This will be the worst building in downtown if built this way. It is low and sprawling with a huge setback. It is ugly beyond beleif, and leaves no room for futere development on the remainging portion of the site. I'm just glad this is a coneptual design, I can only hope they make some changes. I would rather have an eternal parking lot than this.
I think the building itself looks very bland and most people driving by would forget about it within 2 minutes. The 7' concrete wall will make the thing seem like a bunker if you are walking past it on the sidewalk. If they build that it will be very disapointing.
They could have very well overbudgeted intentionally so that they could build a larger building than proposed. It helps to make the project sound less extravigant, because $45 million is an awful lot for 150,000 sq ft, Boji Tower only cost $19 million for 159,000 sq ft.
Boosting the size of a state building project after the funding was approved isn't unheard of, an example off the top of myy head is the Hall of Justice, I'd have to look at it again but it came in quite a bit more extravagent and expensive than it was funded for.
There is an article in the LSJ today about progress moving forwards with the MSP proposal. I just hope that they will not go forward with the current design. The last things we need are walls next to the sidewalk at Kalamazoo and Grand.
I have gone from eagerly awaiting this project to hoping it falls through. I can't get over how ugly this will be and how much permenant surface parking it will create.
I don't know. I think the proposal is pretty good looking. As for the wall, I'd rather see a wall that was designed to be there rather than concrete barricades added after the fact. Take a look at the recruiting centers & other military buildings between Saginaw and Oakland. Concrete barriers just aren't a good look at all.
It definitely would be worth it to at least voice your opinion at City Council. It would be nice to organize a group of people who are against the proposal and get some publicity about this proposal.
Comments
LMich and Hood-
Have you guys (or gals?) thought about speaking at city council about this?