[Winona Online Democracy]
----- Original Message ----- From: "Chuck Dillerud" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "online democracy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: 24 juillet, 2003 22:09 Subject: Re: [Winona] Walmart > [Winona Online Democracy] > >............................. > I surely second much of what Phil has to say in his closing paragraph > regarding the community calling the shots as to the resulting character of > any form of land development. .................... and, in Minnetonka they refused to >conform to even minor local requirements that would modify their site design >and store architecture to create character in keeping with the city's standards. >...................... > Another example of WalMart reasonably fitting ( and architecturally > benefiting, or at least not degrading) the host community is that of Eden > Prairie...............the store does fit the community, and surely is a departure >from the usual WalMart edifice. ----- Response ----- Unfortunately, Winona has no standards when it comes to architecture, site design, or urban planning. Case in point: the new Riverview Business Center. Although not the retail type of box, it's a big plain box, and situated in a highly visible location at the Riverview Drive entrance to downtown. It is definitely a building that is better to be looking out of than at. But you want to be looking towards the river, because the view towards downtown is dominated by weeds and piles of trash. For an advocate of downtown revitalization, the prospect of having the Menards / Wall-mart complex built utilizing quality architectural and streetscaping concepts poses a dilemma. Would better design there lead to a faster exodus of retail shops from downtown? I had hoped that the Grand Excursion preparations would stimulate a heightened appreciation of downtown Winona's potential. But if landscaping improvements were to be implemented, they should have been started by now. Instead, it's the usual neglect and the spraying of the riverfront vegetation with herbicides and leaving the dead plants standing. If any of you are interested in landscape gardening, check out the WSU campus mall and surrounding lots and lawns. The students are gone, so there is lots of parking nearby. Also, someone has put a lot of work into the street boulevard along side of ZaZa's across from campus. If you are of the opinion that the rail line and sidings makes it impossible to do anything similar on our downtown riverfront, visit Farmington. That small town has a main rail line going through downtown, and they have been able to have it landscaped with some sculpture also added. John N. Finn _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
