Serious Discussion-Stress and Psych Disorders — Page 12

Sounds like a stupid idea to replicate a palace.

"The whole disappearance of apts. and proliferation of super-expensive condos is another topic I could go off on."

First off, DayDreamer, I read your whole post, so where's my martini? (I could use one this week, too; you have no idea.)

The apartments/condos issue is certainly not unique to big cities, I'm facing it in my college town. Older buildings are being torn down, and shining new gym-membership-and-pool-included condos are taking their place. It's becoming quite alarming, because students can't afford these places. It's almost to a point where the college stating its costs is deceptive. They'll tell you how much it is to live your first year (when you're required to live on campus), and give you a very accurate figure... but watch out when you try to move off-campus. There is affordable housing - if you're lucky enough to get to it quickly enough. Come on, folks, we're poor college students - we don't really have time to do laps in the pool, and we frankly don't need a gym because we walk flippin' everywhere.

But, this isn't a complete threadjack... The older buildings being torn down are absolutely charming. I really love the apartment I live in. It was built in the 50s and even though it shows signs of age, it's clean, and most of all, it's quiet!! These were built before the age of "let's find the most cost-efficient walls and therefore force neighbors to listen to each other's conversations." The little radiator in the corner, the HUGE tree outside my window, the solid limestone exterior that keeps us all VERY warm in the winter - these add to the place's charm and hominess. I would be hard-pressed to trade it for a brand-new sparkling-modern place, even if such a place were within my budget!

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I understand the need for growth, but do you think there's a way to find balance?

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Here's a related topic.
Columbia University is rather obviously trying to claim more land between the University grounds and their hospital in Washington Heights. Now, I wouldn't claim to know what they want to do with the properties once they actually own them, but there are some beautiful historic buildings between CU and the 160s on Broadway, including the old National Geographic building as well as some GORGEOUS buildings on Riverside.
Would there be anything stopping them from leveling it to create more school buildings or medical offices?

Wow. And they already charge such an unbelievable sum for the ratty old apartments they currently call dorms. One wonders what they'll charge for anything new they build...

Well, they clearly know where their sources of continual income are found...

I go back and forth on this issue, although I tend to side with the preservationists. But then I hear about prohibitive laws with regards to building improvements, etc. (mainly on residential structures) and I waffle back to siding with the developers.

As far as "adaptive reuse" goes, I point you to Soldier Field in Chicago. What was once a beautiful stadium is now, in my opinion, a monstrosity. It looks like a spaceship landed on the coliseum. I believe that there was even talk of revoking the building's landmark status because of the rennovation. I've not been inside the building so I can't comment on the interior, but the outside is awful. Again, my opinion.

It's just sad when this development happens and no attention is paid to maintaining the feel of the city/town.

RE: re-use, in DC they have done a very nice job at keeping the facades of old buildings/townhomes, and building a high-rise behind them, and in a cohesive way.

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East German Parliament Building aside (not East berlin Parliament Building), Americans have little sense of history, remember we've only bee around as a country for some 230 years....so I don't believe we have the same attitude as say Austria, England, etc who have been around a lot longer. The American way tends to be "instant gratification".......

and I totally agree Stagedoor, Soldier Field looks disgusting compared to how it looked when I lived there in the 1980's.

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I hope my computer lets me type this. One problem with restoration is the cost of the materials and craftman ship which you just can't get nowadays.

The one building I'm sad to see go is the Henry Miller theatre-the INSIDE of it. That decadence was delicious to me. I wish they had preserved it.

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*waits to see what today's topic will be...*

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Suggestions are COMPLETELY Welcome.
And I would just like to thank the posters on this thread. You guys have been great. No real jacks, no innuendo...it's been good. And refreshing.

I'm FAT! I blame GQ!