But the larger point in particular is that the focus on pure residential market rate towers is not necessarily the most sound economic policy. One reason to preserve an historic industrial building is to open up the possibilities of what it’s next use would be. A large cultural facility, an industrial co-op, etc. can diversify the ways that the local economy grows.

At present economic growth has been defined as trickle down to restaurants, bars, shops, and service that cater to the bedroom community. And we all can see now where that has gotten us.

What you don’t see is that we are actually for the same thing. It’s just that we disagree on how to go about it.

73, I do have the right to protest if Britney decides on her own to set up a bandstand on my block. The market is not the only place ideas are carried out – despite what some might think. There is something called zoning and city planning which is supposed to try to fulfill a variety of common needs.

I also don’t like Britney Spears, but I don’t support banning all bubblegum pop music, or mandating that all music sound like early 60′s vintage Elvis.

If it weren’t for people with bad taste, those of us with superior taste could never feel so smug and self-righteous about our own aesthetic judgment.

Am I right? 8)

Nice and intelligently argued – not. When all else fails hurl insults and use cliche phrases like “tired arguments” and “head in the sand”. Basically your comment does nothing to refute anything I said.

I again thank #64 with whom I have some (not all) intellectual disagreement but who has the common courtesy and intellect to get the fact that this about dialogue and exchanging views in order to arrive at something good.

As for the financial industry having little vision you might have a point for the most part. However, I would argue that the financial sector that got us into the mess that we are in today were the more adventurous ones, which took unprecedented risk with investments they themselves did not fully understand. This is probably why most conservative investors would not invest in projects that have higher risks or possible unforeseen problems like preserving a 100 yr old build. Please understand that I would love to be able to preserve architectural gems but all I am saying is that the current government programs or market do not incentivize this from happening. This is especially true here in NYC where land prices have been higher than most of the country which leaves very little wiggle room to make great buildings.

I would also like to say that his building might not be the best example of great architecture but at least there is an attempt to do something out of the box. I am surprised that not more people are outraged at the awful building being built on Jackson and 11th Ave. Now that is a great example of the cheapest type of construction ever. I guess people get fooled because it has a lot of brick, when glass is more expensive than brick. I bet that 95% of the materials in that building could be found in Home Depot which makes it as generic as vanilla ice cream.

Of course with this new economy we’ll see who is genuinely interested in long term LIC living.

There are folks here both old timers and new comers who also are here to have a life. We wish the hypesters (sic) would just go away. You are as annoying and full of it as telemarketers.