Joe, of eastern Pennsylvania, over at QueerJoe’s Knitting Blog, posted yesterday about his long-term stint consulting in Springfield, and shared a photo of the view from his hotel room.
He writes, "There are some very beautiful areas of Springfield, and some great restaurants. I’m lucky enough to be a little familiar with the city," adding that he’ll be in town for the holidays even though he won’t be working.
A similar look at the industrial facility across the Connecticut River can be seen in one of Springfield blogger Bill Dusty’s recent video installments, highlighing some of the stark contrasts of beauty and not-so-beauty in our city. He starts out by taking a look at the view from Riverfront Park—a view that would evidently change for the worse if the Army Corps of Engineers has anything to say about it.
Back to the subject of lofts, last month several units went up for bid in the McIntosh Building at Chestnut and Worthington Streets. I was reminded of those units—and the Springfield downtown potential—as I watched this video from Detroit e-magazine Model D, showing a recent "big bash" welcoming a new loft development, 55 West, from the Hubbell Group. The best part is seeing developer Colin Hubbell and 35-year-old Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick embrace after cutting a red ribbon. It is a reminder that municipal government and private development need to become better pals: not under the table, but in an honest, transparent, good-for-the-city kind of way.
