Serious Discussion-Stress and Psych Disorders- Page 12

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 12:47pm

Sounds like a stupid idea to replicate a palace.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 12:49pm

I also questioned Dresden's rebuilding of their destroyed church from WWII. I thought it being left as a ruin would point to the poignancy of the destruction of war.

[CostumeMistress]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 12:54pm

"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!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 1:03pm

St. Malo in the north of France is a beautiful example of the rebuilding of a town that was 80% destroyed by bombs during World War 2.

Here is an image of old St. Malo:



And here is St Malo today:

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 1:05pm

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

[Elphaba]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 1:45pm

oh I can relate Bed, as I believe the Castro theater in San Francisco is the last of the grand old theaters there...thank God it was saved

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 3:06pm

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?

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 3:10pm

Or dorms. NYU has been buying up all this property. And it's not going to use as classrooms or anything. Just dorms.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 3:15pm

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...

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 3:17pm

The old Palladium dance club and the old German Luchows were bought, demolished, and turned into dorms.

And yet, classes are cramped...

Hmmm....

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 3:18pm

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

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 3:21pm

any thoughts on what we in NY are calling the Lollipop Building? Which was denied landmark status and the facade is being radically realtered for the new tenant, which will be a museum?

[Stagedoor2]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 3:44pm

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.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 3:49pm

C - Was this a warehouse? Looks rather plain.

SD2 - the exterior is awful, but I love the interior. It is a great place to watch the Bears.

Did you see the current changes to Wrigley in the Tribune today?

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 3:52pm

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.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 3:54pm

SD2 - speaking of old and new. I was in the Lyric Buiding on Monday to go to the old deli on the third floor. I cannot recall the old name, but there were barrels of pickles, etc. Now it is worse than a school cafeteria and called Market Creations. Do you remember a place called Jack's Deli - I think it was in a building which is now Block 37. (View Blocker.)

[Elphaba]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 4:02pm

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.

[Stagedoor2]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 4:14pm

Had to run errands at lunch so I didn't get to read the paper, but I'll look for the Wrigley changes tonight. I've seen the preliminary sketches/plans so hopefully this isn't anything too drastic. Again, this is one where I go back and forth. I love the atmosphere of Wrigley Field and used to live in the neighborhood (7 minutes from my front door to my seat) so I want to keep it unique. But I also have an understanding of what the Tribune company is going through trying to add seats and would bring in more revenue without hurting the surrounding environs. Then there's the issue of the buildings across both Sheffield and Waveland charging for their rooftop views. But that is a topic for another day.

I don't remember Jack's Deli, but I've only been in Chicago since the late 80's -- I've always known it as Block 37.

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 9:14pm

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.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 10:27pm

Those in Chicago - take my tour. It is written from the heart of landmarks!

[CostumeMistress]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 9:29am

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

[NYadgal]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 10:40am

*waits with CostumeMistress*

Any suggestions?

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 10:45am

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.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 11:21am

Body image/Nutrition/Weight/Overweight

Does society tell us how we "should" look?
Does this lead to objectification of our bodies?

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 11:25am

I'm FAT! I blame GQ!