGzb-CPLjIytqJ0mwrnw9yJ5-LPC5R8RQjEseDi5TTrFLLkyOquajB7Uf6P2Xge_wNkTGLri4aQD/s320/Levittown+map.jpg" width="320" /></a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">By today’s standards, Levittown’s homes are modestly sized,
the lots small enough to force the homes close together, and the
garages/driveways barely accommodate two cars.
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamYrhscuQywMOdSFtNouwBH6fu7qi54HcCc8Okygb-3HHH5DxemCPXky14g9K0_b0PQegHEm9vtjxHsqTJ5x8ODCk83vkrGvQTFGOSJWl9LtBcvLsha9IifNiPw1b2FqRGXVkYCia32VV/s1600/DSCF7940.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamYrhscuQywMOdSFtNouwBH6fu7qi54HcCc8Okygb-3HHH5DxemCPXky14g9K0_b0PQegHEm9vtjxHsqTJ5x8ODCk83vkrGvQTFGOSJWl9LtBcvLsha9IifNiPw1b2FqRGXVkYCia32VV/s320/DSCF7940.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8J6qDZxUrnq3Vp1k7lEZACGnGoYkMEhnZK3WsEFoQEeKyMz5RNWgQb9upLaxMfzVwTQ0bCQfHwNfCglT_IGLQzZPlGO5TSQdI8YYoanuBXg4RNgT4YsmIqhFtk2ai8xQ6KC1gq8usez75/s1600/DSCF7931.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8J6qDZxUrnq3Vp1k7lEZACGnGoYkMEhnZK3WsEFoQEeKyMz5RNWgQb9upLaxMfzVwTQ0bCQfHwNfCglT_IGLQzZPlGO5TSQdI8YYoanuBXg4RNgT4YsmIqhFtk2ai8xQ6KC1gq8usez75/s320/DSCF7931.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But they still represent a remarkable achievement in
enabling homeownership to an emergent middle-class that had never enjoyed such
a luxury in the past, particularly when the crippling Great Depression brought
virtually all housing construction (and ensuing growth in independent
households) to a screeching halt. Average
people could afford these homes.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now let’s do the time warp again thirty years more, by
veering about 10 miles closer to central Philly. Witness the change in the layout of the streets:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HWY-70kCNmoWPdC518ih1CDavuKOPYbTmM027t2lmtqf9BpvmygiRy5HTYr4CANVwG9OIt0I_4qEi_fTVzZXc31Ds8jNa-kNZTvvUv2PJT1SueLIS2Szap820jWH-IllQYIz8r70eXff/s1600/NE+Philly+map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HWY-70kCNmoWPdC518ih1CDavuKOPYbTmM027t2lmtqf9BpvmygiRy5HTYr4CANVwG9OIt0I_4qEi_fTVzZXc31Ds8jNa-kNZTvvUv2PJT1SueLIS2Szap820jWH-IllQYIz8r70eXff/s320/NE+Philly+map.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
While everything contained in this Google Map rests within the municipal
boundaries of Philadelphia (unlike anything from the previous Levittown map),
the most appropriate description of the neighborhoods outlined here is
“transitional”. The street
configurations to the west of the large, bisecting Pennypack Creek Park still
mostly abide by the conventional street grid that Philadelphia and most
American cities used as the basis for neighborhood design until around World
War II. However, the east side of
Pennypack begins to display a mix of conventional grids along with the same carefully
ordered curvilinear streets that dominate Levittown further to the north. Housing developers after World War II, at
the onset of the baby boom, began experimenting with street designs that boldly
defied the four-way stop and quadrilateral. These new subdivisions meandered and undulated, continuing
uninterrupted without any intersections for much longer intervals than any grid
would allow. The William Levitts
of the era gambled by speculating that Middle America would buy into sinuous
streets that, though potentially more confusing and less suitable for
navigation, helped break the visual monotony of a street that stretched to the
horizon line. Curvilinear streets
seemed to work well in the prestigious pioneering streetcar suburbs designed by
Frederick Law Olmsted, such as Riverside, Illinois (outside Chicago) or Shaker
Heights, Ohio (outside Cleveland).
Why not export this typology to the middle classes?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The gamble paid off in spades, and first-time homeowners
embraced the street design that all three of the major Levittowns employed. Before long, virtually every major
metro witnessed the development of communities that followed the Levittown
model, with most proliferating at about the same time that the central cities
endured the cataclysm of interstate highway construction right through the central
neighborhoods. Thus, it should
come as no surprise that these 1950s suburbs nearly always stretch in close
proximity to either their city’s major interstate highway, the circular
beltways (with three-digit numbers instead of two) or both.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But this elegantly winding braid of streets still generally
lacks something we associate with today’s suburbia: complete automobile
dependency. It might not be easy
or particularly desirable, but usually Levittowns are still tightly organized
enough that it is possible to walk to a few destinations. Purely hierarchical street patterns—in
which one “trunk” road provides access to “branches” and then still smaller
sprouts—did not catch on until later, meaning we have to go back to the future
(and much, much further out from the city center) to see the sort of
development patterns that emerged in the late 1960s and 70s. The map of upper Bucks County (north of
Levittown) proves this.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcPjDYOFabG-CR9TY5lAYiRRWUWoF5aZe51-CbiPOqjInd6HP-7VL45B6nEJ8-RGNT3bkrO0bboMwGjfzH7WbYwALcHA54_xJR6kz0oKdRUjiU5KwTjg3Lbxx2gCGCTf1cjpzuUI9p_fj/s1600/Upper+bucks+county+map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcPjDYOFabG-CR9TY5lAYiRRWUWoF5aZe51-CbiPOqjInd6HP-7VL45B6nEJ8-RGNT3bkrO0bboMwGjfzH7WbYwALcHA54_xJR6kz0oKdRUjiU5KwTjg3Lbxx2gCGCTf1cjpzuUI9p_fj/s320/Upper+bucks+county+map.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">By the time the overwhelming majority of households had at
least one car, it became <i>de rigueur</i>
for developers to build according to these expansive street configurations, resulting
in subdivisions that emphasized homeowners’ privacy at the expense of any real
walkability. With homes spaced
much further apart, yards were larger, and no amenities stood conveniently
within walking distance, even back on the collector or arterial that provided
access to the subdivisions. Nobody
who bought into these developments gave any consideration that they would get
anywhere except by car. Quite a few developments built during the 60s and 70s
didn’t have sidewalks.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Housing from this time period isn’t as abundant as are the
examples from the 1950s, because fewer households were organizing into
families. A moderate baby bust
followed the boom. Interestingly,
home sizes grew even as the birth rate plunged; thus, individual households had
more space to their own than any time in history—both inside and outside the
house. Demand for shared green space reached a nadir. Public parks in these regions are particularly scarce, since
private yards typically sufficed.
The few parks in Upper Bucks County must devote a significant amount of
space to parking lots, because they are inevitably unreachable by foot.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It was this time period that the cul-de-sac evolved from a
suburban novelty to a <i>sine qua non</i> in
subdivision development; families soon specifically sought them out. The early 1960s developments often
didn’t even bother with the circular patch of pavement that allowed vehicles to
turn around; the roads just terminated in dead ends, particularly when these
new suburbs were pushing into unincorporated areas well beyond the inner-ring
suburbs. Most municipalities
eventually required roads to end in cul-de-sacs. While the curvilinear configuration of the 1950s remained
popular, by this point many of the streets in a subdivision terminated in a
court. The lack of a thruway
discouraged all cars except for those belonging to people who lived on that
cul-de-sac, dramatically lowering traffic volume, increasing privacy and giving
the suburban subdivision a quiet, low-density settlement pattern that almost
resembled rural living. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I’m not sure when the next subtle generation in subdivision
design truly emerged, but it would probably correlate to the late 1970s and
early 1980s, when the now-adult Baby Boomers began starting their own
families—the echo boom. Household
formation picked up pace, and these young families generally sought new
construction just as their parents had.
While some of the new developments took on an expansive
form—particularly the luxury ones or those where land was cheap and abundant—quite
a few homebuilders tightened the design.
In many cases, average lot sizes retreated slightly, even while square
footage to the homes continued a steady growth. Perhaps recognizing that they had renounced too many neighborhood
essentials (or perhaps because more municipalities began mandating them), the developers
of suburbs from the 1980s and onward regularly featured amenities such as storm
sewers, curbs, and sidewalks (at least on one side of the street). As a compensation for the slightly
smaller yards, these subdivisions (particularly the larger ones) would often include
some shared open space in the form of greenery around a decorative retention
pond, a community clubhouse, or a soccer field.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Why did this happen? Why did subdivisions return to a
slightly higher, more urban density than the decades prior? My own suspicion is that some of it was
prescriptive: through ordinances, municipalities started requiring culs-de-sac
instead of dead ends, or storm sewers instead of drainage ditches, which drove
up development costs. Also,
formerly unincorporated lands began incorporating and immediately raising the
minimum standards for subdivision design.
Developers, in turn, couldn’t necessarily pass these imposed costs
directly to the consumer, so instead they found a trade-off with smaller lot
sizes, squeezing more homes into a newly platted piece of land. The result looks something like the
quintessential 1980s/90s suburb below:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtaYMDEs1mtBkgRB1piRFbeMyHpYaMAbtfa36bYgnOPGUNT_J73EV19uqIPk-V65b-EN2N7ZIN0-aMOADWKJm6lRIlkiuSeKBEiu4JDoX4Y8JMXc2rrr1l0dGtW-K9jnd7pht05SV-RFHE/s1600/br+subdivision+003-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtaYMDEs1mtBkgRB1piRFbeMyHpYaMAbtfa36bYgnOPGUNT_J73EV19uqIPk-V65b-EN2N7ZIN0-aMOADWKJm6lRIlkiuSeKBEiu4JDoX4Y8JMXc2rrr1l0dGtW-K9jnd7pht05SV-RFHE/s320/br+subdivision+003-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If this photo looks unusually flat for something in
Pennsylvania, that’s because it isn’t Pennsylvania. The subdivision pictured above is in the outskirts of Baton
Rouge, Louisiana. While such a shift
in location may seem eccentric or even unexplainable, Baton Rouge offers much
more abundant examples of the 1980s subdivisions, having grown considerably at
a time when the more mature metro of Philadelphia was fairly stagnant.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This subdivision also demonstrates another, subtler
evolution in street design: the 90-degree cul-de-sac. Notice the shift in the street from the photo below, as well
as the parallel sidewalk.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtTigrO-OnkohT0zNAcVWiZ0O7dSEdJKOaI-hasrqOPHQ4wdpSQEMUwEo4cRbyu1_9e6BbH3WVGWZfHxEtmM8As2qdYxKBLf2ivB_yJToUBIY2BBRg5wu40naKigumv0Bag3rFxIFFcl4/s1600/br+subdivision+004-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtTigrO-OnkohT0zNAcVWiZ0O7dSEdJKOaI-hasrqOPHQ4wdpSQEMUwEo4cRbyu1_9e6BbH3WVGWZfHxEtmM8As2qdYxKBLf2ivB_yJToUBIY2BBRg5wu40naKigumv0Bag3rFxIFFcl4/s320/br+subdivision+004-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The buffer strip between the sidewalk and the street seems a
bit larger than normal, but other than that, nothing is likely to catch the eye
as out of the ordinary. But then,
upon entering the bend in the road, the sidewalk takes a more generous cut into
people’s front yards, veering strangely close to their front porches. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Wrp5bfkN3jQGPt13pRMYsdjtFHU-Un1V9bpit9QRQyJNqEajar5yJRhyphenhyphen4582zyZtH7TmHikGfsBRH0mIYx8k-mShT4MgbqUcH7Tapy5TA2h4rRFgjy8Jtru4YAx3Fiki1CIrIzYyImgr/s1600/BR+subdivision+006+clipped-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Wrp5bfkN3jQGPt13pRMYsdjtFHU-Un1V9bpit9QRQyJNqEajar5yJRhyphenhyphen4582zyZtH7TmHikGfsBRH0mIYx8k-mShT4MgbqUcH7Tapy5TA2h4rRFgjy8Jtru4YAx3Fiki1CIrIzYyImgr/s320/BR+subdivision+006+clipped-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZtfpRXAFq2oPypBjK7CvONZs9FV1_WnwsUvwMDWlaLHyjLjJK38VyJ3TO8QXzaCzYorTOL_s4sbQ2eJJ9SXg12lYoXd1-jl8RusA9C6aoWGOdXM2gq8nJQbQtaprobVdbRuY2vwWdR7K/s1600/br+subdivision+007+clipped-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZtfpRXAFq2oPypBjK7CvONZs9FV1_WnwsUvwMDWlaLHyjLjJK38VyJ3TO8QXzaCzYorTOL_s4sbQ2eJJ9SXg12lYoXd1-jl8RusA9C6aoWGOdXM2gq8nJQbQtaprobVdbRuY2vwWdR7K/s320/br+subdivision+007+clipped-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Why would they have done this? It almost appears to me that authorities approved the site
plan without thoroughly vetting it.
While there’s nothing wrong per say about having a sidewalk so close to
a house, it’s also hard to see why the average buyer would prefer it to a
parcel where the sidewalk is much closer to the street. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Elsewhere, in a similar neighborhood down the road, one can
witness another insertion of the cul-de-sac into a 90-degree-turn. Though the homes are more modest, the
design of the sidewalk seems a bit more conventional, and, as a result, more
effective.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZUrCPa7gMP2F70aeQppyQk8n0OgfEO1sNKXhk4OZra1Gk5SGXIpYmfrVnjyrVvtKwwoYqwkMb5XKd5-n0my8_WVPNWymHs5nfskEsKEAFWx0Za-6z0v9tYWDw0rTeTmdchCuzN6hDj2Z/s1600/br+subdivision+001+clipped-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZUrCPa7gMP2F70aeQppyQk8n0OgfEO1sNKXhk4OZra1Gk5SGXIpYmfrVnjyrVvtKwwoYqwkMb5XKd5-n0my8_WVPNWymHs5nfskEsKEAFWx0Za-6z0v9tYWDw0rTeTmdchCuzN6hDj2Z/s320/br+subdivision+001+clipped-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But look at the grassy island in the middle. The lawn is poorly maintained, and the
absence of any other landscaping makes it seem like an afterthought—like some
sort of padding.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNgCfo42YLU409eL7N_EFdKwEWulHmL7gFCo4mMsNYm6Apr3OP5O4Dsk5QO1fCvwIjEYvOr75ccjevFgvRZvZAhCQWxc_lOYN0o-Cg2tNY7x_AEt7TJxgTY-GpqtOjxYss0LBg-oSDNuU/s1600/br+subdivision+002-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNgCfo42YLU409eL7N_EFdKwEWulHmL7gFCo4mMsNYm6Apr3OP5O4Dsk5QO1fCvwIjEYvOr75ccjevFgvRZvZAhCQWxc_lOYN0o-Cg2tNY7x_AEt7TJxgTY-GpqtOjxYss0LBg-oSDNuU/s320/br+subdivision+002-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In neither of the two above examples is the execution as
effective as it should be, which makes me suspect that the developers really
didn’t know what they were doing.
Or they didn’t care. It’s
not a tough concept, though if these worm’s-eye photographs don’t convey it,
this bird’s-eye Google Map should, taken from a subdivision of similar design in
the same part of town.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7be1u9w4dNlr07J3Cx8R-nRxzcLidlZ0CR5mGCJt4hKoYiS0rzlkuR1K5z4nMLmViyXbq1RTSA2elLb0I8DrRWuvTYJjZiVsb5MWZ-aU_KPLGlBBQbzuNVOz1Dku2MIWes9FAIXYPNkcr/s1600/BR+gardere+map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7be1u9w4dNlr07J3Cx8R-nRxzcLidlZ0CR5mGCJt4hKoYiS0rzlkuR1K5z4nMLmViyXbq1RTSA2elLb0I8DrRWuvTYJjZiVsb5MWZ-aU_KPLGlBBQbzuNVOz1Dku2MIWes9FAIXYPNkcr/s320/BR+gardere+map.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Notice how the 90-degree bends stretch into curvy
culs-de-sac? This road design is a
shrewd method to make a little more money by cramming an additional parcel or
two into the same space. If the
road were to employ a conventional l-shaped bend, the lots that directly front
the bend would be even more strictly wedge shaped, to the point that the street
frontage wouldn’t be wide enough to allow individual driveways. Or, one house would claim an enormous
side yard from the land that is completely unreachable by a driveway. With a gentle arc in its place, each
house gets more or less the same linear footage as access to the street, and
the surveyors who put together the original plat could fit in another parcel or
two. And a more conscientious
developer could transform grassy patch in the center of the cul-de-sac into an
attractive, verdant amenity.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There’s nothing subversive or unethical about this design;
it simply demonstrates that, particularly for moderate or middle-income
households, developers have learned they can slice away at some of the yard
size. The homes featured in the
photos and map above all come from Gardere, a lower and moderate-income area on
the otherwise affluent south side of Baton Rouge. My suspicion is that these subdivisions exist through some
form of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits: they’re newer, in better condition, and
bear some of the “neo-traditional” design features that federal housing
programs love to employ. Because
the average buyer for these properties doesn’t have the money to be choosy,
developers can take huge liberties, and they don’t necessarily worry about
details like attractively landscaped common area or well-designed sidewalks. And, in the grand evolutionary arc (pun
fully intended) of American settlements, this represents one more design
strategy pushing us further from the look and feel of the original Levittown. Suburban developments are neither
uniform nor unchanging. I’m not
confident that the conventional grid will ever become the standard again, even though
New Urbanist advocates have successfully implemented it in specialized niche
developments throughout the country.
(After all, does anyone openly claim to be a New Urbanist anymore?) But I absolutely trust that
culs-de-sac and street curves have a long way to grow before the design
calcifies. And it probably never
will. The evolution continues.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
AmericanDirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600555386886915000noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9158467536239735339.post-3503060894649314382013-10-21T13:25:00.000-08:002013-10-24T18:14:30.335-08:00Movable, misunderstood apparitions.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In certain subcultures, it’s become a meme. But it took me a little while to catch
on. Only after driving past this curiosity for three consecutive days did I
realize what it was. It’s not
exactly showy, but that’s the point.
Look slightly to the left of the center of this photo, and it should be
clear what I’m referring to. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI68odBWluBENQFCU44gnj3M8MnBYhaHPOBs-m1KartvekY-r0yxASzbtfu7shVDNaLPaongm_yyfVlKADUcAtNOP_BwL_k8kG7eCilelvn9IZBPyjysj0eBA2rshIcagrZsaAqPd5dwph/s1600/Ghost+Bike+01-002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI68odBWluBENQFCU44gnj3M8MnBYhaHPOBs-m1KartvekY-r0yxASzbtfu7shVDNaLPaongm_yyfVlKADUcAtNOP_BwL_k8kG7eCilelvn9IZBPyjysj0eBA2rshIcagrZsaAqPd5dwph/s320/Ghost+Bike+01-002.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Since it really doesn’t jump out, a different angle and
better weather might help.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZuXhNz5QirmodZ-MmOeVLzYoDtLRuE2smAhzH6RwTwcF7w8MRNwvwekT__17jWnfDZPPk7NdEL59Mr0XyvLOLtQJd4SWH2tZPCMtRpIjUT_lnn43MdzbLKBrShcAyyCa7ih3GOf_b2EW/s1600/DSCF1609.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZuXhNz5QirmodZ-MmOeVLzYoDtLRuE2smAhzH6RwTwcF7w8MRNwvwekT__17jWnfDZPPk7NdEL59Mr0XyvLOLtQJd4SWH2tZPCMtRpIjUT_lnn43MdzbLKBrShcAyyCa7ih3GOf_b2EW/s320/DSCF1609.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yes, it’s a fairly standard ten-speed, only painted all in
white. It’s a ghost bike—a spartan
memorial to someone who was killed or severely injured while bicycling. According
to the <a href="http://ghostbikes.org/ghostbikemap/Detroit">Ghost Bikes nonprofit site</a>, St. Louis christened the first ghost bikes back in 2003, but it has spread to
hundreds of locations all across the world, nearly always as a tribute to
someone struck by a car. Usually
the accident took place at or near the location where the memorial stands, and frequently
the dedicators deploy an already damaged bike, to intensify the mangled effect
of the collision. Sometimes the installers
remove the tubes from of the tires in order to deter theft. In this Detroit example, the bike leans
against a traffic sign on Grand River Avenue and Temple Street, right in front
of the Motor City Casino.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As is the case with many ghost bikes, other passers-by have
inserted flowers and scribbled messages onto the enamel.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tT3ii_KJ8YAuW208186QJSOobiIv7e8JKDsImdASBcPQwAW6gxggiKHcx5PcaTDZ20DUVvkDFuVWOZAWhJGi37JYJIUaKxhbalADvBE9syNcxkZpeWQp_YZllFXeYrZ3mcFybnP4FBvx/s1600/DSCF1617.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tT3ii_KJ8YAuW208186QJSOobiIv7e8JKDsImdASBcPQwAW6gxggiKHcx5PcaTDZ20DUVvkDFuVWOZAWhJGi37JYJIUaKxhbalADvBE9syNcxkZpeWQp_YZllFXeYrZ3mcFybnP4FBvx/s320/DSCF1617.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVLCIAnkomvQeYqW_PfPyphHI6kdsTmJePYC4_rdN-vc21Df935xrsJ_Z7PxMipiXC6HY8wj6m0EhYncF__v8i5Au6A5pOgHqAj87lsC9H0mfKlapRfzpszeAcdSC9JGM9h5pMtatLheD/s1600/DSCF1612.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVLCIAnkomvQeYqW_PfPyphHI6kdsTmJePYC4_rdN-vc21Df935xrsJ_Z7PxMipiXC6HY8wj6m0EhYncF__v8i5Au6A5pOgHqAj87lsC9H0mfKlapRfzpszeAcdSC9JGM9h5pMtatLheD/s320/DSCF1612.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDC6_J8zCBGqYmjz40sEK7685iXez2gAYjLhEHiwrj8daGj6UOAmTqja-ku31nk0gfsJn7BP1CRNjZ1jlsfLA6CTdn836NXH726VDxkEENtShe2vyE34WtRlAWb3n_1m9BeH4MHjzlca0Z/s1600/DSCF1614.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDC6_J8zCBGqYmjz40sEK7685iXez2gAYjLhEHiwrj8daGj6UOAmTqja-ku31nk0gfsJn7BP1CRNjZ1jlsfLA6CTdn836NXH726VDxkEENtShe2vyE34WtRlAWb3n_1m9BeH4MHjzlca0Z/s320/DSCF1614.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And, not surprisingly, I’m not the first to capture this
discovery. One of <a href="http://wearemodeshift.org/ghost-bike-honors-detroit-cyclists-life">the more prominent local urban advocacy websites</a> seems to have taken notice just a day
or two after the installation.
<a href="http://thehubofdetroit.org/?p=2776">Hub of Detroit</a> created the memorial to honor Hal Williams, who died last month following a hit-and-run collision, purportedly along the
same segment of Grand River Avenue as the site of this memorial. Incidentally, <a href="http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/wayne_county/detroit-city-councilman%27s-son-hit-by-pick-up-truck-while-riding-bike">a Detroit City Councilman’s son was hit on his bike at this exact intersection in 2010</a>. Though the councilman’s son did
not sustain life-threatening injuries (not doubt abetted by the solicitude of
the driver, who stopped that time around), the fact that multiple accidents
have taken place along this stretch of Grand River prompts one to question the
overall safety level for bicycles at this part of town, or this intersection in
particular.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Even a Google Maps view suggests that this intersection is a
doozie. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBwSDU2XA8QMh_lEkzEyMPO8beg6k_8RTTXK7q6EmgS4U5Keori4opaPyE9BDDojJhbFw2AynVUo4P0ZqT3ONoO9_9TDr9AFzT3PfV_TmFHyi6QXs1S9e0do3VUzdCcWKMSGZyTxeFe3-/s1600/Temple+Grand+River+intersection-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBwSDU2XA8QMh_lEkzEyMPO8beg6k_8RTTXK7q6EmgS4U5Keori4opaPyE9BDDojJhbFw2AynVUo4P0ZqT3ONoO9_9TDr9AFzT3PfV_TmFHyi6QXs1S9e0do3VUzdCcWKMSGZyTxeFe3-/s320/Temple+Grand+River+intersection-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It’s essentially three-way, except that the bi-directional
John C Lodge Service Drive straddles both sides of a below-grade State Highway
10 (M-10), which operates as a limited-access freeway throughout the Detroit
city limits. And Temple Street is particularly
confusing: contrary to the appearance on the map, the motorists traveling eastbound
from the west side of M-10 can fully cross, but those on the west side of
Temple heading eastward (toward the Motor City Casino) cannot completely
traverse this intersection. A good
portion of the traffic uses this intersection as ingress or egress from M-10
(Lodge Freeway), and an additional service ramp loops across (parallel to
Temple Street) cutting through the intersection in an opposite flow that one
would expect (the left side of the road) in order to continue access on the south
side of the portion of Temple separated by a median. If this description seems baffling, one can imagine how it
would appear to any bicyclist or motorist unfamiliar with the
intersection. The photo below at
least provides a hint of the sort of “Charlie Foxtrot” situation that this
intersection inflicts upon its users.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Le8J25965q5_xAGT7dLSQSaQxttS8Oin3bHYEIavwXyVZUAxyCjPCRKjpMK5DEkKHXyi5ncADLeab7ZMzIyyM6zEEUw6jj_LNF1yZYy0CdZwZj8C2ef2LDAFJUUYtp3AyXxIw1RLGPam/s1600/DSCF1607.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Le8J25965q5_xAGT7dLSQSaQxttS8Oin3bHYEIavwXyVZUAxyCjPCRKjpMK5DEkKHXyi5ncADLeab7ZMzIyyM6zEEUw6jj_LNF1yZYy0CdZwZj8C2ef2LDAFJUUYtp3AyXxIw1RLGPam/s320/DSCF1607.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ghost bikes could serve as a sobering reminder to passers-by
of the risks that bicyclists assume when maneuvering in urban environments with
fast-moving automobile traffic.
They could prove particularly effective in reminding motorists to
proceed with caution in already complicated, high-traffic intersections like
Temple and Grand River. But
unfortunately my inner grammarian impels me to use epistemic modal verbs in the
previous two sentences, because I don’t yet think ghost bikes are achieving
their goal. They <i>could</i> someday. But if a website exists to track them, they clearly aren’t
that widespread.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sure, we don’t have nearly as many bicyclist fatalities as
we do of motorists; after all, not very many people ride bicycles in the
US. But one far bigger hindrance
to the visibility and viability of ghost bikes is that they rarely survive long. Floyd Reeser of <a href="http://www.bikesaviours.org/">Bike Saviours</a>, a
nonprofit community bicycle education center in Tempe, observed that ghost
bikes rarely last more than a week, while <a href="http://www.azcentral.com/community/tempe/articles/20130614tempe-ghost-bike-memorials-moving-not-vanishing.html">officials in the Arizona city were finalizing a measure limiting the placement of roadside memorials</a> in the public
right of way to 90 days following a fatal accident. Tempe officials agreed in June to work on a relocation of two ghost bikes,
divorcing them from the accident sites but preserving their commemorative
integrity. Meanwhile, the New York
City Sanitation Department announced that <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/sanitation-department-remove-eyesore-bike-death-memorials-article-1.183583#ixzz0rUSRVrUU">the “eyesores” had to come down after receiving numerous complaints about the ghost bikes</a>, though the department is
giving families of loved ones a 30-day grace period—25 days more than typical
abandoned and derelict bikes receive. For those who think this callousness is
stereotypically American, the <a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/family-ordered-to-remove-ghost-bike-memorial-to-singer-killed-by-lorry-8557844.html">City Council recently ordered a family to remove a ghost bike in Hackney, UK</a>. And a ghost bike just north of
Dupont Circle in Washington DC <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/10/AR2009091003213.html">managed to survive a year</a> as a tribute to a young woman hit by a garbage truck in 2008. This particular episode amplifies the
poignancy of ghost bikes for me. I
remember this accident, since I biked across the exact same intersection and
through the often-terrifying Circle every day on my way to work in Georgetown
that year. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">These interventions are among the more courteous. Most cities remove the ghost bikes with
little to no notice. The only
reason this might attract greater attention is because the public sector
usually accords another grassroots memorial much greater respect. We’ve all seen wooden crosses or miniature
gravestones along the road to commemorate a life lost in an automobile
accident. Ghost bikes are little
more than a semantic subset, specifically indentifying individuals killed while
bicycling. But to remove a wooden
cross—or even to complain about it—borders on blasphemy, while petitioners
routinely campaign for the successful removal of ghost bikes. What’s the difference?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I attribute it to several factors. Obviously bicycles are much larger, and they can legitimately
impede a right-of-way in a manner that few roadside graves ever will. Ghost bikes are far more likely to
inhabit urban settings, where the higher population density engenders a higher
propensity toward complaints. But
neither of these excuses is entirely fair to ghost bikes, since other memorial
graves can be large and ostentatious; meanwhile, ghost bikes could just as
easily commemorate an accident in a rural setting.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My suspicion is that the multitude of implied uses to
bicycles serves as a liability to the proliferation of ghost bikes. Obviously the most common function of a
bike is as a means of transportation.
So when one remains planted at one site for weeks or months at a time,
the public often draws the conclusion that it is abandoned, regardless of an
alabaster coating. Meanwhile,
grave markers serve a discrete semiotic purpose: to memorialize—nothing else
that I’m aware of. We see a wooden
cross or a flower-embellished placard along the road and we know exactly what
it means. No one has the gall to
refer to them as “eyesores” because they fundamentally cannot become abandoned,
no matter how aged and deteriorated they might be.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The connotations to a long-parked bicycle are never quite so
clear, and ghost bikes suffer as a result. Since they’re a relatively new phenomenon, maybe time will
grant them the same respect that wooden roadside graves enjoy. But the need for
widespread public education on ghost bikes references something far more
critical: a superior public understanding of how vehicles and bicycles can
safely co-exist on roads both urban and rural.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
AmericanDirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600555386886915000noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9158467536239735339.post-81283209576073473972013-10-16T21:54:00.000-08:002013-10-16T21:54:35.542-08:00Grow quickly. Live better.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is a truth universally acknowledged that, from the
perspective of urban sociologists and planners, at least, major discount
retailers such as Walmart have thrived on the destruction of commercial
activity in traditional town centers.<span>
</span>No doubt my assertion borders on exaggeration, but it would have to,
considering I’ve cribbed Jane Austen’s famous (and equally ironically hyperbolic)
first seven words to <i>Pride and Prejudice</i>,
in which a man’s search of a wife sets a blithe tone for much of what
follows.<span> </span>By contrast, the
unceasing diatribes against Walmart from urban advocates are rarely
whimsical.<span> </span>And while not every
high-profile writer/blogger on urban affairs excoriates Walmart, the general
tenor of the discussion ascribes much of the decline of downtown retail to the
much-maligned megachain.<span> </span>After
all, virtually every freestanding small city in America over 20,000 people that
is not part of a larger metropolitan agglomeration can claim a Walmart, perched
at the edge of the municipal limits.<span>
</span>And yes, the burgeoning of Walmarts does more or less coincide with the
near abandonment of historic, pedestrian-scaled main streets in favor of car-oriented
commercialization consolidated into big-box department stores.
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But did a corporation—or <i>the</i>
corporation—really cause all this?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhME8vXVqW21nyQ4ryXDUN5IBVpDBKC2k6WVReJYuYJgUIZkh4xnJjWyhSDFk-6KYS7IgNDAHIgKORyQGEtAcIYs5_gg7wvAk1SulyDJKGzBJi-rqztYJn5plAJQObXtWaKbOAWzv8DSfXy/s1600/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+249.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhME8vXVqW21nyQ4ryXDUN5IBVpDBKC2k6WVReJYuYJgUIZkh4xnJjWyhSDFk-6KYS7IgNDAHIgKORyQGEtAcIYs5_gg7wvAk1SulyDJKGzBJi-rqztYJn5plAJQObXtWaKbOAWzv8DSfXy/s320/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+249.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If the average American consumers genuinely cared enough
about Main Street or the courthouse square, wouldn’t they have shunned this
commercial cataclysm before it radically altered the entire landscape?<span> </span>Wasn’t it the consumer that ultimately
fueled Walmart’s meteoric growth, by opting for the convenience of everything
under one roof, abundant free parking, and (perhaps the most objective factor)
those famously low prices?<span> </span>Some
might argue that I’m unreasonably throwing Walmart a bone, since the folks at
the boardroom table clearly knew what would happen to Main Street, as
department-store big-box shopping encroached on communities that commercial
developers had previously perceived as too modest in size to support this
retail typology.<span> </span>And, yes, I
recognize the firm’s historic opposition toward unionization, its eventual
reneging on a long-standing “Made in America” pledge, and even the management
of logistics/merchandising favoring the automatization of functions that once
provided communities with stable jobs.<span>
</span>Maybe I am cutting Walmart some undeserved slack.<span> </span>But I also think the corporation’s
biggest critics fail to recognize that Walmart didn’t become a leviathan
overnight, any more than these towns devolved from flourishing to failures with
the flick of a light switch.<span> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My own articles on main street America have explored the
topic routinely.<span> </span>But it took a
visit to Bentonville, Arkansas to develop a more nuanced understanding of Walmart’s
approach to community engagement right at the belly of the beast.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPdLF_kscZRNXSkHUqTYPHJrP58N2HDpMkOeXaUICECQC0po7XaJZQ30hwaWcv0uuUQ01AV6SKXKznCbZVjJ0m9syglQ1KArVPD7oxivOnMEMRI85VDnIZJpsTDIBwEYWsxJJSBHHayK9/s1600/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+228.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPdLF_kscZRNXSkHUqTYPHJrP58N2HDpMkOeXaUICECQC0po7XaJZQ30hwaWcv0uuUQ01AV6SKXKznCbZVjJ0m9syglQ1KArVPD7oxivOnMEMRI85VDnIZJpsTDIBwEYWsxJJSBHHayK9/s320/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+228.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My suspicion is that, until probably around the year 2001,
98% of Americans hadn’t heard of this well-scrubbed little municipality in the northwest
corner of the state, just a stone’s throw from the rugged topography of the
Ozarks.<span> </span>Even today, if people are
familiar with the town, it is only because it hosts the corporate headquarters
for the world’s largest retailer.<span>
</span>And there’s nothing wrong with this seemingly simplified association:
after all, one would be hard-pressed to find anyone in Bentonville who would
argue that the city is better known for something else.<span> </span>But what sort of impact has Walmart’s
presence exerted on what otherwise would likely be a nondescript, mid-southern
county seat?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSSWNPWXh9gMiOFbn7W7j2UmKoPpIxLRdzF3PegsWJReLFdoUiA0xQ966SMa4Sy3FnpuqVY5bS7UTeBvji2tOIbsO3XhNvB7JSJFVZsPuJwQBC2UwpobaRbtf3xzgy92E1SkVSkisasaB/s1600/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+234.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSSWNPWXh9gMiOFbn7W7j2UmKoPpIxLRdzF3PegsWJReLFdoUiA0xQ966SMa4Sy3FnpuqVY5bS7UTeBvji2tOIbsO3XhNvB7JSJFVZsPuJwQBC2UwpobaRbtf3xzgy92E1SkVSkisasaB/s320/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+234.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACiWULsPIg26L7UcKAipP6C3R85az_LyszGs9t7uQ5Rbp2mR_t3e9OD_yk-tNOST-oWUhdQ34P37Iw-7pm37BWxfqG3spDMp2djqqMgoXw9weWd8rcxIbibSPfwVxVm9A8cvpX6x6N-tO/s1600/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+237.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACiWULsPIg26L7UcKAipP6C3R85az_LyszGs9t7uQ5Rbp2mR_t3e9OD_yk-tNOST-oWUhdQ34P37Iw-7pm37BWxfqG3spDMp2djqqMgoXw9weWd8rcxIbibSPfwVxVm9A8cvpX6x6N-tO/s320/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+237.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not surprisingly, the influence has been formidable.<span> </span>I mention the year 2001 because, upon
publishing <a href="http://www.censusscope.org/us/metro_rank_popl_growth.html">the results of Census 2000</a>, the nation learned that the Northwest
Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area (consisting of the primary cities of
Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville) had become the sixth-fastest
growing region in the nation.<span> </span>While a Census update isn’t the
sort of news item that necessarily grabs the public by its lapels, it can flirt
salaciously with the unconscious and, eventually, through mimetic repetition, penetrate
to the conscious.<span> </span>With each
passing year, Bentonville has grabbed the headlines more often, as decisions
from the Wal-mart Stores, Inc. Home Office exert a greater impact on the global
economy.<span> </span>I would hesitate to assert
that the name “Bentonville, Arkansas” is common knowledge to the same level
that a similarly-sized city such as “Beverly Hills, California” might be, partly
because the similarities between these two places basically stop there. <span> </span>But its star is rising on both the
national and international horizon, since many of Walmart’s foreign retail
ventures have proven just as successful as their domestic efforts.<span> </span>And Bentonville, predictably, has
enjoyed its share of the region’s growth: at over 35,000 people in 2010, it
more tripled its population since the 1990 census, and, as recently as 1960, it
was a quiet village of barely 3,500 people.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The impact on this growth is obvious, particularly when
viewing the street configuration.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyeqkNByjBEeIPnj1GXkCWk9INlIQFTiVC05AD4gn5DRUT03tPFJuj9GK_qSJOpaiNTFuuIO26cxdp4lpGBcxlqnuwCeYdWehQKqcRYikveYr1f_8aXrqBYx1kdfvJiHw8UN1lBO300m94/s1600/Bentonville+street+config.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyeqkNByjBEeIPnj1GXkCWk9INlIQFTiVC05AD4gn5DRUT03tPFJuj9GK_qSJOpaiNTFuuIO26cxdp4lpGBcxlqnuwCeYdWehQKqcRYikveYr1f_8aXrqBYx1kdfvJiHw8UN1lBO300m94/s320/Bentonville+street+config.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The shift from a conventional grid to a more hierarchical
arrangement is conspicuous and unsurprising.<span> </span>The oldest part of the city adopted the grid, which was
customary for shaping virtually all communities in the 19<sup>th</sup> and
early 20<sup>th</sup> century.<span> </span>Yet
80% of Bentonville’s city limits (which extend in all directions beyond the
boundaries in the image above) fits the more expansive, automobile-oriented
configuration, in which streets curve and wend, sometimes into hairpins, sometimes
into full loops.<span> </span>Often they terminate
as culs-de-sac.<span> </span>For a municipality
that remained a modest village until the 1950s, this growth pattern is normal
and broadly characteristic of numerous Sunbelt communities.<span> </span>Thus, the city of Bentonville has
decentralized considerably in the last fifty years, in addition to hosting the
global headquarters to the retail behemoth most regularly flagged as the
culprit in expediting the demise of downtowns.<span> </span>Given these two factors, one prevailing question remains:
what on earth does its beleaguered town center look like?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Chances are, you’d be as surprised as I was.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTq2BlC86wO5CVwT4TZP0RuUj54vnacfP5JaLSCPPfHEKLth7SjG980brNPzEm5pi20dWK9wTK6942yvYAuGBxzo86GU-Q2TpRhdJ84RLNYUrlWYxtRlWdI_B92ClGlMMcQyxxFgM7h92/s1600/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+232.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTq2BlC86wO5CVwT4TZP0RuUj54vnacfP5JaLSCPPfHEKLth7SjG980brNPzEm5pi20dWK9wTK6942yvYAuGBxzo86GU-Q2TpRhdJ84RLNYUrlWYxtRlWdI_B92ClGlMMcQyxxFgM7h92/s320/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+232.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It looks terrific.<span>
</span>Nearly 100% occupancy, clean sidewalks, a well-manicured streetscape.<span> </span>And virtually of all the retail
mix—from bike shops to brasseries, yoga studios to yogurt cafes, tea rooms to
trattorias—caters to an upmarket clientele, suggesting that the leasing rates
are fairly high.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGPRTOu6adGabUPeNXxIqcoGNGgQBl7V6pzEifk2mkMJFeoQ-re4eyp-O1iUB5Na8JDlR0xQTJeHIvD-d-G95cr7VcKoM56vQ3pM7l1sPWozAB6DR7SSedXKJAfI9o28rSJlxRrNwzyPA/s1600/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+236.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGPRTOu6adGabUPeNXxIqcoGNGgQBl7V6pzEifk2mkMJFeoQ-re4eyp-O1iUB5Na8JDlR0xQTJeHIvD-d-G95cr7VcKoM56vQ3pM7l1sPWozAB6DR7SSedXKJAfI9o28rSJlxRrNwzyPA/s320/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+236.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZetw8MONEuNdEt_mN7_BPvn9Mn97Y0lzLOoBcs21-HPo5D3RMrAPK5ZbWE-tcSHqoGlBrASxi581o5s4DuyPoC4chDsXGVBC29zS1jfI3KdtNSJcaGJ-TTMUUYouZ6uyLDQHIYaYe9ren/s1600/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+231.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZetw8MONEuNdEt_mN7_BPvn9Mn97Y0lzLOoBcs21-HPo5D3RMrAPK5ZbWE-tcSHqoGlBrASxi581o5s4DuyPoC4chDsXGVBC29zS1jfI3KdtNSJcaGJ-TTMUUYouZ6uyLDQHIYaYe9ren/s320/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+231.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-MU0FA1DRP7jkoRDqxD-lBY3r69cSk3d9nVnmviNMaxzM4wP2URf_LNdbMfRsGN6yPOR_FJdDr176aMFS28nkj0pXDbQWnON8kY449y-8Wm1povb83ZFt_l3LvXkOey8HqjdIjSLNXnN/s1600/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+233.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-MU0FA1DRP7jkoRDqxD-lBY3r69cSk3d9nVnmviNMaxzM4wP2URf_LNdbMfRsGN6yPOR_FJdDr176aMFS28nkj0pXDbQWnON8kY449y-8Wm1povb83ZFt_l3LvXkOey8HqjdIjSLNXnN/s320/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+233.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyPgfZR-H6k9M1-ulwDFSEDZoci043AHr_PHgI3Gzl-N_kWHDidqPbBxa6ZxVD4BrpGloOweoOq-4wkvCRGBYyC39hYxOyI3LreERSK_TI7TCosw2e7lEsmJU4Mf55LfhNBuzcGVAtzuI/s1600/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+229.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyPgfZR-H6k9M1-ulwDFSEDZoci043AHr_PHgI3Gzl-N_kWHDidqPbBxa6ZxVD4BrpGloOweoOq-4wkvCRGBYyC39hYxOyI3LreERSK_TI7TCosw2e7lEsmJU4Mf55LfhNBuzcGVAtzuI/s320/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+229.jpg" width="320" /></a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The culminating attraction, however, is the humble
storefront that spawned it all:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIYd3Rthn-ddUXFE-oWuI_ELHbRwFi26IiDkyZIgGgGIi__I9DjbkKJY8aidULi4oq_IEO49V7ACW8_GnLakF8es2sUYJL9d6xM6wJJhb4YSdjECC5RLmz6w_8NuO_BV2SgYWqUMODpJh/s1600/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+230.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIYd3Rthn-ddUXFE-oWuI_ELHbRwFi26IiDkyZIgGgGIi__I9DjbkKJY8aidULi4oq_IEO49V7ACW8_GnLakF8es2sUYJL9d6xM6wJJhb4YSdjECC5RLmz6w_8NuO_BV2SgYWqUMODpJh/s320/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+230.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9hTjc5vwkbrwtdpjgTN3vmgA5ta8a5gQNTVZX8Fm9Qhpfv2ezQ20E3PghOrfMkbMh4D5ZULHfKgZIFD5Ccr8JnrxLhEfnwb_IqsyTN2q_w69JQSRgdwibRDPCu3fSe679iG0PvDd2jm2/s1600/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+238.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9hTjc5vwkbrwtdpjgTN3vmgA5ta8a5gQNTVZX8Fm9Qhpfv2ezQ20E3PghOrfMkbMh4D5ZULHfKgZIFD5Ccr8JnrxLhEfnwb_IqsyTN2q_w69JQSRgdwibRDPCu3fSe679iG0PvDd2jm2/s320/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+238.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sam Walton’s original five-and-dime now serves as <a href="http://corporate.walmart.com/our-story/heritage/visitor-center">the Walmart Visitors’ Center and a mini-museum</a>,
with interactive exhibits and the recreation of a soda fountain.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">These pictures date from a summer festival on the central
square, taken a few years ago, in 2010.<span>
</span>Though they are obviously a bit faded by now—not all of the visitor
attractions were open yet during my visit—I can say with a fair amount of
confidence that downtown Bentonville is even stronger today.<span> </span>After all, most estimates show the city
has continued to grow another 10% since the 2010 Census results, and,
considering that it was demonstrating considerable resilience during the peak
of the Great Recession, the downtown is likely only to build on a momentum it
had established long before the bubble burst.<span> </span>A detractor might challenge my assertion by arguing that I
captured the city during an atypically vibrant time, when out-of-towners had
flocked to the city for the summer celebration on the courthouse square.<span> </span>But how could the downtown support a
high concentration of restaurants, cafés and boutiques if it weren’t lively
during the other times of the week as well?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bix1Jt0-iIkh7-BXFNLU4BH2NUEKXbU2FDf-QxWANhOWu1Wfda4VEoSJe-xHo6N2ixWBOYcrVXmwF6TpvRv9ZCt23ulcgW0dakaQ7WdNE2nI4cwRaVJn_Q9GWTxxtwdhrLkKBWuObJ26/s1600/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+239.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bix1Jt0-iIkh7-BXFNLU4BH2NUEKXbU2FDf-QxWANhOWu1Wfda4VEoSJe-xHo6N2ixWBOYcrVXmwF6TpvRv9ZCt23ulcgW0dakaQ7WdNE2nI4cwRaVJn_Q9GWTxxtwdhrLkKBWuObJ26/s320/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+239.jpg" width="240" /></a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The fact remains that downtown Bentonville boasts a number
of civic associations that have worked tirelessly to boost its cachet, including
<a href="http://www.downtownbentonville.org/">Downtown Bentonville, Inc</a>, a nonprofit association that promotes, attracts investment, and plans
activities for Bentonville’s historic downtown, as well as the <a href="http://bentonvillemerchantdistrict.com/">Bentonville Merchant District</a>,
which seeks to attract upscale traveling merchants through the provision of
Class A office space and furnished loft-style apartments close to the city
center.<span> </span>The city also has a
<a href="http://www.bentonvilleusa.org/members.asp?id=202&task=memdisplay&movenum=0&memid=608&memberlet=&searchtext=">Convention and Visitors Bureau</a> and a <a href="http://www.bbvchamber.com/">Chamber of Commerce</a>.<span> </span>These organizations have no
doubt worked tirelessly to re-centralize investment in Bentonville’s small
downtown, even as the vast majority of the population growth over the last two
decades has taken place in the purlieus.<span>
</span>By most metrics, their efforts have paid off.<span> </span>But plenty of other similarly sized cities can claim the
same business associations without these results; <a href="http://dirtamericana.blogspot.com/2013/05/main-street-geniuses-and-chain-of-fools.html">I blogged about Jefferson City, Missouri earlier this year</a>, a small city whose civic leaders have collaborated to promote the
downtown.<span> </span>However, the results in
Jefferson City, while palpable, have been much more modest than Bentonville—and
it is nothing less than the state capital.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bentonville is simply part of a region that is enjoying a
persistent economic boom.<span> </span>The
other primary cities in this unusual metropolitan area—Rogers, Springdale and
Fayetteville—are also growing like mad.<span>
</span>It doesn’t hurt that the region is home to two other nationally prominent
companies: Springdale’s Tyson Foods, the world’s largest meat producer, and
trucking giant J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., based in the town of Lowell,
which abuts Rogers.<span> </span>But the real
cog in the wheel remains the world’s largest retailer, headquartered in
Bentonville, and I still suspect the corporation and its numerous investments
has more to do with downtown’s vibrancy than the tourist bureau.<span> </span>Walmart undoubtedly prefers to
associate its name with a municipality that enjoys a profile of prosperity and
high quality of life; the company will do what it takes to maintain that image
within Bentonville.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So what is the visual evidence that this isn’t just a
run-of-the-mill boomtown?<span> </span>Beyond
from the picture-perfect courthouse square, the air of plentitude permeates
the city.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrq_k5S48KX1UjE7yjTGYXnWSgMAM79tH76Z2UJ9SNiE2hUDh-MIfKTaWQeorJTwomn337rbRrK4oJx6Ie7iyHX45ju1ol0vlzouSC5dTmklD1QYZeyNzfR4sbi_N-he7GilDN3T-0cra/s1600/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+240.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrq_k5S48KX1UjE7yjTGYXnWSgMAM79tH76Z2UJ9SNiE2hUDh-MIfKTaWQeorJTwomn337rbRrK4oJx6Ie7iyHX45ju1ol0vlzouSC5dTmklD1QYZeyNzfR4sbi_N-he7GilDN3T-0cra/s320/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+240.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMAtlzNm_u6llKmP5D7fpHdpS-GoSP4_pm1Idklkg4qT06bKRE8Y1u4XdWqmnmWkKF2PTeGOJKpmGKC8nuOMhM3Bfh1OBJR8SKf-AX0nGzRfoRMh0islvZ-fzic2Kp98iA14aYRxIitgi/s1600/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+245.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMAtlzNm_u6llKmP5D7fpHdpS-GoSP4_pm1Idklkg4qT06bKRE8Y1u4XdWqmnmWkKF2PTeGOJKpmGKC8nuOMhM3Bfh1OBJR8SKf-AX0nGzRfoRMh0islvZ-fzic2Kp98iA14aYRxIitgi/s320/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+245.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">However, it isn’t just the park spaces that distinguish the
more recently developed outer reaches of Bentonville; all the spaces in between
have received above average treatment as well.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBq1D1NdO3Ip5c4A_4oPOWBJCdceNAGNiDBfWNfGCBe8qCjTbEpsMoh-ZpbKL5nIdAyo96Mc86Z-gNrtQEDPKbQgTNu17lDCU3-qxXWu71x6bLrD-WSTPtgqxPg_RB9cmA7LGvnznj78bm/s1600/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+243+clipped.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBq1D1NdO3Ip5c4A_4oPOWBJCdceNAGNiDBfWNfGCBe8qCjTbEpsMoh-ZpbKL5nIdAyo96Mc86Z-gNrtQEDPKbQgTNu17lDCU3-qxXWu71x6bLrD-WSTPtgqxPg_RB9cmA7LGvnznj78bm/s320/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+243+clipped.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So a city street has sidewalks.<span> </span>Big deal, some might say.<span> </span>But it is out of character for low density, hierarchical,
auto-oriented development in the South to make any concession for pedestrians,
let alone a full network of sidewalks along all of the major streets.<span> </span>Compare Bentonville to just about any
other city in Arkansas (outside of the Northwest) and you’d be hard pressed to
find sidewalks on any arterial or collector roads beyond the historic original
street grid.<span> </span>Both the Department
of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Planning in Bentonville have
determined that core pedestrian access remains critical, even when the
development pattern is sparse, in keeping with the preferences of the majority
of people who settle in this part of the country.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span> </span>The former of the two aforementioned departments
reveals that it has conceived network of parks, greenways and biking trails
rivals that of a community three times its size.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkO19F1tgMLR2cW_agxiLFZV7drA1JG45shEGa0Q33SGEL20VwRp6WLf3WwXs1PXL5dhaN41aqU1CN5cQiANGER42pVURtp6CdgvJbqt1SgaWwKekYj5YQolWKbriZZGDmdn_YJAleAc-k/s1600/Bentonville+parks+rec.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkO19F1tgMLR2cW_agxiLFZV7drA1JG45shEGa0Q33SGEL20VwRp6WLf3WwXs1PXL5dhaN41aqU1CN5cQiANGER42pVURtp6CdgvJbqt1SgaWwKekYj5YQolWKbriZZGDmdn_YJAleAc-k/s320/Bentonville+parks+rec.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Meanwhile, the latter-mentioned planning department has
several aces up its sleeve as well.<span>
</span>While it isn’t unheard of that a city might support a 76-page <a href="http://www.bentonvillear.com/docs/Parks/proposed_bicycle_and_pedestrian_master.pdf">Bicycleand Pedestrian Master Plan</a>, a <a href="http://www.bentonvillear.com/docs/planning/smart_growth_guidebook.pdf">Smart Growth Guidebook</a>, or <a href="http://www.bentonvillear.com/docs/planning/traffic_calming_guidebook.pdf">a Traffic Calming Guidebook</a>, it certainly places the city well outside the bell curve when juxtaposed with
its peers.<span> </span>After all, even the
neighboring city of Rogers (pop. 55,000) shows no evidence that its planning
department has the resources even to conceive of such initiatives.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The aforementioned features are hardly likely to elevate
anyone’s pulse; they aren’t exactly competing with Manhattan’s High Line for infrastructural
innovation.<span> </span>And it’s unreasonable
to surmise that Walmart had any real influence on what remain purely publicly
owned assets. <span> </span>But one structure in
Bentonville is likely to turn the head of even the most skeptical coastal snob:
the <a href="http://crystalbridges.org/">Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZgghMBini1tj4ExW8-T4h0IdyFiQtgFaaTDIO9ElLQPStYAvSRh37HXcM7m3K6Hr55j7eGohPFZZaWVB3i2e-HbEeKJg8ka1JRBxBNR1b9xRfMssnSPGKu6W48LXXG4ayslSh0lkYztr/s1600/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+247.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZgghMBini1tj4ExW8-T4h0IdyFiQtgFaaTDIO9ElLQPStYAvSRh37HXcM7m3K6Hr55j7eGohPFZZaWVB3i2e-HbEeKJg8ka1JRBxBNR1b9xRfMssnSPGKu6W48LXXG4ayslSh0lkYztr/s320/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+247.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The structure was not complete when I visited Bentonville in
2010, but it opened to the public in late 2011, and made international
headlines for both its novelty (first major American art museum to open in 50
years, and the only one in an over 100-mile radius) as well as its magnitude
(over 200,000 square feet of space on 120-acre grounds and a collection valued in
the hundreds of millions).<span> </span>The
striking edifice reaches Bentonville courtesy of internationally recognized Israeli-Canadian
architect Moshe Safdie.<span> </span>Perhaps
most importantly though, it is resolutely the vision of Alice Walton, daughter
to founder Sam Walton and heiress to his fortune.<span> </span>In <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/17/arts/design/alice-walton-on-her-crystal-bridges-museum-of-american-art.html?pagewanted=all">one of many interviews</a> she offered at
the time of the museum’s opening, Walton, who has been an art collector most of
her life, acknowledged that she wanted to make a difference in this part of the
world by bringing “something we desperately need”.<span> </span>She contributed over $300 million to the project, built on
family land.<span> </span>Admission to the
museum is free, but because of its destination status, visitors will typically
linger, travel the grounds, shop, buy a meal.<span> </span>A <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/31/the-next-marfa-arkansas-crystal-bridges_n_1242683.htm"><i>Huffington Post </i>article</a>
<span></span>from the museum’s infancy concluded
that the museum would skyrocket past its estimated 250,000 first-year visitors,
based on the success after just three months open to the public.
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If Crystal Bridges Museum lives up to its promise as an
attraction of national or even international caliber, Bentonville clearly needs
the tourist infrastructure to support those visitors.<span> </span>But it would appear it already has it.<span> </span>Just down the road, in neighboring
Rogers, an Embassy Suites Spa and Convention Center flanks one side of the
interstate; the Pinnacle Hills lifestyle center sits on the other.<span> </span>And, earlier this year, the sleek <a href="http://www.21cmuseumhotels.com/bentonville/">21c Museum Hotel</a>, famous for the prominent positioning of contemporary art, opened
right off of Bentonville’s courthouse square - only the third of its kind in the country.<span> </span>(Louisville and Cincinnati claim the other two.)<span> </span>Many of the amenities that have
sprouted across Northwest Arkansas over the last twenty years are in keeping
with a metropolitan area of nearly a half million people; of course it has a
mall, convention center, and <a href="http://www.sonamusic.org/">a seasonal symphony orchestra</a>.<span> </span>But while growth trajectory of the
metro might resemble that of Phoenix or Las Vegas, no single municipality has
spawned everything here in Arkansas.<span>
</span>As of 1950, only college town Fayetteville had even 10,000 people.<span> </span>The other towns—Lowell, Rogers, Bella
Vista, Johnson, Springdale, and of course Bentonville—were isolated villages
that boomed simultaneously, swelling their incorporated boundaries until they
touched one another.<span> </span>As a result,
Northwest Arkansas may be the country’s youngest conurbation: a 35-mile string
of small cities—a microlopolis.<span>
</span>(The only comparable phenomenon I can think of domestically would be the
Texas border towns along the Rio Grande, but even Brownsville and McAllen were
more than villages fifty years ago, and they’re big cities over 100,000 people
now.)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The rapid ascension of these communities into a regional
economic powerhouse—with the amenities one might from a single, medium-sized
city—may very well neatly manifest the multiplier effect.<span> </span>But it still doesn’t explain how
Bentonville, the epicenter of Walmartlandia, has managed to hold its own with a
lively downtown, when plenty of other fast-growing big cities struggle to keep
it all centralized (Houston, for example).<span> </span>After all, in one of the most famous journalistic
explorations of Northwest Arkansas, <a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/146b3966-6b63-11de-861d-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2heFooeF2">Financial Times’ “The Town that Wal-Mart Built”</a>, Jonathan Birchall observed in 2009 that he always found it “hard not to be hit
by the irony in this Bentonville Renaissance. Wal-Mart’s football-stadium-sized
supercentres are, after all, the epitome of the chain store culture that has
destroyed small town centres and homogenised communities all over America in
the past three decades.”<span> </span>But it
sounds like he took the bait.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDw4d7tzfKuprTsWUGexbVe2cUf3oftZwKrx3ngRJHtITibHdfA5Zz2iWRu9HY1N7vFi5iqO9N-qPmJQwzKth_3xfTXV4H1toLcvpbChuMLJHPb3xZTqmwo-XmPmX-_V_QwPxxit_ZSk6e/s1600/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+235.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDw4d7tzfKuprTsWUGexbVe2cUf3oftZwKrx3ngRJHtITibHdfA5Zz2iWRu9HY1N7vFi5iqO9N-qPmJQwzKth_3xfTXV4H1toLcvpbChuMLJHPb3xZTqmwo-XmPmX-_V_QwPxxit_ZSk6e/s320/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+235.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The town that Walmart built has either proven itself immune
to the main-street-murdering forces that afflicted most American cities, or it
has recovered from that ailment magnificently. <span> </span>Bentonville also boasts a regional airport that offers
year-round, nonstop daily service to New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago; Alice
Walton’s money helped build the terminal, which serves a population that had no
regular airfare until 1998.<span>
</span>Bentonville Public Schools have offered the prestigious International
Baccalaureate program since 2007.<span>
</span>And yes, Bentonville has a Walmart not so far away, in what probably was
the edge of town not too long ago.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbf_utYoellCSjW9UrEFUx6dx9PtPfkjHslnVj4ERbyoiZEMe4ZjZV4gHnmIyrd6ilAksIy3Q2jtvr-PS1Kr5JGd1NTiohpcZGsa6nWyItLH9GUr9woasVdGbwNfJMDPdxfzI_9HEwHf_/s1600/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+250.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbf_utYoellCSjW9UrEFUx6dx9PtPfkjHslnVj4ERbyoiZEMe4ZjZV4gHnmIyrd6ilAksIy3Q2jtvr-PS1Kr5JGd1NTiohpcZGsa6nWyItLH9GUr9woasVdGbwNfJMDPdxfzI_9HEwHf_/s320/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+250.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">By this point in such a lengthy analysis, it’s obvious what
has happened: Bentonville has responded to the fact that it hosts a
multinational corporation by offering the sort of amenities needed to attract
talent to the region—talent that, its current leadership presumes, will propel
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. to another fifty years of unprecedented growth.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaevfwBYN_0Xr7GHnGNJfhRjCE9vZ1w-IUdevDadB-Eu-ACWQNWtOjPyYJ6VwJHY3ifvKUWiK3K0MxvFBfBv9JwR_PvxTdf3fCNTqwarqUvwgn3AwuKdUc7SI-o5ZLtgMCZQxhkpcr6Mef/s1600/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+248.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaevfwBYN_0Xr7GHnGNJfhRjCE9vZ1w-IUdevDadB-Eu-ACWQNWtOjPyYJ6VwJHY3ifvKUWiK3K0MxvFBfBv9JwR_PvxTdf3fCNTqwarqUvwgn3AwuKdUc7SI-o5ZLtgMCZQxhkpcr6Mef/s320/Arkansas+Kansas+Oklahoma+248.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Most MBA grads trained at Harvard, Wharton or Kellogg are
going to need enticement to move to an area not recognized for its urban
offerings.<span> </span>On top of all the talent
in multinational retail, Bentonville and its neighbors most also graciously
host <a href="http://talkbusiness.net/2012/10/wal-mart-suppliers-create-momentum-for-nw-arkansas-economy/">the satellite offices of 1,300 suppliers</a> whom Walmart has lured due to its vast trade network—ranging in size from one
sales exec to something as large as Procter and Gamble, for whom a few hundred
employees call Northwest Arkansas home.<span>
</span>The elite business class that routinely visits the Walmart headquarters
expects top-tier hotels and shopping, while many of the executives who make it
their permanent home will inevitably seek sophisticated eateries in an
attractive, walkable setting.<span> </span>How
much of all this was funded directly by Walmart is anyone’s guess (though I’m
sure at least someone out there has the numbers).<span> </span>The fact remains that the corporate culture in Bentonville
fueled a demand for a Parks Department that builds a network out of its green
space, or a Planning Department that performs traffic calming studies.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The hardened cynics can read about this serendipity in the
Ozarks and offer an acerbic rebuttal: <i>of
course</i> Walmart is going to prop up its hometown, but does that absolve it
from the devastation that has taken place virtually everywhere else?<span> </span>This assertion would be valid if every
town with a Walmart suffered an equally moribund Main Street.<span> </span>But they clearly haven’t.<span> </span>And there remain villages too small or
too remote for a Walmart, which have confronted the exact same decline of entrepreneurism
in their historic centers.<span> </span>Arguing
from that same angle, the City of Bentonville did not enjoin Walmart to
revitalize downtown—or force Alice Walton to build Crystal Bridges—any more
than existing laws compelled Cornelius Vanderbilt to endow a university in
Nashville, the capital of a state he never even visited.<span> </span><span> </span>No doubt some of Walmart’s boosterism in Bentonville is
self-serving, since a desirable community only helps to improve Walmart’s
reputation as both an employer and corporate citizen, which in turn can attract
further investment.<span> </span>However,
viewing all corporate altruism as suspicious requires a labyrinthine
recontextualization that is just as distorted as saying “Walmart killed our
downtowns”.<span> </span>Or its equally
hyperbolic counterpart: “Walmart has had no impact on the way we shop on main
street”.<span> </span>Clearly it has, but the
forces compelling consumer behavior remain complicated—baffling even.<span> </span>For while most of us can understand
that we abandoned our old downtowns out of convenience and lack of foresight,
no one will ever truly be able to explain want prompted many American consumers
to give up their cars so they could return to bicycles.<span> </span>And if you don’t think I’m concluding
ironically, I’ve got a Jane Austen novel to sell you.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
AmericanDirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600555386886915000noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9158467536239735339.post-91207928572185218222013-09-30T22:56:00.003-08:002013-10-16T18:25:27.061-08:00Water tower repartee.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Even if it’s not a commissioned piece <a href="http://dirtamericana.blogspot.com/2013/09/testing-mutability-of-murals.html">like the mural from my previous post</a>, the landscape of artistic expression in Detroit is rich. Since such a huge portion of it comes
in the form of graffiti—which is almost always by definition an act of
vandalism—it’s understandable that my opening sentence might carry a whiff of
irony. But any city that loses
nearly 70% of its population will inevitably contain within its jurisdiction a
large amount of unmaintained space.
In Detroit, such space includes both raw, formerly developed land as
well as vacant structures.
Abandoned buildings may comprise the most conspicuous acts of graffito,
but sometimes one can find it in unexpected places, like this water tower.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRZbJtS-ZkJjpehG86k1fXj0wlRB_2JjQ5vx6PeSgsluBY1wUhN6TtJtrsjlKrV2iMAxM1OZ0XsASYn9hLIkFHPsKXY4VEefIGDoTumpH2b1pOx_NVR8BHu_6tXnV-vPh8sVtOYwDKf8x/s1600/hang+ten+water+tower+01-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRZbJtS-ZkJjpehG86k1fXj0wlRB_2JjQ5vx6PeSgsluBY1wUhN6TtJtrsjlKrV2iMAxM1OZ0XsASYn9hLIkFHPsKXY4VEefIGDoTumpH2b1pOx_NVR8BHu_6tXnV-vPh8sVtOYwDKf8x/s320/hang+ten+water+tower+01-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Pondering it a little more deeply, it’s no surprise that the
tank became a canvas. It presides
over a difficult-to-access, largely depopulated neighborhood near the
intersection of Dequnidre Road and the Davidson Freeway. Typically, the area probably doesn’t
receive a great deal of monitoring, so it would be easy to sneak around and
make it up the ladder to the tank.
In addition, the tank stands only a few hundred feet away from a very
prominent location, the I-75 corridor, so thousands of motorists pass by it
daily. For a typical vandal, this
tower is a dream come true: a clandestine site for execution that will offer a
big payoff in terms of visibility.
But what about the artwork itself?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCr8p1c89UTTVlRrPA4Z0phEIe76tRsFFw2ZZ08rZOX-MGOj_QiUg9X2qDz3Hksr-WZQpZScLYIU7vQM05TQBMrSKfIwSZRXhf8lHylXDMivwnNo61C9IqJn6J85cZWLZQgOQfBE30DKwp/s1600/hang+ten+water+tower+02-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCr8p1c89UTTVlRrPA4Z0phEIe76tRsFFw2ZZ08rZOX-MGOj_QiUg9X2qDz3Hksr-WZQpZScLYIU7vQM05TQBMrSKfIwSZRXhf8lHylXDMivwnNo61C9IqJn6J85cZWLZQgOQfBE30DKwp/s320/hang+ten+water+tower+02-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It looks like a monochrome hand in a popular gesture, in
which the thumb holds down the ring and middle finger, while the pinky and
index finger remain elevated—the sign of the horn. While it carries many other connotations, from warding off
bad luck to cuckoldry, the most common and enduring connotation in the United
States is a sort of good-natured expression of solidarity within heavy metal and
headbanging subcultures—certainly the more likely implication in a northern
industrial city like Detroit, when compared with its other well-known signifier,
the “hook ‘em horns” rally at University of Texas at Austin.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A closer look, however, suggests that the painting wasn’t
always so whimsical.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7KjrBgwTBnnJNvRvDY_EIJHfZ2ifnG-T6aqMTwq2s6uEL_RUQjcfQY1Ri38uzCyXPhkkRFG04IC4nvMdTGYWzCVn_Jk4Ajs6_xf459EIdvunC_AnCSyBQVKXpIKVKnML5b9icChHiD09/s1600/hang+ten+water+tower+03-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7KjrBgwTBnnJNvRvDY_EIJHfZ2ifnG-T6aqMTwq2s6uEL_RUQjcfQY1Ri38uzCyXPhkkRFG04IC4nvMdTGYWzCVn_Jk4Ajs6_xf459EIdvunC_AnCSyBQVKXpIKVKnML5b9icChHiD09/s320/hang+ten+water+tower+03-001.jpg" width="180" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlUx_VjcFjdZM3qqO6Whvf1b1s-rgrrfp6uYt92Sd-YoxAlcN_imwBb7rlYtveIPngag4ms_Sa3RU7NirNdE1KMQhtcPSaLEH634ltAzpGX_bYccFEYbTd8MxSSS8NhCbgXFUlEl3vwhT/s1600/hang+ten+water+tower+04-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlUx_VjcFjdZM3qqO6Whvf1b1s-rgrrfp6uYt92Sd-YoxAlcN_imwBb7rlYtveIPngag4ms_Sa3RU7NirNdE1KMQhtcPSaLEH634ltAzpGX_bYccFEYbTd8MxSSS8NhCbgXFUlEl3vwhT/s320/hang+ten+water+tower+04-001.jpg" width="180" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Someone painted over the upper half of the middle and ring
finger, using an almost identical color to the tank of the water tower, thereby
more or less blotting them out.
What this means is the original gesture was a raised fist. And though it, too, carries a variety of
implications, nearly all of them include a degree of political protest—a gesture
of collective revolt against an oppressive authority. By “whiting out” the original graffito, the second vandal
muted and, by large extent, trivialized the original message. If the original full fist embodied <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Olympics_Black_Power_salute">the iconic “black power” salute</a>, it is possible that the actions of the second vandal is demonstrating a counter-protest
toward black power, which, by nature of reducing it to a adrenaline-fueled rally
for “rock ‘n roll!”, some might construe as belittling racism. Simultaneously, others perceive the defiance implied by the
black power raised fist to perpetuate racial differences that are inherently
prejudicial and divisive in nature.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I’m not going to fan the flames any further, because I can’t
begin to know what the original intent was, nor that of the palimpsest the
followed. While it could
demonstrate the broader implications of racial tension in Detroit, it might simply reveal little more than two graffiti artists who had differing visions
for a water tower. Since neither
artist had any vested right to paint this tower, it’s always fair game for
another person to destroy the original aesthetic message, and it’s possible
that someday a third will recover the original of solidarity in political protest—or turn it into
something unrecognizable. That at
least two artists treated the tower as their canvas has less to say about the
content than about the level of supervision over this part of town. It’s not that common to find vandalized
water towers, because in most places you simply couldn’t get away with it. Detroit is clearly different in that
regard. And while Detroit’s
distinction might not say much about the City’s prevailing ability to fight
property crime, it certainly punctuates the landscape visually with a density
of self-expression we’re not so likely to see in, say, Disneyland—or Manhattan,
for that matter.</span></span><br />
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</div>
AmericanDirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600555386886915000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9158467536239735339.post-74811211171045053692013-09-25T19:55:00.001-08:002013-09-25T19:55:31.673-08:00Testing the mutability of murals.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Urban murals, once a rarity outside of a few pioneering
cities such as Philadelphia, have emerged in the last decade or so as a <i>sine qua non</i> for any big-city civic art initiative.<span> </span>Philadelphia might still be the
national (or even global) leader through its Mural Arts Program, but many other
cities are trying to give Philly a run for its money.<span> </span>In recognition of having won the bid for Super Bowl XLVI
back in 2012, the City of Indianapolis commissioned a variety of local artists
to festoon the sides of various buildings with 46 different murals,
significantly boosting its corpus in the process.<span> </span>Inevitably, these murals vary greatly both in prominence and
quality, but some of them have generated significant positive buzz in the last
two years.<span> </span>One of the highest
profile (and best-loved) of Indy’s murals is <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/somethingmonumental/6646977365/">a giant recreation of Kurt Vonnegut</a>, looking about as avuncular one could ever hope from the city’s most lovable curmudgeon.
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In fear of seeming like too much of a killjoy, let me defend
the mural not just for its great attention to detail, the formidable skill of
its creator, and its unquantifiable boost to the city’s self-image by reminding
the world that it was the boyhood home of one of the 20<sup>th</sup> century’s
most respected satirists and social critics.<span> </span>Hopefully Kilgore Trout would approve of my cynicism,
though, when I follow this paean with a serious disclaimer.<span> </span>Doggone it, this mural has Kurt beaming
onto a parking lot along Massachusetts Avenue, a fashionable yuppie nightlife
corridor that will inevitably turn into a mixed-use development eventually,
shrouding the gargantuan Vonnegut into a back alley.<span> </span>The salience the mural enjoys now from emptiness of the
parking lot will eventually lead to its downfall—or, at least, its almost
complete concealment when a building sprouts up.<span> </span>(Then again, Kurt, ever the rake, may just as easily have
approved of such a self-defeating gesture.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But this Vonnegut dilemma hints on a recurring problem with
many murals: the conceivers deliberately place them on blank walls that
probably wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the adjacent building the faced
demolition years prior.<span> </span>Such is
the case for many of the murals in Philadelphia, as well as this earlier mural
(predating the Super Bowl) that <a href="http://dirtamericana.blogspot.com/2009/11/public-art-importing-both-craft-and.html">I blogged about a few years ago</a>.<span> </span>Too many murals serve as
unintentional placeholders, beautifying a featureless flat surface until
something else comes along that is far more likely to stimulate economic
activity in the area—and, yes, that “something else” nearly always translates
to a new infill development.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Michigan’s largest city can claim its own artistic ammunition,
boasting a variety of sculptures and murals, both amateur and
professional.<span> </span>I’m not sure if
Detroit’s murals emerged under a centralizing organization in the same way as
the murals of Philadelphia or Indianapolis—after all, the city appeared at one
time to have a Detroit Mural Factory that trained students in the practice, but
I cannot find a centralized webpage with up-to-date information for this Mural
Factory.<span> </span>At any rate, the existing
array of murals certainly offers a powerful contrast within a city that, by
most empirical assessments, suffers a higher-than-average problem with graffiti,
when compared to other American cities.<span>
</span>And though graffiti is far less common place across the American
landscape than it is in most other countries, Detroit seems to have more than
its fair share, no doubt due to the higher concentration of vacant, neglected
or underutilized buildings.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoK9PMSWR-4CukydxsLh2VEPHzcGqNfOP-3NU0VJ4ApChA27yoLDlHMp98nAMLp_RnFJcQcuFVvXQ6yjjcwjPJ9Ayllw8zyE_RrQxInpcNqoHhlWDHbSDWPERZdGx2Nj-NfVui0SBmWME/s1600/DSCF1165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So it is with no small amount of comfort that I recognize a
highly effective mural that sits on Woodward Avenue, one of the city’s prime
arterials, just south of Warren Street, in the heart of the Wayne State
University campus.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-XyDd4XsV3I0p4k5XRzb3bkpPlu0RWzr1xIwoVH-jIBClkNAoCXFmLNQtca2QAUZQjmXOE_Q0TJVFGlq4qbKkaYLqam3i2gWGkw_C_AiHSAtI20lZ7pgeFM6Hig2tq4lp3wvM-IMmZA2Y/s1600/DSCF1166.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-XyDd4XsV3I0p4k5XRzb3bkpPlu0RWzr1xIwoVH-jIBClkNAoCXFmLNQtca2QAUZQjmXOE_Q0TJVFGlq4qbKkaYLqam3i2gWGkw_C_AiHSAtI20lZ7pgeFM6Hig2tq4lp3wvM-IMmZA2Y/s320/DSCF1166.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Whatever one might think of the mural’s broader aesthetic
ambitions, it certainly adds color and texture to an otherwise monochrome flat
surface.<span> </span>It’s big—possibly bigger,
all in all, than the lanky Vonnegut in Indianapolis.<span> </span>But it shares the same predicament: it rests on a blank wall
to a building whose kissing cousin came down years ago.<span> </span>In its place is this big grassy lot.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdonSh6S26Op6J4da-YSUFFcBbS_L2BR7UoFRkakqnt7RCwz4FqRyL2wdQJ6vwkBsbxff_XmU6jrtBhCFNeeTwBRWCRHl9Oy14IvzYy7Y-1fd31LJkmjq_pxZ54_q3uoqub4z0DqCdWcm/s1600/DSCF1168.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdonSh6S26Op6J4da-YSUFFcBbS_L2BR7UoFRkakqnt7RCwz4FqRyL2wdQJ6vwkBsbxff_XmU6jrtBhCFNeeTwBRWCRHl9Oy14IvzYy7Y-1fd31LJkmjq_pxZ54_q3uoqub4z0DqCdWcm/s320/DSCF1168.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And the lot is expansive—huge.<span> </span>Here’s looking at it from the other direction (northward)
along Woodward:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoK9PMSWR-4CukydxsLh2VEPHzcGqNfOP-3NU0VJ4ApChA27yoLDlHMp98nAMLp_RnFJcQcuFVvXQ6yjjcwjPJ9Ayllw8zyE_RrQxInpcNqoHhlWDHbSDWPERZdGx2Nj-NfVui0SBmWME/s1600/DSCF1165.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoK9PMSWR-4CukydxsLh2VEPHzcGqNfOP-3NU0VJ4ApChA27yoLDlHMp98nAMLp_RnFJcQcuFVvXQ6yjjcwjPJ9Ayllw8zyE_RrQxInpcNqoHhlWDHbSDWPERZdGx2Nj-NfVui0SBmWME/s320/DSCF1165.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And pivoting a little bit to the left, in a northwesterly
direction:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZGFJP_yVxyZmDuqhMYRM_er_PfeEBhs-rixGLu5bc6HI0nkJE8r2JCPiPsIk3a4N_xath3RAc8Dx4zgYtsby_MeFYaRDnFdIvJSAgBGTmhcPTTug-6ouD7VNrAO3YPuvfigvbSJkq7jU/s1600/DSCF1167.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZGFJP_yVxyZmDuqhMYRM_er_PfeEBhs-rixGLu5bc6HI0nkJE8r2JCPiPsIk3a4N_xath3RAc8Dx4zgYtsby_MeFYaRDnFdIvJSAgBGTmhcPTTug-6ouD7VNrAO3YPuvfigvbSJkq7jU/s320/DSCF1167.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Not surprisingly, a city that has suffered as much extensive
depopulation and disinvestment as Detroit has more than its share of vacant
lots, the verdant reminders of mighty Art Deco buildings that once lined this
corridor.<span> </span>In many quarters of the
city, the urban prairies will likely sit there for years to come.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But not here in Midtown, and certainly not on Wayne State’s
campus.<span> </span>Leadership at WSU has
pushed significantly to shift its prevailing identity over the years.<span> </span>Since its founding as a medical school
and training college, the university has burgeoned and evolved into Michigan’s
third-largest.<span> </span>But it has rarely (if
ever) claimed a significant presence of live-in students.<span> </span>Long a commuter school, the
reputation—particularly in Detroit’s darkest days of crime and
disinvestment—was that students at WSU drove to the university from the suburbs,
took their classes, and got out by dusk.<span>
</span>Throughout the 1990s, the campus did not even offer dorm living.<span> </span>Though the transition is undoubtedly a
bit more nuanced than I’m portraying here, the University’s leadership and
economic development arm realized that the chasm between the school and the
surrounding Midtown neighborhood was only growing.<span> </span>And it certainly wasn’t helping the desirability of being a
student at Wayne State.<span> </span>As a
result, the school has engaged in a flurry of both dormitory construction and
partnerships with developers to encourage a greater student life around the campus
that lingers after hours.<span>
</span>Consequently, Midtown has as bustling pedestrian scene that was scarcely
visible 20 years ago.<span> </span>More eyes on
the street translates to greater perception of safety, and the presence of a youth
culture with some disposable income has spurred a concomitant college-town
retail scene.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This broad scythe at a history of Wayne State’s involvement
in Midtown inevitably cuts some corners (pun intended), but in the long and
short of it is, it’s only a matter of time before this grassy corner at the
intersection of Woodward and Warren will host a new building, if not
several.<span> </span>And it’s equally certain
that, in due time, a developer seeking to maximize the FAR (floor-area ratio)
on the parcel will want to build in very close proximity to the existing
building with the mural.<span> </span>The
developer may even choose to touch the adjacent structure.<span> </span>Which means that this elegant adornment
could fall into oblivion, frustrating not just the artist but also the
community support that helped to conceive it.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Fortunately, the minds behind the mural have an ace in their
sleeve.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgomGvz2Jl2xWZxz5CZWFt-cUAaBJ10LE2Mz4eGSVE4jOe8W05M832QjrvlXfxpxUTY8F8wl1zxkwC7nahM-wsouTDLDe4dufRNUDk_1Ds5tPBeqygxCOeHwBePmJdlvGKnInOCeRkOSM5y/s1600/DSCF1169.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgomGvz2Jl2xWZxz5CZWFt-cUAaBJ10LE2Mz4eGSVE4jOe8W05M832QjrvlXfxpxUTY8F8wl1zxkwC7nahM-wsouTDLDe4dufRNUDk_1Ds5tPBeqygxCOeHwBePmJdlvGKnInOCeRkOSM5y/s320/DSCF1169.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Notice the tiniest shadow at the lower left corner of the
mural?<span> </span>That’s right—it’s not
directly painted onto the wall.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQiic-ZQayQwegIYDkKU5p52jIqST5ks8XdRGoDhU0vXSYTY6UN_vnUT57KIr3ux7GlbEeGPh9TOvA4fejfDmLH4CSINjQyiRaqkXA3JK9kBOVU6XnRN6PZmLvmrDrLozLbEp9r5GoSoRO/s1600/DSCF1170.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQiic-ZQayQwegIYDkKU5p52jIqST5ks8XdRGoDhU0vXSYTY6UN_vnUT57KIr3ux7GlbEeGPh9TOvA4fejfDmLH4CSINjQyiRaqkXA3JK9kBOVU6XnRN6PZmLvmrDrLozLbEp9r5GoSoRO/s320/DSCF1170.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It appears to be a sort of canvas that has been stretched to
tautness through tying its corners to hooks implanted in the mortar between
bricks.<span> </span>I suppose, if we’re
purists, this means that this piece of artwork no longer fits the traditional
definition of a mural.<span> </span>But it will
likely fake anyone who isn’t scrutinizing.<span> </span>And, more importantly, it means that the canvas can come
down when a building goes up next door, then get installed somewhere else.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">From an artistic standpoint, my suspicion is that this
display has lost a bit of credibility.<span>
</span>After all, it didn’t require an artist’s careful assessment of the
space, nor the dedication of applying paint to a rough surface from a
vertiginous position.<span> </span>Though
clearly “drawn” as an original, it’s quite possible this canvas’s existence
depended upon a digital magnification.<span>
</span>So maybe it’s cheating.<span> </span>But
the fact remains that neither WSU, future developers, nor whatever arts program
finally implemented the “mural”—none will have to witness the demise of this
work of art in a few years.<span> </span>The
same can’t be said about Kurt Vonnegut in Indy, nor the hundreds of murals emblazoned
on blank sides of buildings in Philly.<span>
</span>Migrating this canvas to another big wall should seem like a minor
effort in comparison, and in a city that has witnessed so much renegade art in
the wake of its abandonment, the citizens will finally get to see a painting salvaged,
as welcomed new construction fills the void.</span></span></div>
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AmericanDirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600555386886915000noreply@blogger.com0