urban planning

This is what most of downtown Ann Arbor has looked like, since well before I was born. (Well, ok, the trees are newer, but the buildings.......)





The anti-sprawl, downtown-density mavens are prevailing, and the character of my town is changing. I mean -- I'm as much against sprawl as anyone but......

I am not thinking I am down with this more-than-double height...... (Note that I stood in essentially the same place, facing more north for the pic above, and more south for this next one.)





I am very clear that this





Will only lead to more of this



which I abominate.



I am also quite positive I am not in favor of this.




I lived in the second-tallest building in town for many years. (This one is the tallest.)

I loved living in a building that was uniquely tall -- I lived on the top floor for most of the time I was there, and no one could see me through my open windows unless I stood right by them.

One gets a remarkable view of the weather from an aerie like that. I loved watching it come and go........

But tall buildings like that change the landscape. They block the sun. They generate wind. They are very unpleasant for pedestrians.

I like my human-scale, walkable town.

I think the "urban planners" are trying to turn my town into Detroit. I hate that......