Towers of Power

Stamford Talk mentioned last week a friend complaining about the circular "towers of death” that sit behind UBS. While that description may be a little harsh for a place that offers much needed centrally located affordable housing to hundreds downtown, there is no denying the building themselves are pretty damn ugly. I always thought they had “this is what 1960 thinks 1980 will look like” feel.

In any case, there are plans to raze the northern tower and replace it with a mixed use development called Tresser Square. Combining the tower spot with a the adjacent Church parking lot would give ample space for three residential towers, plus some much needed ground level retail that would include a “green” grocer and a health club.

The money from the sale of that tower would be used to renovate the other two and keep them affordable for another 30 years. Down one tower, but stuck with the other two for another 30 years? Elsewhere in the city high density public housing projects are being demolished are being replaced with several spread out, lower density developments that are mixed with market rate units. For instance Fairfield Court on the West Side was torn down and replaced with townhouses nearby and the new, nice looking brick building next to the government center. The New York Times in describing a similar revitalization effort of Southfield Square on the West Side sums up the philosophy.

''Mixed'' is the operative word in this approach to the problem. Mixed income levels of tenants; mixed public and private financing; mixed types and sizes of apartments, town houses and single family homes; a mix of architectural details, building materials and colors; and a mix of rental and owned units are producing lively neighborhoods where ugly ''projects'' once stood in isolation and hopelessness.

Too bad the other two towers are set to meet a similar fate.