Quote:
Originally Posted by eastcoastal
I don't think they're planning on preserving facades.
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No, they're not--they'll recreate with "similar" materials and hopefully some of the better salvaged material.
Thing is, the Roy is no great beauty. The Green Lantern is kinda similar, but it's far superior architecturally. The Roy's value comes not so much from the architecture as from the weird layering to the building. It's been added to twice, I think, and you can see, especially on the rear side, how the different additions have been done in a patchwork fashion. It's got an anthropological value. You can excavate its history just by looking at it.
Plus, it's just a huge building that accommodated a lot of small operators for a long time. What it lacks in grace it makes up for in massing.
Anyway, if they can incorporate salvaged materials from the doorframe into a the new structure, and tie that into a uniform row of matching storefronts, I'll be happy. Normally I wouldn't be like "let's make something faux-historic" but this is a special case, and if it's done to a very high standard (i.e, genuinely looks like a reconstructed older building) I'll be fine if the upper floors are just brick and concrete, so long as it's good, matching brick. That's all they are now anyway.