[Mpls] Re: T-H-E W-I-N-G

[Anderson & Turpin]

Carol Becker wrote:
My name is Carol Becker. I am on the Oversight Board for the new Downtown 
Library after being treasurer for the referendum campaign, a referendum 
supported by over 106,000 Minneapolis residents.   And I did vote for the 
W-I-N-G.

The Oversight Board could have built a plain box.  We could have gotten some

of those precast concrete walls like they use to slap up Wal-Mart's and 
other big box retailers.  It would have very inexpensive and simply 
sheltered the books and nothing more.  But it would not have said anything 
about Minneapolis.  It would not have made our city more beautiful or 
interesting.  It would not have said anything about who we are.  It would 
not have been something that someone remembers as a child and brings their 
child to see.  It would not have inspired discussion and debate.  If we had 
simply built a plain box, it would have been a huge disservice to our 
citizens.

What we have strived to do is to build a building that will be an icon for 
our city. Something that truly says something about us. We went out and got 
an architect who had previously built another icon (Cesar Pelli built the 
Norwest Center, the lit-up builing on the Minneapolis skyline) and who had a

long track record of building buildings which were sensitive to the people 
where they were built. (he also designed the Petronis Towers, the tallest 
building in the world, in Kuala Lampor).  And we spent a lot of time talking

about that "restrained enthusiasm" that characterizes who we are.  And how 
we wanted something that would both be provocative as well as timeless.  A 
statement for the City like the spoon and cherry or the IDS.  It will be up 
to the community to say how well we did, how well we captured who we are in 
glass and stone.  But we did try.

Mark Anderson replies:
I wish Minneapolis would quit building monuments.  I wish the government
would stop spending the taxpayers' money to say something about Minneapolis.
I've been to various libraries hundreds of times, and not once have I had
the desire to look over the building before going inside to find books.  Why
can't the government build functional buildings, and leave the beautiful
ones for those who are spending their own money?  If the city doesn't get
out of the mindset that it needs luxuries instead of the basics then it will
never get out of its current financial straits.  Then Vicky's predictions
will come true, and we'll turn into Detroit.  I believe Minneapolis is
moving in the right direction, but when I see comments like the above I
worry whether we can maintain the momentum of more fiscally sound
government.  This is not a rich city, so we can't afford to buy trinkets.

Mark V Anderson
Bancroft