The usual term is "green belt." Believe me, travelling to places like
Maryland and New Jersey as a child made me appreciate urban landscaping
very much. I believe it's more of a challenge to do it well: FWIW I
think the gardens outside the Disney Hall are terrific: they are
designed so that the trees provide a constantly changing display
throughout the months that the L.A. Philharmonic is there.
I really like the idea of replacing the Old New Mall, since it's just a
shell, now, and the idea of an indoor mall in Southern California is so
. . . wrong. We should exploit the fact that we can *go* outdoors. And,
of course, there is a housing crunch, which I would hope this could
help with in some small way.
I do have some concerns about the proposed height of the buildings, of
course. But alternate walkways parallel to the promenade sound lovely:
as it is, one has to go down to 2nd or Ocean, and the lighting isn't
always too great there. This could be really nice, depending on how
it's done.
Lenny, parklands in an urban environment don't tend to be "vast."
Central Park may qualify, but few others do.
--J
On Nov 22, 2004, at 12:59 PM, 7visions wrote:
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> .> >
> > >
> Actually my opposition to this new development is growing, the more I
> think
> about it.
>
> First off, this dumb "parkland" idea. A few trees on a building DOES
> NOT
> constitute nature. Nature is WILD and VAST. What Macerich is
> proposing is a
> garden.
>
> Nature is the High Sierra, the desert. Locally it is the SM Mountains
> park.
> THAT is nature.
>
> I just love how the developers rape the Earth and then put a few
> trees on
> top of a building and call it "nature" Disgusting.
>
> As for the other parts of the plan...the 21 story buildings???? What
> the
> hell for?
>
> All it will do is cause literally YEARS of construction and
> congestion and
> DIRT. I love holiday shopping in Santa Monica. Too bad at least four
> Decembers will be made unbearble until they would finish this
> monstrosity.
>
> Lenny " Wish I could afford to move to Malibu" Shaw
> > >
> > > On Nov 20, 2004, at 1:53 AM, Georgie Hinklemyer wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Grass is easy enough, although a vegetable garden would be more
> > > > practical and politically appropriate. But they'll probably
> choose
> > > > lots of different, colorful plants (xeriscaped?) which need
> about a
> > > > foot or less of dirt. Azaleas or camelias could work, although
> they
> > > > prefer shade. Cactus would appreciate the unobstructed
> sunlight.
> > > > Trees? Possible, if boxed up. They'd probably go with crepe
> myrtle
> > > > because it's shapely, flowery, and easy to grow. (They're not
> even a
> > > > true tree.)
> > > >
> > > > Forget saplings, and especially the palm trees (although their
> roots
> > > > are shallow enough). The biggest problem will be the stronger
> winds
> > > > up there. Unobstructed High winds. You wouldn't WANT things
> that
> > > > were tall enough to be knocked over.
> > > >
> > > > What about wildlife? A few birds will show up, maybe. Some
> rats will
> > > > inevitably move in for the human leavings. What about
> earthworms?
> > > > Composting bacteria? At least a couple of squirrels to munch
> on the
> > > > myrtle branches? None. Now THAT'S boring. (On the other
> hand, they
> > > > can probably do without insecticides for quite a long time, not
> having
> > > > anything nearby to "share" with them.)
> > > >
> > > > Another problem: several feet of dirt would weigh close to solid
> > > > cement at half the thickness. They'll be putting quite a
> strain on
> > > > the structure if it goes too deep. It'd be even heavier after
> it's
> > > > been watered. Not to mention the added mass as the plants grow.
> > > >
> > > > Still, I'd like to see what they do to it. Echoing The Queen's
> > > > question below: would the so-called "parks" be open to the
> general
> > > > public or just to the immediate residents?
> > > >
> > > > Georgie H.
> > > >
> > > > P.S. Lenny, you just haven't rolled around in the right kind
> of grass
> > > > if you think it's all the itchy type... :)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- In OliveStarlightOrchestra_at_yahoogroups.com, "7visions"
> > > > <7visions_at_p...> wrote:
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> What the hell kind of "parkland" can you put on top of a
> building???
> > > > ?
> > > >>
> > > >> Big gorgeous trees? Shady paths? Forest glades?
> > > >>
> > > >> What nonsense!!!!
> > > >>
> > > >> Guess what it would be, and here I KNOW that I will offend many
> > > >> suburbanites....
> > > >>
> > > >> It would be GRASS!!!! BORING BLAND ITCHY GRASS!!!!! I HATE
> LAWNS!!!!
> > > > !
> > > >>
> > > >> and a couple of saplings... and maybe a palm
> > > >>
> > > >> Here is my suggestion:
> > > >>
> > > >> Knock out Santa Monica Place, extend the 3rd street
> Promenade, have
> > > > it
> > > >> bisect an open mall of no more than five levels, bring in more
> > > > restaurants,
> > > >> and a Legit theater ( that is stage theater)and a concert
> hall. Add
> > > > a
> > > >> skateboard park, ( local culture , a tribute to Dogtown) and
> an ice
> > > > rink for
> > > >> the holidays.
> > > >>
> > > >> Nix the 21 story buildings and DEFINITELY NO ASTROTURF
> PARKLANDS
> > > >>
> > > >> Lenny "Urban Critic" Shaw
> > > >>
> > > >> ----- Original Message ----- * I'm really intrigued by the
> idea of
> > > > adding
> > > >> rooftop parkland along the
> > > >> tops of the buildings on 2nd and 4th;
> > > >>
> > > >> * I'm curious as to which strips of green space would be open
> to the
> > > >> public--would all the parkland at the new new mall be private,
> only
> > > > for
> > > >> residents?
> > > >>
> > > >> * I wonder how policing of the rooftop parklands would work,
> and how
> > > >> they'd be lit'
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > >
> > > >
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> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
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> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Received on 2004-11-22 13:29:13