Trouble finding the right words to describe city hall addition, but let's start with 'unforgettable remarkable'
Unforgettably remarkable.
I am trying to devise an appropriate two-word descriptive phrase (such as the above) that sums up my reaction when I view the new city hall, but I find I need help.
So far I have chosen words such as: breathtakingly, outstandingly and incredibly for the first word. But the second word eludes me. So far I have only come up with: horrendous, grotesque and cheap-looking. In addition I cannot imagine any piece of sculptural art that will grace this structure adequately. The statement it makes is already so far over the top.
My most deeply abiding wish would be that each person on the committee that chose this design be required to have a nice large multi-image photographic view of their selection on constant view in their offices to remind them of what they have done. George J. Valenta Ann Arbor
Comments
mike from saline
Tue, Mar 2, 2010 : 6:16 p.m.
How does the old saying go? "You may not get the kind of leadership you want, but you'll get the kind of leadership you deserve".
Moose
Tue, Mar 2, 2010 : 8:47 a.m.
Here in the midwest, we value function over form. We eschew fancy and disdain anything that puts on "airs" and tries be something that is isn't. And most of all we don't spend our hard earned money foolishly or spend money we don't have. We value our history and our culture. We save for a rainy day. Our values are make do or do without. Instead we go into debt for an ugly piece of cra... junk.
The Picker
Mon, Mar 1, 2010 : 2:58 p.m.
How about the Factory on Fifth. The AIA is responsible for many of these monstrosities, they are the association which all these so called architects belong to, and encourage each other to think inside the box(literally) Cheap, Boxy, and Dull, Its amazing how many of these boxes are being build worldwide. It would fit in nicely with a Soviet era apartment house.
uawisok
Mon, Mar 1, 2010 : 12:04 p.m.
how about "monumetal bonded albatross"??
Freemind42
Mon, Mar 1, 2010 : 8:47 a.m.
Wasted Money or, in four words, not the stadium bridge.
belboz
Mon, Mar 1, 2010 : 8:32 a.m.
Horrible.. For a city that hosts one of the largest Art Fairs in the country, houses one of the finest Universities in the World, and a group of citizens that are very proud of themselves - this is very dissapointing. Ann Arbor City Dismall....
annarbor
Mon, Mar 1, 2010 : 7:49 a.m.
It is glaringly apparent that no woman had anything to do with that hideous design.... Thus, it further explains why a urinal is being erected in place of a fountain. With all the aluminum attached, it also reminds me of a double-wide trailer...
The Picker
Mon, Mar 1, 2010 : 7:48 a.m.
Yes folks, thats an addition to the existing City Hall. When we move in to the new addition, we will spend a bundle to remodel the old bldg. I wonder if that work is part of the budget or are those cost yet to be sprung on us? Inquiring minds wanna know!
racerx
Mon, Mar 1, 2010 : 1:51 a.m.
Hey, wonder if that $21K position for 6mos. art committee person or whatever had a vote in the art work from the German artist. Weren't these the same council person talking about losing art in the community, but chose to find someone "outside" the community to fund?
javajolt1
Sun, Feb 28, 2010 : 9:59 p.m.
How about...."City Government run amok" Clearly this is representative of the high steem in which we hold city administration...certainly higher than filling potholes and plowing snow.
MjC
Sun, Feb 28, 2010 : 8:29 p.m.
Um, er... I think we just call it "City Hall"
st.julian
Sun, Feb 28, 2010 : 7:07 p.m.
I would suggest the appropriate classification would be "remarkably consistent with the worst trailer trash industrial warehouse space". any art work should be done by one of the many talented artist that live, work, and pay taxes in Michigan. City council can best be descirbed as arrogance flying in the face of reality
bruceae
Sun, Feb 28, 2010 : 12:20 p.m.
Great, so on the same day in Annarbor.com we have an article about the city who can't play it's bills and wants to raise taxes and then we have an article about the new monument to excess they are building downtown. Am I the only one in this town that thinks it's time to get rid of these people making these decisions and get people in there that can manage a budget? I don't care what political party they are from I just want people that can manage with what they have.
RU4A2
Sun, Feb 28, 2010 : 12:09 p.m.
Out House!
Regular Voter
Sun, Feb 28, 2010 : 12:03 p.m.
For what we pay these bums (see chart on Ryan Stanton's adjacent story) it ought to be an elegant and functional masterpiece; we aren't getting what we're paying for fellow taxpayers. And the only people who can make anything change is we the voter getting out this fall and getting rid of these boorish incompetents.
AlphaAlpha
Sun, Feb 28, 2010 : 12:01 p.m.
'Inappropriate'
RUKiddingMe
Sun, Feb 28, 2010 : 11:23 a.m.
Craig Lounsbury's is perfect, although we'd have to hyphenate "taxpayer-funded" to keep to the 2 word rule. Does anyone know what is planned for the OLD city hall building and land? Who's going to pick up the apparently over-priced lease payment on that? From what I've read, it's a crumbling leaking deathtrap.
CareyJernigan
Sun, Feb 28, 2010 : 10:37 a.m.
It does not reflect the character of the city and does not appear to be "green" at all. I hope to God it is not an addition to the original city hall. I thought the existing structure would be taken down when the new building was complete. Interesting to note the lack of significant setbacks.
annarborgirl77
Sun, Feb 28, 2010 : 9:54 a.m.
I'm not sure my choices would be allowed on this post so I will let you guess. I am stilled dumbfounded that taxpayers are funding an artist from another country to design this monstrosity when we have so many talented local artists and landscape designers and architects. I sure hope LOCAL builders and landscape firms will be hired to do the labor. Buy American, buy Michigan, buy Ann Ann Arbor!
Craig Lounsbury
Sun, Feb 28, 2010 : 9:08 a.m.
how about "taxpayer funded". Then each of us who chipped in can decide whether our money was well spent.
Julie
Sun, Feb 28, 2010 : 8:49 a.m.
Hm. I kinda like it.