Canton pavilions proposed

Reader wrote:

I'd like to know how the Sun pick and choses what stroies we readers can comment on. Anyone know ?

Based on my humble observations I can say the Sun almost always stays away from controversy. Especially black perpetrated hate crime in and around Baltimore. By the way the only type of'hate crime' that has occured in this city for decades. The Sun sticks to lightweight, fluffystories like the Canton Pavillions. Not much to disagree with or get the bile up.

There is a way to easily defeat the attempts by the Sun to cover up the latest outrage. Go to the upper right hand coulmn (if there were actually a column) of the page where posts are placed. Look for the words 'start your own discussion' or something like that. Then click and you are in business. By the way do not use quotation marks as the site does not recognize them in a computer sort of way and will post gibberish or other nonsensical symbols. To make words appear in quotation marks- use the apostrophe key and that is as good as it gets.

4000 letters/keystrokes are the max for a posting. Titles allow only letters- no apostrophes- and only 25 letters at that.

I wish great success to the project but am very concerned about the pollution under that location. That whole area was a petroleum/petrochemical storage area. It is a fact that in the summer there is a large amount of oil and 'chemicals' removed via pumping every weekend. Lord knows what kind of PCB levels are present. That complex was running wild for decades- at least in the eyes of the then yet to exist EPA. Shopping is one thing but never under any circumstance would I consider living there because of what you can't see...and will definitely reduce one's cancer risk.

In order to satisfy suspicions the builder should have independent- and at least 2 companies- survey and test the soil. Show me it is clean and then build away.

By the way is it a coincidence that Mr. Hale lives o nthe 15 th floor of the Mariner Tower? Probably not since he has the best view of anyone in the state.

Great stuff! Keep some land available for that Soccer Stadium Ed!

Tip wrote:

I wish great success to the project but am very concerned about the pollution under that location. That whole area was a petroleum/petrochemical storage area. It is a fact that in the summer there is a large amount of oil and 'chemicals' removed via pumping every weekend. Lord knows what kind of PCB levels are present. That complex was running wild for decades- at least in the eyes of the then yet to exist EPA. Shopping is one thing but never under any circumstance would I consider living there because of what you can't see...and will definitely reduce one's cancer risk.
In order to satisfy suspicions the builder should have independent- and at least 2 companies- survey and test the soil. Show me it is clean and then build away.
By the way is it a coincidence that Mr. Hale lives o nthe 15 th floor of the Mariner Tower? Probably not since he has the best view of anyone in the state.

My understanding is that Exxon/Mobil is responsible for cleaning up the soil and is in the process of doing that now.

Drew wrote:

Hopefully the deign panel members' comments included "redesign those tired-looking pavillions." Here again we see the arbitrary new-made-to-look-old design that seems to be the preferred medium in Baltimore.
If we choose to "look forward to the Baltimore of 2012", our new built environment should reflect current and future design principals, not a bastardization of the past.

Amen Drew!! This isn't 1797, or 1897 ot 1997 for that matter. How much different would the west side of downtown look if powers that be demanded more diversity in the design and finishes of the University of Maryland downtown campus buildings. Hundreds or millions of dollars of new construction has happened there in the last 5 to 10 years but know one can tell because it all looks the same. The Baltimore Design Advisory Panel needs to be blown up and envigorated with new and fresh thinking. The architecture of a place reflects the people. Harbor East reflects the beat of Baltimore today. Not what has been built on the west side over the last few years. I love the tradition of Baltimore. I live in Reservoir Hill brownstown built in 1890. MICA's Brown Center shows how to integrate cutting edge with history. World class cities preserve its history and celebrates its present. As Drew so aptly put it, "bastardizing" the past does not pay homage; it just cheapens the overall built environment.

Challenge the status quo!!!!!!

excellent sentiment, tony!