I read a speech presented by Don Fraser in Fall 1990 regarding the urban environment which I made reference to yesterday. It's long, 33 pages, which gives one the sense of importance good design and planning held in the mind of then Mayor. He offers 10 principle for Minneapolis Urban Design. Number #1 was that "bottom-line economic objectives of a project cannot be permitted to obscure or exclude principles of sound design and planning". He goes on to say that "the reality of private development projects dictates that 3 broad objectives take first priority." These are: "1) generation of cash flow, 2) appreciation of asset value, and 3) security of tax benefits". With that in mind, recall the furor over the new Ryan/Padilla Spear project on West River Road and what will be 11th Avenue. Does what we know of this project with its 287 surface parking spaces, its offensive design, and the process whereby it has been inflicted upon the public by such tyrannical means hold true to this first Fraser principle? Far be it from me to ascribe mythical proportions to our former mayor but I do agree with much of what he wrote in this speech. One of the obvious problems in the case of this project was the lack of coordination between planning dept.and MCDA and the absence of "guidelines and criteria" that would have come to bear much earlier in the timeline to develop the River Road area. What we are, or will be left with, is what we so often are left with in this city, a hodge-podge with little discernable cohesion that lends beauty to our natural environment. This is not just important to a 'clique of art snobs' as some might characterize those who express criticism of particular projects, it is important to everyone in our community. I read recently, I think in Linda Mack's article from Feb.'91 the opinion that beauty was of even greater importance to poorer people for they had less choice. So true. If you are rich, you can leave or visit other places of beauty that enrich the soul. That is double reason to insure we do not foul our own space. This whole exercise is an example of poor planning and no guiding vision with firm principles to which we can adhere at those times when we are tempted to forswear our intentions. One must recognize that nothing is immutable; things happen that change the course of events but that these "things happening" must be seen as aberrations rather than the normal course of events that we can predict with some degree of certainty and for which we can prepare. Sadly it appears that we are still learning those lessons. On the bright side, Guthrie Theatre's choice of an architect is a very good thing. I have only seen the Arab World Institute, which is an absolutely beautiful design on the Left Back of the Seine. Tim Connolly Ward 7 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/ _______________________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
