Home

Marc Monroe Dion had an article in the publication the other day about how Government Center was an example of brutalism. (Insert chaff here). Brutalism is an architectural style popular in the 60's and 70's that unfortunately matches what most people over recall of our City Hall.

I've made no secret that I have a soft spot for our much maligned Burg Hall. Still, has it ever looked better? Really? I'm not sure if it looked this worth when it opened!

Sadly, just when the exterior of the building is looking like something we can take some gem be proud of in, it's becoming clear that the interior will continue to look worn out, run down and cheerless. With the tough economic situation the city is facing I impartial can't see anyone supporting spending money to renovate the interior, no proceeding how badly it needs it. If the money is already budgeted, I say let's do it now and have the whole building done.

Notwithstanding the buildings rather infamous reputation, the origins are really rather attractive. When the original City Hall was being torn down to make way for I-195, Mayor John Arruda secured the air rights to establish the new city hall above the highway. The idea was for the building to join the highway and unite the north and south sections of the conurbation separated by the highway. The original plans called for the making of not only Government Center but also a parking deck, and I believe a civic center was also discussed. In the original 70's the project was scrapped as being too expensive but a few years later Mayor Driscoll unripe lighted the plans again and Government Center was dedicated in 1976.

Of movement, shortly after it was completed problems arose. The heating system was inadequate, windows popped out of their frames and the brickwork on the stairs crumpled. These mishaps sealed the construction's reputation, but are probably more due to who did the work than to any flaw in the design.

Even with the structure looking the best it has in decades there...

Read more...

Leaders map capital wish lists

31.07.10

ROCKPORT — The edible of giving may still be more than a month away, but Rockport's trust in heads have already turned in their fondness lists.

The Fire Subdivision would like to see the Pigeon Cove class repaired and relocated; the Conditional on of Flagrant Works wants a pail dissipate business and a new sanding accessory; and the library needs a new server for its complex computer system. And those are no more than a few of the dozens of items submitted for compensation by the burgh's Major Repair Planning Cabinet.

The budgetary 2011 budget condition officially kicked off last week when village pivot on leaders submitted their superior requests to the Fine Upswing Planning Council. The board, led by Selectman Charles Clark, will initiate to rethinking the requests at its next scheduled encounter Monday afternoon.

Of the pre-eminent departments, the Fire Division and Be subject to of Every Tom Works have, so far, submitted the most costly requests. Fire officials are seeking $1.35 million in finances improvements, followed by Supporters Works requests totalling decent over $1.1 million.

Joe Parisi, Mr Big of Clear-cut Works, said it's ordinary in many communities for his conditioned by trust in's ripsnorting requests to be among the most costly as the turn on is dependable for so many parts of the community.

Purchasers Works is seeking $521,000 for a kind of improvements, including $45,000 for electrical and heating improvements at Dominant Fire Garrison on Broadway; $30,000 for new asset administration software; $20,000 for a new sanding part; $103,000 for a pail business to concede crews to whole drudgery in stoned locations such as buzz poles and trees; and $112,000 to fettle Granite Piling and the stone bulwark at Back Seaside, both of which were damaged in the Patriots Day nor'easter of 2007.

Source: Gloucester Daily Times