Two Chandler developments strike the right tone for some, not for others

As I was driving home yesterday, I passed the abandoned hulk that is the ugly skeleton of the aborted Elevation Chandler project at the corner of the 101 and 202 freeways, it occurred to me how much it resembled the partially completed concrete structures common to much of the developing world in which I've served over the past eight years.

It also occurred to me how much more diligence probably should have gone into vetting the project and its backers before it was approved by our City Council. A sentiment no doubt shared by our Council members, now, too. Hindsight is great, that way.

Two more developments in Chandler, Arizona construction news (coming from the journalistic pen of Marshall Terrill and the Chandler Connection). Again, some pleased, some notsomuch.

1. Ocotillo grows up into 2nd city hub (sorry, no permalink)

Civic officials are looking forward to the creation of a second downtown location thanks to a Chandler-based developer. The Chandler City Council unanimously approved four different zoning actions for Downtown Ocotillo, an 11-acre commercial retail, office, hotel and multi-family residential development at the southwest corner of Dobson and Queen Creek roads.

Lawrence and Geyser Development says the mixed-use project will feature a live-work-dine-shop environment and will create a new “downtown” for residents in the Ocotillo area. “It’s a fully detailed and pedestrian friendly development and it truly is a great use for the area,” said Bob Weworski, a principal planner for Chandler who is working on the application. “This development really fits the lifestyle for Ocotillo.”

... But not everyone is for the project. Martin Hazine, who represents George and Tina Tibsherany, who own the nearby Aquila Ocotillo office complex, said the proposed mid-rise buildings are problematic.

“Introducing a five- or six-story building is a concern for us and would have a tremendous impact to the adjacent community,” Hazine told the council, adding that he also felt the parking lots need to be more pedestrian friendly and some of the buildings are too close to the lake.

2. Official: colors too loud: Developer says beauty in the eye of beholder

A city official has sent a message to the developer of a high profile neighborhood in Historic Downtown Chandler: tone it down. The sender is Chandler Vice Mayor Lowell Huggins and the recipient is Tempe-based developer Benton-Robb Development Associates. Huggins says the 54-unit town home development known as 123 Washington, at the southeast corner of Chandler Boulevard and Arizona Avenue, is a great idea but the color scheme is a little over the top. “I get daily complaints about the color scheme and for me, they just aren’t going to work,” he said Monday. “It’s an eyesore.”

Huggins said he likes Robb and wants the development to be a success, but said the bright mustard, red, green and white fusion of colors make him wince. “This development needs to be successful in order to establish a great downtown area and I don’t want them to fail over paint color,” Huggins said, adding that he has asked City Manager Mark Pentz to call Robb to see if he would change the color pattern.

Pentz said Monday there might not be much the city can do.“We really have no authority to ask them to do that because everything has already been approved.”

Councilmember Bob Caccamo said the color schemes were the same as when they were presented to the council. He did, however, add a caveat: “It looks a lot different than the architectural drawings.”

You know, this also reminds me of when I was in business in the software development and publishing industry here in the East Valley. We'd go through a detailed TDR (Technical Design Review) process and outline the interface design and functionality for a new product with our client. Then we'd spend months working on it, managing the deliverables and turning in the project on time and on budget. And then we'd get a call from some executive at the client's firm - a finance officer, for example - who didn't like the color scheme or thought a clickable button should be shaped differently.

It's a strange aspect of human nature that leads to this tendency. Where color is concerned, it's as if everyone becomes a design expert. They also tend to be unaware of how even simple changes in color can have dramatic impact on the whole rest of the design. In software development, for example, it may mean a whole palette shift with a resulting engineering headache. Or it could mean that carefully planned disabled-access features (such as making the color scheme viewable for the colorblind or for otherwise feeble eyes).

Of course, we'd accommodate the client's wishes whenever possible, but when it's one voice among many, and that voice is speaking without the authority of the client's decision-making structure - rather, they're just voicing a personal opinion - AND it's taking place late in the development cycle after the design has been approved and much work and quality control has already gone into the product, we didn't generally feel compelled to bend to the individual's suggestions.

Of course, we were always diplomatic. No point in upsetting an influential member of your client's senior management staff...

Rep. Robson (R-Ahwatukee) one of the flat-earthers on global warming?

There's still significant controversy about whether global warming is man-made or natural, with most peer-reviewed scientists coming down on the side of saying man's impact is a significant part of the problem, while most scientists paid by petroleum industry interests and their political enablers argue it's not.

At any rate, regardless of your position on who's causing it, it's pretty much been established that there IS global warming going on. Every now and then, though, you find a flat-earther who is willfully ignorant that this consensus has been reached, in complete contradiction of known facts.

Fellow blogger Zelph observes that Arizona District 20's own State Representative, Bob Robson may be one:

Rep. Bob Robson, R-Chandler on global warming:

"I think the polar ice cap is colder than it's ever been. That's what I hear. I'm sure there's some melting going on, but how much of it is natural?"

Well Bob, you might consider this.

Good catch, Zelph. From the NRDC wesite:

"Average temperatures in the Arctic region are rising twice as fast as they are elsewhere in the world. Arctic ice is getting thinner, melting and rupturing. For example, the largest single block of ice in the Arctic, the Ward Hunt Ice Shelf, had been around for 3,000 years before it started cracking in 2000. Within two years it had split all the way through and is now breaking into pieces.

The polar ice cap as a whole is shrinking. Images from NASA satellites show that the area of permanent ice cover is contracting at a rate of 9 percent each decade. If this trend continues, summers in the Arctic could become ice-free by the end of the century."

Now, no matter what you believe about whether man has a hand in global warming, you can't really get around the fact that the polar ice cap is most certainly NOT colder than it's ever been and that it is, in fact, melting at an alarming rate.

So the question: is Representative Robson - the Speaker Pro Tempore in the Arizona House as well as Vice Chairman of the Environment Committee - an ideological flat-earther? Or is he just very uninformed for someone in his position of responsibility?

Mitchell's committee to investigate Walter Reed

The scandalous treatment of veterans at Walter Reed has seen the ouster of the 2-star general officer in charge (Maj. Gen. George Weightman), as well as the resignation of the Army Secretary, Francis Harvey. But it's not ending there.

Because Harvey's chosen replacement to head up Walter Reed may have been involved in the negligent treatment decisions and general mismanagement, Defense Secretary Gates has not only accepted Harvey's resignation, but has also announced that Harvey's choice to replace Weightman at the helm of Walter Reed (Lt. Gen. Kevin Kiley) would be replaced, as well.

This scandal may deepen as further investigations take place. The House of Representatives will be investigating, headed by our Congressman Harry Mitchell (AZ-5). From Plugged In:

Arizona U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell will hold hearings on reports of the dilapidated conditions at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and how those conditions could impact soldiers as they transition to their status as veterans

Mitchell is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

"The care wounded soldiers receive in the weeks and months after their injuries have a direct impact on their future needs as veterans," said Mitchell.