[Vision2020] Chas's Plan for Moscow Was: Will MoscowsupportHawkins sprawl-mall?

[Tom Hansen]

Yes, Chas.  You are correct. Some cities in Europe do have small portions of
their downtown districts covered with (what seems to be) a transparent, or
translucent canopy.  Nurnberg, Germany has three such canopies (or they did
back in the mid-80's) which were used extensively for their sidewalk markets
and cafés during Kringl Market.  Madrid, Spain has (or had) one that I know
of. 

One thing, though, Chas:  I assume (I don't have any figures to back me)
that the budgets of Nurnberg, Madrid, and London are considerably larger
than that of Moscow, Idaho.  We can easily assume that the initial cost will
be considerable, not to mention regular maintenance costs and potential
civil litigation should someone be injured by the canopy.

Heck! The city is struggling with snow removal.  And now you want to thrown
in a regional canopy because it is "absolutely lovely"????????????????

Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"A bad cause will ever be supported by bad means and bad men." 

- Thomas Paine (English Writer, 1737-1809)

-----Original Message-----
From: Chasuk [mailto:chasuk at gmail.com] 
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 9:12 PM
To: Tom Hansen
Cc: lfalen; Matt Decker; v2020
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Chas's Plan for Moscow Was: Will
MoscowsupportHawkins sprawl-mall?

On Jan 14, 2008 11:43 AM, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:

> "4. Build a huge roof over this entire area."

I'm actually quite serious.  Hasn't anybody ever been to one of those
covered outdoor malls in Europe?  They are covered with some sort of
semi-transparent material -- I'm uncertain whether it is plastic or
glass -- so the sun still shines through, and it is absolutely lovely.
 Fresh air, sunshine, but still protection from most of the inclement
weather.  Trees aren't removed.  The glass/plastic usually seems to be
tinted a soothing green.  Heck, I've been in supermarkets in England
where the builders couldn't interfere with existing trees or streams,
so these natural features were preserved within attractive courtyards.
 If the English can do it, so can we.

Chas