News from The Roanoke Times -Building's facade will be relocated and reassembled
Did you ever hit a point where you just dont know if you have the strength to comprehend the stupidity anymore?
You know, one of those really frustrating days. Well Mr. Stout & Co. are quickly turning into that proverbial wall I keep bashing my head into.
A great big wall o' stupid.
From the article: Motley assured board members that the art museum would work with them to flesh out the remaining details. He also reminded them that reworking the proposal would further delay the art museum, which is scheduled to break ground in September.
"I think we need some tolerance with the details of the project so we can move forward," Motley said. The architects must still seek a building permit from the city to demolish the remaining parts of the brick building.
Apparently Motley is another architect working with Stout. And a whiner. Reworking the proposal would further delay... Sheesh!! Maybe if you had done it right in the first place, instead of bringing one of your failed designs from somewhere else and giving it to us.
Yes, you heard me. At this point Im having a very hard time believing that our AMWV design is original for Roanoke. I have a feeling it was made for someplace else, who was not impressed and went with another designer.
"We need tolerance with the details..." WHAT? You ask for tolerance? THESE ARE THE RULES SIR, AND YOU WILL PLAY BY THEM.
Go ahead Stout & Co. Keep it up with your attitudes, you'll get far.
Oh - and I'm going to keep saying it till someone gets it..
STOUT SAID $46 MILLION. NOT A CONSTRUCTION QUOTE, JUST A NUMBER HE CAME UP WITH. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
Im am half tempted to file suit agsint the Architectural Review Board for Breach of Public Trust, mainly for being so dense as to actually bicker about the details not being done properly when they rebuild-move-whatever Lonesome Dove.
Heres a secret for ya.. If ya dont move it, it dont have to be rebuilt.
Again, from the article: As part of the approval, the architects pledged to replicate the building's original material in exact size, color and texture, saying that restoration with the original bricks would be too costly.
So they are going to spend good money to get worn bricks that look exactly like the bricks they are removing.
What a crew of winners we have here.
"They also promised to have the structural plans and details of the building documented before demolition for archival purposes, as requested by the board."
No, not requested by the board.. THE LAW! Yes, I know - Im the nut who actually reads these arcane things - but yes, it is the law. Not a request, a compliance. This is why I dont go to the ARB meetings, I would be arguing just as much with the Board as I would with Mr. Stout.
:::::Using old photographs of downtown Roanoke, the architects created a design that meets the character of the period in which the building was constructed. Motley described their overall approach to the design as using "standard materials, period coloring and simple shapes" to replicate the building that was once there.
Oh - are they going to use Lego blocks, or Lincon Logs? Esplain to me why we need a design that meets the charicter of the period in which the building was constructed? I thought we were rebuilding an existing structure? Mommy, Im scared... these men talk like tax-attorneys.
One last thing - then I'll be done with todays visit with the Stupid Family:
A word to the AMWV staff and backers - Your architect is out of ideas. "Stout also discussed plans for the first-floor storefront, offering suggestions about what could fill the glass span. Among some of his ideas were a display case for event posters or a series of renderings showing how the facade was moved and reassembled."
Apparently Mr. Stout has been to Tanglewood Mall lately, where across from Steinmart is an empty storefront, which is used at various times of year as display windows for posters, right now is the Cave Spring recreation field idea.
If this goes on much longer, Im going to start sending "Get Well Cards" to the various boards and committies that have to deal with this crew.
Well, now my day is ruined...
4 comments:
Excellent reading. What I question, even though I'm into Historic preservation, is what is so important about this building to begin with historicly, other than the fact I've eaten their with the early morning drunks? (lol)
The problem with and in Roanoke is we never get it right or do it right the first time around.
All merits of the museum itself aside, tear down the whole damn block and do it right. To me any new Art Museum should be situated by itself, on a city block of landscape with trees, green grass, benches, water fountain and so forth.
The other posiitive of the ARB breaking its own guidelines is that now every homeowner in the H-1 and H-2 Historic Districts will have an argument to do whatever they damn well want to do since Von Richert will never have a argument again before City Council in a homeowener asking for an exception to the rules.
Well, actually in the bigger picture - the building is historically important as there has been a restaurant in that building since (I believe - I'd have to go back and check my sources) the building was built. It was originally 1 of 2 which serviced a hotel which formerly was on that site (not Billy's Ritz, the other end of the street)and also was associated with what could have been called Roanokes First Rest Stop. There was a large gas station, with parking space for cars and horse-buggies, and easy access (sadly gone now) to the N&W railroad station via glass & steel pedestrian bridge.
We have lost so much of our history, and never replaced it with anything useful. At least a parking lot still holds promise for the future. Something good can come of it. Once this Stainless Steel Resume goes up, the site will be useless - too expensive to tear down, too costly to keep up.
Like I said - this will not end well.
Oh - and Bill made that same point about his house, being able togo before the city and do what he wants. He was thinking something in a nice stainless steel siding.
Let me see if I have this right...
More bonds issued, $30million in contributions (I don't believe it), property tax breaks (like you said above)to bring in more suckers to whack in 10 years to rebuild a city that was taxed "away" years ago.
Did I get that right?
if you understood it, then yes.
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