tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159479.post111702724458973317..comments2023-10-10T03:39:50.342-05:00Comments on A Little Urbanity: Potemkin-on-Friendly?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159479.post-1117378886153845042005-05-29T10:01:00.000-05:002005-05-29T10:01:00.000-05:00Any idea how much they'll pay me to wear the mouse...Any idea how much they'll pay me to wear the mouse suit? You know that will be one of the most coveted jobs that bring us.Billy Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16264147065000056960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159479.post-1117161268265786092005-05-26T21:34:00.000-05:002005-05-26T21:34:00.000-05:00Darkmoon, I love both ideas -- using local artists...Darkmoon, I love both ideas -- using local artists (of which we have plenty) <I>and</I> making some kind of architectural reference to Greensboro's mill heritage.<BR/><BR/>And as Michael points out, that doesn't mean it has to look old-timey. It can be progressive and inspirational (well, as inspirational as a shopping center can be) and still do those things.<BR/><BR/>I thought of another example of architecture that refers to its historic context without being fake-historic -- Carl Myatt's house on North Park drive in Fisher Park. It employs lots of traditional Queen Anne elements, but doesn't look anything like a Queen Anne house.David Whartonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13251439852685796681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159479.post-1117143956251799432005-05-26T16:45:00.000-05:002005-05-26T16:45:00.000-05:00Having just come back from a business trip from Co...Having just come back from a business trip from Columbus and went to the mall area like Southpoint around there, I thought that Greensboro would be great with one. BUT....<BR/><BR/>My girlfriend brought up a great point. I think this falls basically in line with Dave's point. (not a direct quote):<BR/><BR/>It would be nice if Starmount built it with local artists providing the statues and fountains that would line the pseudo-streets. This was a big thing in Asheville. If the buildings were designed in the era of the mills, that would definitely be a selling point and tourist attraction.<BR/><BR/>---<BR/>And this is the reason I love this woman *grin* Putting Greensboro back into something that is modern.Darkmoonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00511517187037058883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159479.post-1117068184880342552005-05-25T19:43:00.000-05:002005-05-25T19:43:00.000-05:00Speaking of Disney and small towns...have you seen...Speaking of Disney and small towns...have you seen this? http://www.celebrationfl.com/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159479.post-1117067109309147852005-05-25T19:25:00.000-05:002005-05-25T19:25:00.000-05:00Sue, let me clarify. Amost everything Ron Wilson d...Sue, let me clarify. Amost everything Ron Wilson described in the article this morning sounded great to me -- as I said, GREAT. The only thing I really don't like is the "Disney" element, by which I guess I mean, it shouldn't try to be something it isn't. It should just try to be a well-designed, attractive shopping center, and I hope it succeeds.<BR/><BR/>Michael, I suggested that it would be a good idea to "refer to and respect" indigenous designs, because I think context matters in architecture. But that doesn't mean that I think they have to build entirely traditional buildings. <BR/><BR/>For example, the builders of Smothers Place Lofts did an architectural hat-tip to the Southern Railway station across the street (by adding a turret) while still designing a fairly original, new-looking building. Patrick Deaton was the architect.<BR/><BR/>Those bungalows I like still don't seem kitschy or fake to me, but maybe that's because I live in a neighborhood full of them, and to my eyes they just look like regular -- and attractive -- houses. And all of them had been modified and updated to fit modern needs and tastes, e.g., some had attached garages, concrete porches, etc.<BR/><BR/>But I take your point.David Whartonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13251439852685796681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159479.post-1117063628685029762005-05-25T18:27:00.000-05:002005-05-25T18:27:00.000-05:00You espouse "indigenous, traditional designs witho...You espouse "indigenous, traditional designs without falling into phony historicism". Why do we need to stick with "traditional" design, especially for this site, which until yesterday had one of the few interesting modern building in town. Greensboro is the least architecturally adventurous town I have ever seen. Public building shouldn't be "indiginous, traditional designs", they should be progressive and inspirational. No one is inspired by a brick, neo-Georgian big-box. Also once man's "phony historicism" is undoubtably another man's "indiginous traditional design". Such as that faux craftsman neighborhood you wrote about admiringly a number of months ago.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00476420107840920990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159479.post-1117062871422990642005-05-25T18:14:00.000-05:002005-05-25T18:14:00.000-05:00I guess I don't understand. A friend of mine wants...I guess I don't understand. A friend of mine wants to open a shop in a "neighborhood" and can't find one, except Southside. She says State Street is a shopping neighborhood (although not a heckuva lot of housing), which is where her shop is now. She'd like a newer, younger neighborhood. If the BI property is mixed use (is it?), won't this be that sort of neighborhood without being a "fake" downtown, which isn't such a bad thing because not everyone can live in/near downtown? When do we in the burbs get to walk to shopping? What's it going to take?Greensboro Teach-Inhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17862604093196715606noreply@blogger.com