Should buildings blend in?

[Kyle Mitchell]

There has been talk of creating aesthetic design restrictions for commercial buildings to create "continuity".

Before I patched and painted the upper part of my west wall, it was on its way to blending in and have much continuity with many other buildings downtown.

I could have just used a single, subtle, neutral earth tone, but I like color.

I was wondering how others feel about the color issue.

[dog]

I like the way ottawas downtown blends in. Are we discussing something similar?

[Kyle Mitchell]

No, nothing at all similar. We are discussing downtown Streator, where vacancy rates are much higher and property values are much lower.

[northsider]

I think the ideas addressed in the comprehensive plan for downtown should be followed. Others, perhaps looking to get a rise out of the city, obviously feel otherwise.

[Kyle Mitchell]

Are there ideas about color addressed in the comprehensive plan?

My painting wasn't an attempt to get a rise out of the city; I just painted what I wanted.

[helencrump]

Oct 7, 2013 16:59:06 GMT -6 Kyle Mitchell said:

There has been talk of creating aesthetic design restrictions for commercial buildings to create "continuity".

Before I patched and painted the upper part of my west wall, it was on its way to blending in and have much continuity with many other buildings downtown.

I could have just used a single, subtle, neutral earth tone, but I like color.

I was wondering how others feel about the color issue.

The above pic is why I cringe Everytime I see someone painting or otherwise defacing brick.

My youngest is in the process of moving. When she was hunting, she sent pics. I fell in love with one that had exposed brick and lovely wood floors and high ceilings. I was excited when she txt me that she signed on it. Ugh, the other day, she uploaded pics that her landlord had finished renovating. He PAINTED that awesome exposed brick. Omg...I thought my head was going to explode. Just like after sandblasting st Anthony's church, the painted it. Again! Why?!? Just my thoughts.

[dog]

I voted "yes" only because of the continuity part. I am not for leaving walls unpatched.
I think a comprehensive plan similar to Ottawa's would be good. It appears they allow for individualism while still creating flow and continuity.

[northsider]

Are you saying you haven't read the comprehensive plan? I'm sure you have and I find it hard to believe you aren't hoping for some type of reaction from the city.

[Kyle Mitchell]

Helen, I do like brick buildings too. The walls that I painted over had been built with a different brick than the east and south walls. They are not as hard and when pieces of it started falling apart, it needed to be patched in with mortar to keep water out to protect the rest of the wall. Once patched in, it was pretty ugly looking unless finished over.

[gizzy]

I think your building looks great!

[Kyle Mitchell]

Northsider, I have read much of the existing comprehensive plan. I did not see where it addresses a color design to be followed. I don't believe it violates any ordinance, so there really shouldn't be any reaction from the city.

[~MnM~]

Oct 7, 2013 16:59:06 GMT -6 Kyle Mitchell said:

There has been talk of creating aesthetic design restrictions for commercial buildings to create "continuity".

Before I patched and painted the upper part of my west wall, it was on its way to blending in and have much continuity with many other buildings downtown.

I could have just used a single, subtle, neutral earth tone, but I like color.

I was wondering how others feel about the color issue.

Please KYLE...explain which buildings here are pictured? That is not your building...but where is it?

We have ONE mural that was professionally done here by the Library which I think looks great!

Now if we could get the artist who did all of the murals in Ottawa which in my opinion is a VERY talented artist...then YES by all means go ahead with THAT artwork!!!

As I stated in my thread I am not in favor of painting over any brick because once done then try to remove that. IF done professionally as per Ottawas murals then tastefully yes that can be done.

I noticed also that the old Dorsey Ice Cream building that the owner is painting the brick, which btw is a Barr brick building.............. he is painting this white and outlining the letters in black, BUT he has trim painted on that building that is some purple and avocado..................

Things can be painted tastefully and professionally...and how per your thread can your building ever "blend" in, really...I don't quite get your thread here?

................ M

[northsider]

What does the existing comprehensive plan recommend about downtown business appearances?
I would assume you are right about not violating any ordinances (I'm sure you checked) but I'm pretty sure you are hoping to get a rise out of someone at city hall.

[OutlawwithaSnipeSniper]

Oct 7, 2013 16:59:06 GMT -6 Kyle Mitchell said:

There has been talk of creating aesthetic design restrictions for commercial buildings to create "continuity".

Before I patched and painted the upper part of my west wall, it was on its way to blending in and have much continuity with many other buildings downtown.

I could have just used a single, subtle, neutral earth tone, but I like color.

I was wondering how others feel about the color issue.

Kyle, I know I like to bash your "progressive" BS, and this is one time I won't.

That being said though, "Progressive" is simply a name for Communism and/or Socialism.

If we wish to be "progressive", then we need to turn Streator into "Progressive" beauty such as is seen in the former Soviet countries.

And the comprehensive plan is a good start.

Myself, I love your sprucing up, and to me, it looks really good and is an asset to the community.

But then, I am simply an evil Tea-Party terrorist.

[hawk]

Myself,

I find it certainly convenient that the "issues" that come up are ones that are centered around you, and brought up on here. Let's take a look back shall we. First it was, and apparently still is, aquaponics. You wanted to start it in the downtown which wasn't zoned for it, but that made no difference even if you didn't take the right procedures to rezone it. Therefore it was the Citys fault and not being business friendly.

Next it was the chicken debate. You got a couple of chickens, that nobody really knew you had or even cared. So since you weren't getting the attention you wanted you made it clear the loophole you had found only two weeks after getting the chickens. You even searched out the city engineer to tell him you were going to put bird cages on your roof. The City reacted once you pushed the issue and made it apparent, and now they are in talks. You feel the City is "picking" on you because of it.

Now you paint your building on two walls to mimic a sunset in bold colors. Some time passes and nobody says anything, until a couple days ago. With positive comments I might add. Probably not the reaction you were hoping for, so you start another thread about aesthetic design color restrictions on commercial buildings.

Lets go back to April 10th. I for one particularly like what Ed Benner was quoted in the article, and we know the distaste you had for Ed. I highlighted it in orange for those following along.

Apr 10, 2013 6:09:44 GMT -6 Kyle Mitchell said:

The title and political position of this thread has changed please see post #115 on page 8.

Here we are telling businesses to not even think about coming here if they expect to spend their money to build what they want.

Streator may consider architectural, appearance guidelines for new businesses
04/10/2013, 1:15 am
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Jerrilyn Zavada, [e-mail], 815-673-6371
Streator officials will consider a March plan commission motion for the city to determine architectural and appearance guidelines for new businesses.

Similar guidelines already are in place for businesses the size of Walmart. The new guidelines would apply to smaller, newly built businesses.

At a Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday, City Manager Paul Nicholson said the city would roll potential guidelines into the comprehensive plan to be considered more broadly.

City Councilman Ed Benner disagrees with the idea of establishing further guidelines, saying it is unlikely any new business is going to paint their business orange, for example, and therefore be offensive to the public.

"How are we going to write guidelines for architecturally pleasing? Who determines what is architecturally pleasing?" Benner asked. "Look at the new buildings recently. They're all fine."

City Engineer Jeremy Palm noted many other municipalities have similar guidelines in place.

In related discussion, Nicholson told the council about items on the Plan Commission's agenda Tuesday night, which includes consideration of an application for a special use permit for Tractor Supply Company to display outdoor inventory at a store at Northpoint Shopping Center. The agreement for the store to move to Streator has not been finalized, but preliminary preparations are being made to secure needed permits.

"There have been comments about the reluctance of this council to support new businesses," Mayor Jimmie Lansford said. "Hogwash. This is a good example. We take (requests) through existing structures. We have not denied talking to anyone who has approached us."


Good thing they are looking out for our best interest. We have had such a huge problem with businesses building things that are just unacceptable; it is ruining our community. We have too many businesses and jobs here. We need to stop so many of them from coming here.

The Streator Gestapo is now going to determine what is architecturally pleasing? I'll take pictures of their downtown building today and post them so we can all see what they consider acceptable for their property as they restrict those wanting to spend big money to build brand new.

What has been built that is so terrible looking to warrant keeping business from building here? Don't we deserve to know what they think is so terrible before keeping more business out? Does anyone think that these companies won't just head down the road to the next little town that doesn't have the Gestapo? What a bunch of BS.

"There have been comments about the reluctance of this council to support new businesses," Mayor Jimmie Lansford said. "Hogwash. This is a good example. We take (requests) through existing structures. We have not denied talking to anyone who has approached us."

Talk about Hogwash! It was the Mayor that stopped the proposed Aquaponics business with his ridiculously extreme, unjustified industrial zoning restriction. Sure he talked to me to put an absolute stop to the business, but has since refused to provide any justification at all for it.

I really held Mr. Williamson accountable for pulling on the same rope that blocked this business. If I were lying about the restriction, don't you think he would have attacked me for that instead of the Home Rule issue? Don't you think he would have just provided the justification if there was any?

If you care about the direction Streator is heading, please call City Hall 672-2517 and ask the Mayor for justification of his industrial zoning requirement for Aquaponics. Since there isn't any, don't wait long for an answer, but ask him to stop turning businesses away with so many stupid unwarranted restrictions.

I will be sure to tell them too, but they don't listen to me. If you do not tell them what you think too, they will keep on doing these stupid things and we will continue heading in the wrong direction.

I most certainly agree with northsider you are doing this to get a rise out of the city. So what is next on your list to draw attention to yourself and raise fault against the city?