Comments on BlogStamford: Build a Great Building

The idea that people who want to preserve historic...

2009-08-03T17:11:03.957-04:00

The idea that people who want to preserve historic buildings have to be inherently anti-development is laughable (although I will grant you that some are). Sprawl, traffic, pedestrian-unfriendliness, bad design AND vaporizing the city's architectural history are all part of the same problem.
The rectory is not worth preserving just for the sake of keeping the old and resisting the new. It is part of the spirit of the city - not just its religious spirit, but its architectural, historical and social spirit, its secular soul - something that no one parish or other property owner should be able to cut pieces away from without providing something extremely valuable in return.
No one is saying, don't build on the site. They are saying, before you build - or as an integrated part of your plan - find a way to save and restore this valuable and rare remaining piece of Stamford's long-term identity.
Certainly you are right that whatever goes there ought to be of superb design. Preservationists and fans of good urban design at least want to know that if it can't be saved, it's because the development replacing it will add great things to the city. Does Randy Salvatore's plan really do that? If he is going to build something of average design quality (mostly a function of cost and the market), does the city have to say yes because the parish has allowed things to develop into an emergency?
Yes, it is private property and it has financial value and the parish needs the money.
But as History buff said, there have been plans that would have saved the rectory and allowed lucrative, or at least profitable, development. The parish has to take responsibility for failing to seize those opportunities. The city and the people of Stamford have to take responsibility for not valuing their history enough to put money into preserving it.
There ought to be a way smart financial, preservationist, and urban planning minds can come together to find a way to preserve this building and develop the site - even intensely develop it - in a way that builds on all the great things that have happened recently in Stamford without sacrificing this rare remaining tangible piece of downtown's history.

History Buff - My problem with the Historical Pres...

2009-08-03T07:51:18.306-04:00

History Buff - My problem with the Historical Preservation movement is they have often divorced themselves from commentary on anything currently being built. There are far too few voices about sprawl, cartoon looking one story fast food joints, seas of parking lots, big boxes, etc, unless they actually threaten something old. Its a noble goal to save historic buildings - but only if its part of some broader vision of civic design, aesthetic beauty, and function.

Actually, not "all" proposed developemen...

2009-08-02T15:34:20.412-04:00

Actually, not "all" proposed developement project for the site were big or tall. An appropriately sized project was proposed in the 80's and involved saving the rectory.

Also, there is a stong Stamford connection to the architect of the Rectory, H Hudson Holly. His family was early settlers of Stamford and his ancestors are buried in the cemetery. An amazingly beautiful victorian mansion designed by him, the Greystone, was obliterated to make way for the mall in the center of town.

The historid rectory was built to complement its site and to last for centuries -- hardly the same can be said for the hideous building that will replace it which will be build to minimze costs and maximize profits -- in the short term.

I echo Eric Cartman on this one...

2009-08-02T01:30:26.251-04:00

I echo Eric Cartman on this one...

You should contact the bizymoms Stamford community to get your blog featured to their large mom community. I am sure they would love to read your posts.

There is a form on their expert page, http://www.bizymoms.com/experts/index.html </a

Both buildings are old and the current design look...

2009-07-29T16:07:13.362-04:00

Both buildings are old and the current design looks terrible! Putting something nice would be reasonable (sounds like uncool). I think of New York City with Historic right next to new in many places, we can't do that?
The parish hall is not historic and very ugly ( it was built after both the church and rectory) and that should definitely be replaced.

You just introduced me to my new favorite website,...

2009-07-29T11:54:43.043-04:00

You just introduced me to my new favorite website, You Just Made My List. Bye-bye, productivity!

Stop being so frickin' reasonable!

2009-07-28T21:40:06.266-04:00

Stop being so frickin' reasonable!

Comments on BlogStamford: Build a Great Building

The idea that people who want to preserve historic...

History Buff - My problem with the Historical Pres...

Actually, not "all" proposed developemen...

I echo Eric Cartman on this one...

You should contact the bizymoms Stamford community to get your blog featured to their large mom community. I am sure they would love to read your posts. There is a form on their expert page, http://www.bizymoms.com/experts/index.html </a

Both buildings are old and the current design look...

You just introduced me to my new favorite website,...

Stop being so frickin' reasonable!

You should contact the bizymoms Stamford community to get your blog featured to their large mom community. I am sure they would love to read your posts.

There is a form on their expert page, http://www.bizymoms.com/experts/index.html </a