Westminster Point Pleasant
Click for more photos:
https://17003rdave.blogspot.com/
Our Country is Depressed
There are many reasons for this pessimism. Part of it is the constant drum beat of "how terrible everything is." The political party that is out of power has an interest in telling everyone how bad things are. And 1/2 of the country believes it. And the party out of power changes every few years, so the negatives are from both sides.
Our environmental movement folks also believe that our country and the world are headed for environmental disaster, with global warming being a major concern. They also constantly tell us how close to doom we are.
And wars, patricularity the Russian Ukranian War, and challenges from North Korea, China, and the middle east cause constant worry.
Racial minorities are angry and demanding a better deal. And constantly telling people how bad things are.
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Wow, in writing this discussion I have succeeded in making myself depressed. I guess I will change my vote.
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But on further reflection, I change back to optimism. I realize that the political party out of power will always be saying how bad things are now. Knowing that makes me tend to dismiss their complaints.
We have made tremendous strides in environmental improvements. Our rivers and streams were badly polluted fifty years ago, and are now much better becasue of the enormous amount of money and regulations that we accomplished. Our air quality is much better.
We are making great strides in green energy. Renewable energy continues to rise and will continue.
The world is becoming more affluent. More people are leading more affluent lives. Health care continues to improve.
We face rising threats from Russia and China. But nothing so bad as what we faced in World War II and during the cold war.
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Ok, I am optimist again. A pox apon the nattering naybobs of negativity ( A great line by Spiro Agnew.)
Will bad things happen? Of course they will. But the trend line is much more positive that what is pushed by our modern day Cassandras.
South Suburban Airport - Chicago
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Hands Up!!!
Hands Up !!! - Don't Shoot !!!!
When it was time to go back I thought be fun to take a sampan back instead of the bus. So I waved a passing sampan down and negotiated a ride back to Kowloon. The sampan Captain spoke no English and my Chinese consisted of xiè xie, (shey shey, thanks) but I thought he figured out what we wanted and we did the deal. I hoped he understood that we wanted to go back to Kowloon. This was not a tourist boat, just a regular sampan who happened to sail past.
Beth wanted no part of this risky deal and said she would take the bus back. "You don't want to miss this", I said, and Dave and I each grabbed an elbow and shanghaied her onto the boat as she protested. We had a lovely boat ride as the sun slowly set and the day turned into night. It was beautiful and I was pleased that I had shanghaied Beth. But the trip took longer than I thought and it became quite dark.
Then a big patrol boat came out of the night with their searchlight blinding us, with M-16 rifles aimed at us. The sampan Captain raised his hands and we followed suit. The Captain ducked into the sampan and we wondered what he was up. I hoped he was not coming out with an AK-47. But he just brought out his papers and they let us go on our way.
I think they were trying to stop smuggling or infiltration but am not sure. It seemed to me they were acting a bit serious for just smuggling. This happened a total of three times. Each time the patrol boat came up with searchlights and M-16's aimed directly at us.
Beth was not overly happy with the rifles and still berates me. The ingrate - after I took her on a lovely, impromptu, interesting cruise! You just can't please everyone. I figure any time someone aims a rifle at you and you don't get shot it is a good thing. And three times! It made for a memorable story.
I took the photos of sampans from a previous diplomatic trip to Vietnam in 1970. It was another diplomatic effort to win the hearts and minds of the people. The sampans looked a lot like our Hong Kong sampan.
Hot Springs, Arkansas
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Thanks to my high School Classmate Sue for sending us this article. Very interesting.
Check out the abandoned modern art hotel. There is an interesting video about what Ark. college interior design students have envisioned for the abandoned buildings in Hot Springs - buildings that had once been hotels back in the '20's. Many of these buildings you have seen. I got this from my nephew. I think the two buildings on Park Ave he referred to were The Vault - an old bank turned into a restaurant on the first floor and a jazz bar on the second floor. The other building is The Waters - a restaurant on the first floor and an open air bar on the second floor. Both restaurants are quite pricey for my budget - like somewhere between $100-200 per person, depending on what you eat and drink.
I have not been to the Brave New Restaurant.
Craig, since you were a city planner, I thought you might enjoy the students vision.
Sue
Interesting Concept Plan for a Domed Soldier's Field in Chicago
Chicago proposes a major redevelopment of Soldier's Field in an effort to keep the Chicago Bears in the City of Chicago. The Bears plan to build a new stadium in suburban Arlington Heights.
Click to view the article and video:
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The illustration below is the concept that the Bears are pursuing a new stadium in suburban Arlington Heights, Illinois on the site of a former racetrack. The Bears are under contract to play in Soldier's Field until 2033 so a new stadium will not be built for some time.
Click to read the article:
https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/chicago-bears-new-stadium-arlington-park-soldier-field-nfl/
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HIGH-RISE STADIUM
It is widely recognized that a domed stadium is a desirable attribute for U.S. cities. Chicago has long sought an enclosed stadium. The high costs of the construction of domed stadiums have thus far precluded development. The purpose of this essay is to outline a new type of stadium that can be constructed in high-density downtown areas.
As any developer knows, increased density often brings higher revenues. More units per acre is a basic developmental rule to spread land and infrastructure costs across a higher number of tenants. This rule, however, is usually ignored in stadium development. Most stadiums are simple playing fields surrounded by a few stories of seating, which are seldom used. It is, therefore, difficult to develop new stadiums in downtown areas. They are generally constructed in lower-cost areas outside the city central business district, with heavy public subsidies.
The recent construction of sky boxes in Soldier's Field illustrates a simple increase in density. The rental rate of the sky boxes is substantial. The sky boxes themselves provide a comfortable way of observing events. The initial development of one story of sky boxes was followed by a second story. The success of the sky boxes points the way for future stadiums.
Clustering modern high-rise buildings around a stadium would permit the interior side of the buildings to function as sky boxes. The buildings would combine traditional seating around the playing field with high-rise office, commercial, or residential development on all sides of the stadium. A hotel and convention center would be an obvious use for part or all of the buildings surrounding the stadium. Office space in the structure would become the ultimate status address, with commensurate rents.
The building may or may not be enclosed at the roof. The structure of the roof is also in question. It could be left open, be a dome, a pyramid, or rentable floor space. The surrounding building could be cantilevered toward the center, reducing the size and cost of the roof.
The ultimate height of the structures around the stadium depends on market conditions and on how high the structure can be before the view of the field is compromised. Lower space would be the most desirable since it would be closest to the playing field. All interior tenants of the buildings would have an excellent view of the playing field below.
In concept, the enclosed stadium is similar to the enormous atriums now in vogue in hotels. The density derived makes possible stadiums in high-cost downtown locations. The actual footprint of the development need be no greater than a conventional stadium, which is little larger than a city block.
The new stadium should be open to the public and function as a park atrium when not in use. Concerts, plays, lectures, etc could be conducted. The stadium would thus become a focal point for activity in a high-density downtown location.
A high-rise stadium in downtown Chicago is feasible. It should be built adjacent to or in the Loop so that the existing parking, transit, and service business are used. The downtown location would enhance the loop and central city. It should be constructed.
Canals in the USA
An amazing number of canals were constructed in the United States. The advent of rail transport doomed many of them.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_canals_in_the_United_States
https://americancanalsociety.org/the-canals-of-indiana/
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Westminster Point Pleasant Click for more photos: https://17003rdave.blogspot.com/
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