(7th in a series of posts about 548 N. New St.)
What good is an English major? What skill do English majors have? One thing Prof Gadfly used to say is that English majors are excellent close readers. They read closely; they listen closely. Gadfly has tried to listen closely and carefully to the case for and agin’ 548 N. New. He’s structured the key voices in the case in a flowing narrative here. Can you discern the plot?
It would be worth the while if in each town there were a committee appointed,
to see that the beauty of the town received no detriment.
Henry David Thoreau c. 1862
Who’s in charge of beauty in Bethlehem?
Gadfly
Was there any thought given to the architectural design?
To fit in to the rest of the neighborhood?
Planning Commission member
We try to be sensitive to the surrounding area.
the developer
When modern design is actually done right we feel it not only
enhances it, not only complements it, but also enhances
the historic architecture.
the developer
This is invigorating type design.
the developer
We feel this is . . . the way things are headed.
the developer
We love design, we love Bethlehem, and we want to invest in Bethlehem.
the developer
Everything we have asked them to do and contribute for
they have agreed to.
City Planning Department staffer
Your project will change the streetscape in that block
that has existed for 100 years.
Bill Scheirer
Other than market demand, and other than you want to build it, how
do you justify changing the streetscape there, the historic
streetscape so dramatically?
Bill Scheirer
I’m kind of baffled by the developer’s characterization that this
modern building fits into the historic downtown
and complements it.
Kim Carrell-Smith
Historical architecture and historical streetscapes are economic drivers.
Kim Carrell-Smith
What I would like to see the developers answer specifically is how
does your architect, how do you see this building blending in
with this neighborhood?
Gadfly
And moving and growing and moving forward, I think the fact that
it’s not in the historical district something like that would increase
foot traffic in our downtown, would draw in the type of
clientele that we’re trying to have within our City.
Planning Commission member
It’s going to improve our overall outlook and image in terms of
where we’re going and moving toward.
Planning Commission member
I think the design is going to elevate the architecture in the
surrounding 70s-designed buildings in the future.
Planning Commission member
Moving forward I think this will infuse a lot of excitement into the area.
Planning Commission member
Architecture is very subjective, and, if nothing else, people who visit
Bethlehem will have something more to talk about.
Planning Commission member
I don’t do context.
Frank Gehry
World-class “starchitect” (star architect) — quoted by Jeff Speck
One of the things we’ve learned as new urbanists is that the prime ingredient
of urbanism is really public space and the public realm. So the urban plan comes
first and the building second. It becomes an issue of whether the building is a
monument or a piece of fabric. Then does this building dominate what’s in
place or does this building add to it or transform it?
New Urbanism architect Stefanos Polyzoides
Maybe the question should be, where and when does the
conversation about Beauty in Bethlehem take place, and
who is there when it does.
Gadfly
to be continued . . .
