that building doesn't look that bad. $133 million dollars of taxpayer money to renovate a building? are they completely retarded?
As far as making the city look nicer, how about they tear down those grain mills on waterfront. And paint the Fremont and Marquam bridges too, those things are in dire need of cleanin and paintin. I just did a quick google image search for Marquam bridge, and this page came up http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?a=24798&c=27928 check out some of the links on the right.
Another thing they could do to "beautify" Portland, is move Portlandia to a man-made Island in the middle of the Willamette. Or maybe even at the mouth (although that's a bit far and no one would see it).
Rather than painting the Marquam, tear it down and put the freeway in a tunnel under the river. That's my beautification pipe dream. Nice set of photos in the link you provided. barfo
I think she's a little small for that, isn't she? She'd look more like a mermaid than the statue of Liberty. barfo
You are welcome. The Marquam and the Fremont are the two ugliest bridges on the Willamette (in Portland). That late 60's and early 70's concrete look is hard to swallow. Another idea. Maybe they should invest some of the "stimulus" money in burying all the power lines in the city. Imagine how much prettier the views would be if power lines were buried? How about widening I-5 right when you come into Oregon from Washington? Or maybe widening 26, so it's not a fucking parking lot? Or here's a really good way to beautify Portland. Pay my student loans.
Maybe put her at Tom McCall waterfront then. Somewhere where people can actually see her, or appreciate the fact that we have the (at one time) second tallest bronze statue in the world. Or maybe it was US. Or maybe it was the 2nd tallest bronze statue named Portlandia. She is 34 feet tall (vs, by comparison, the SoL, which is 151 feet tall).
I don't mind the fremont design so much as the overwhelming size. The marquam, however, is horrid in every way. I'd be for that. Especially if they did it this way, which would put some people to work: Well, they are widening 26, although it seems to be a 20-year project. I'm not sure it will help. barfo
its a throwback to 1980s corporate lifestyle. when someone sees that building, they know important biz is going on, not some hippies designing ads.
I know the info for that picture says Barbur extention and 4th (or something)..I wonder if that's the hill near Burlinggame Fred Meyer, or right before Barbur Y.
It's a government building. They deal in socialism and fascism, not any of that good corporate stuff. barfo
It seems like since they called it "4th avenue extension", it should be closer in than Burlinggame. But it is hard to tell from the picture. barfo
If you wish to beautify Portland, try bringing more corporate headquarters downtown. Nothing beautifies a downtown like a vibrant downtown filled with workers.
nothing stankafies a downtown like the pungent odor of the homeless and panhandlers who dominate Portland's sidewalks and pioneer square. Look, if I wanted to smell something that resembles unwashed taint, matted arm-pit hair and ass crack juice, I'd go to Eugene. *but julius, how do you know what all that smells like? HCP told me.
The homeless and vagrants don't bother me a whit. If they're ignorant of the kind of assistance they could receive, then being in a place with so many resources is helpful. If they simply have made the choice to be homeless, then I say enjoy all that Portland has to offer.
