Plats and Parcels
Bay View Boos Building
Some pan the design of proposed Bay View "gateway" project. Meanwhile, the Dover Street School project hits a snag.
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Some pan the design of proposed Bay View "gateway" project. Meanwhile, the Dover Street School project hits a snag. Back to the full article.
Reading the comments to the Michael Horne article, it was abundantly clear that people who live in Bay View think that stretch of KK has some really special aesthetic value. Anyone want to explain why the residents think that way?
Personally, I’ve always thought KK looks like the downtown from some small city in the upper-midwest in that it is sort of stuck in the 1950s or early 60s. The storefronts are certainly better maintained than they were 10 years ago, but the facades aren’t very urban or interesting in and of themselves. The buildings are almost all 1-2 stories, which means the area stretches out so far that you lose the sense of walkability.
This is in no way to say I don’t like the businesses, people or spirit of Bay View, I just don’t think the architecture is built environment is noteworthy. I’ll be interested to hear the retorts from the vocal supporters of that neighborhood.
More residents on that stretch of KK, would add more walkers and increase the viability/visibility of many of those storefronts.
While there is a special aesthetic value of KK, who says it is an all or nothing argument? That seems wrongheaded.
I don’t think the Bay View community at large is against the development of a residential building on that corner. They just want one that fits better into the neighborhood, and one that doesn’t look like a Soviet fortress.
I always thought a neighborhood couldn’t complain if it was ugly, why should it try to improve? Same thing with crime, why do people in bad neighborhoods complain about it… they can’t expect safety there!
Patty is correct. We’re not a bunch of clannish goofs waging a war to defend an “aesthetic” ideal. As for the architecture on KK, yes, it’s generally low-profile, brick, and old-fashioned. So what? There’s something to be said for continuity and flow. Plus, Bay View is not a warehouse district where a new development like this could fit comfortably, a la the Third Ward or northern Walker’s Point.
TF had the operative phraseology here: continuity and flow. To have 2-3 blocks of 2 story, smaller sized buildings and then all of a sudden, what looks like, a huge monolith on the corner just looks odd. You need a neighborhood to look cohesive – even if that looks is “stuck in the 50’s or 60’s” as Hereiam described. A neighborhood that looks like a mishmash has no identity at all.
I am glad that people are looking at redeveloping that corner. The last time my husband and I walked past the Faust music shop we could actually smell the mildew coming out of it. You can only imagine what the interior is like. And while KK is a very walkable stretch, we do still need to maintain parking for those who come from outside the area. I’d like to see future proposals include a public parking component.
@TF I like that phrase “continuity and flow” as well. It is a good way to capture what Bay View has going for it.
The natural “Gateway” to Bay View from Downtown is as one passes under the Stewart St. railroad trestle where one encounters the purple Hamburger Mary restaurant, the multi-use Bayview Commons Condo building, Tradewinds framing, and the BP gas station.Nothing historical going on. The park on the east side of KK near Ward St. blocks most of the view of the proposed building until you are almost at the building site. To make businesses economically viable into the future, many of the buildings will need to add floors (height). Also, many of the building fronts are in need of remodeling, and there is really no consistency of building materials or architectural style. I believe the proposed building will add a considerable amount of economic opportunity to KK businesses and help spur further business and residential development along the adjacent streets. More residents in the area will attract more business.
How about an architectural transition structure to anchor the “Gateway” to Bay View instead of thinking of a building as the Gateway? Third ward has their archway. Even Glendale Historic area has arches. What about Bay View?