Saving a Community from a Blunder.

Above: I step in to avert a disaster from happening in my neighborhood... this is an example, given the context, of what to do. The alternative as proposed by the developer was a one story white box with a large red sign over the entrance.

There are way to many examples of what not to do when it comes to Architecture and Urban Planning.  My first series of examples, that I'll post on later, will focus on the home/property owner and will scale up with additional entries to projects that have an impact in the community.  From there I will focus on large projects that help define a cities image.

Architectural magazines and public buzz always centers around what's the greatest works being produced today and so it should, but I see in so many, perhaps the majority of other projects, a waste of time, money and energy on designs, and in some cases plain ignorance to the variety of issues Architects must comprehend and answer to, that, I feel it is time to say something.  

For instance, in my residential neighborhood, there are two projects, one complete and the other one stopped in the middle of construction where Property Owners ignored the code and zoning, leaving the community with empty buildings and I'm sure their wallets empty.  In another circumstance I witnessed a Property Owner convert a beautiful brick building with large windows into a white dryvited, small windowed condos that looked more like a 1960's 'Project'.  

In a last example quick example, I was able to step in where a Property Owner was selling the rights to a corner lot next to a public park, to a pharmacy who's only interest was to build a 1 story white box.  With some quick sketches, I was able to convince the Property Owner that he could make more money and improve the neighborhood at the same time.  Above are the examples of that effort.  Did the Developer say 'thanks for the suggestions'... no.  But at least I can, along with the rest of the neighborhood, enjoy our community without a eyesore.

Regarding the 'corner lot' project, during the first community meeting about the project the community was totally up in arms.  But after taking my suggestions and representing to the community, there was silence in the audience.  It was quite a turn around of opinion and the Developer almost looked stunned afterward.