Thursday, June 28, 2012

I fear the homogeneity of the bland.

O.K. So yesterday's post may have been a little harsh. But my gentle nudges don't seem to get anywhere.

I've always liked Chuck, and I think the Downtowners mean well, but I simply don't understand their mindset. I'm an outsider, and it gives me an ability to be somewhat critical without fear of consequences that other merchants probably don't have.

Nevertheless, the substance of what I said yesterday still stands.

Thing is, the city already has the power to regulate the displays. Indeed, for 20 years they wouldn't allow anyone to put anything on the sidewalks without a ticket.

I fear that will be the end result of this brouhaha.

Yes, someone having a "garage sale" in front of their store is tacky. But I prefer a downtown that keeps a little of the funk; that has variety, and yes that even includes different levels of status.
I don't want downtown to become all slick and heterogeneous like, for instance, The Old Mill.

Obviously, there are lots of people who prefer that kind of superficial sophistication, but I think it loses some of its humanity.

4 comments:

H. Bruce Miller said...

"I don't want downtown to become all slick and heterogeneous like, for instance, The Old Mill."

I agree, although I think you meant to say "homogeneous."

On the other hand a downtown that looks like an Arab souk every day wouldn't be attractive either. Downtown needs to find the happy median.

Leitmotiv said...

Yeah, homogeneous is the word. Also, sterile comes to mind.

Anonymous said...

I long for Zany Daze.

Anonymous said...

Why not the Bend Bazaar? (Bizarre?)

Funky is good.