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What looked like a film crew was perched above Highway 44 on the Lafayette overpass this morning. From the slow down it caused, I wasn't the only one wondering what was going on.
"Everything is plastic," I thought to myself as I walked down the stairs.
I had just discovered that vinyl, plastic, whatever it is could be shaped and molded into anything, including faux wood decks. I was at my relatives St. Charles County home in one of the developments that offered that county's version of "urban", everything around me was plastic. The "wood" deck, the siding on the dwelling and garage, the street signs, the flag poles, the fencing...just about everything was kissed with the shiny sheen of plastic.
We took a tour of some of the display units in a southern mansion looking condo building inside the development. My mom kept remarking how nice the building was, I couldn't get past the garish awning, the poor proportions and lack of any real detail on the building. I wonder if my mom really meant to say "Oh, it's so new!"
The most shocking thing about the display were the price reductions. All the units in the building had discounted prices; some prices had been slashed by as much as $30,000. Apparently the owners who currently live in the building and purchased their units before the real estate meltdown aren't too pleased about the price reductions.
I had a nice visit, but I was glad to get back to St. Louis.
I had just discovered that vinyl, plastic, whatever it is could be shaped and molded into anything, including faux wood decks. I was at my relatives St. Charles County home in one of the developments that offered that county's version of "urban", everything around me was plastic. The "wood" deck, the siding on the dwelling and garage, the street signs, the flag poles, the fencing...just about everything was kissed with the shiny sheen of plastic.
We took a tour of some of the display units in a southern mansion looking condo building inside the development. My mom kept remarking how nice the building was, I couldn't get past the garish awning, the poor proportions and lack of any real detail on the building. I wonder if my mom really meant to say "Oh, it's so new!"
The most shocking thing about the display were the price reductions. All the units in the building had discounted prices; some prices had been slashed by as much as $30,000. Apparently the owners who currently live in the building and purchased their units before the real estate meltdown aren't too pleased about the price reductions.
I had a nice visit, but I was glad to get back to St. Louis.
Why are high school pranks now considered news for days on end? I can't wait until a dog pretends to be a cat, we'll have a weeks worth of "I-Team Paid For On Your Side Files" on our hands...probably a good helicopter chase and hit and run interviews for good measure.
Oh wait, I almost forgot about the requisite webpoll! Fooking awesome!
Oh wait, I almost forgot about the requisite webpoll! Fooking awesome!
I really dislike the Mansion House complex on Fourth Street. No one will ever convince me that there is some architectual value or interest in any of the Mansion House's 3 identical towers. The brown cladding is depressing & dated, the balconies that hang off the buildings ruin the lines of said buildings and the vertical blinds that hang in the windows make each tower look like a shabby hotel or dorm.
The retail space that fronts 4th street is also a problem. It's set too far back from the street and the area between the storefront and the street feels very...tunnel like, you don't feel connected to the streetscape. The fountain out front is pretty boring and underutilized, I guess that has something to do with the fact that it's in the middle of the entrance/exits of the complex's parking garage.
With all these faults built into the design, you'd think the management of the Mansion House complex would do something to spruce up its appearance, but no, not even that is done. The balconies need painting, there are no street trees and only a feeble, half-hearted effort appears to have been made to spruce up the area in front of the fountain, which I assume is the Mansion House's main entry. This space is the worst, with no relationship to the street, this area is nothing but a sea of concrete and cars...why put a fountain there?
One redeeming quality of Mansion House is its raised green space area. It's a nice, hidden refuge from the chaos and poor planning below.
The cleaning staff at the Mansion House also deserves credit. They do an excellent job of keeping the sidewalks litter free. Most days you won't find a spot of litter on the sidewalks in front of the MH.
I don't know, I just can't appreciate much about this development. It looks dated, but worst of all, the buildings themselves look tired. Despite that, I have a feeling if more thought was put into the aesthetics of the streetscape and pedestrian areas, Mansion House could look a lot better. I suppose it just takes a bit of money and a concerned building owner.
The retail space that fronts 4th street is also a problem. It's set too far back from the street and the area between the storefront and the street feels very...tunnel like, you don't feel connected to the streetscape. The fountain out front is pretty boring and underutilized, I guess that has something to do with the fact that it's in the middle of the entrance/exits of the complex's parking garage.
With all these faults built into the design, you'd think the management of the Mansion House complex would do something to spruce up its appearance, but no, not even that is done. The balconies need painting, there are no street trees and only a feeble, half-hearted effort appears to have been made to spruce up the area in front of the fountain, which I assume is the Mansion House's main entry. This space is the worst, with no relationship to the street, this area is nothing but a sea of concrete and cars...why put a fountain there?
One redeeming quality of Mansion House is its raised green space area. It's a nice, hidden refuge from the chaos and poor planning below.
The cleaning staff at the Mansion House also deserves credit. They do an excellent job of keeping the sidewalks litter free. Most days you won't find a spot of litter on the sidewalks in front of the MH.
I don't know, I just can't appreciate much about this development. It looks dated, but worst of all, the buildings themselves look tired. Despite that, I have a feeling if more thought was put into the aesthetics of the streetscape and pedestrian areas, Mansion House could look a lot better. I suppose it just takes a bit of money and a concerned building owner.
Some of the windows in my 18th century office building open, fortunately I sit next to some of them. We have the windows open today and, when everyone is quietly working, the city announces her presence. Some yearn for the peace and quiet of the country, I crave the sounds of a city.