This Week in the Mercury
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
News / Politics Randy's Rose: "This is insane..."
Posted by Matt Davis on Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 11:08 AM
City Commissioner Randy Leonard has been pushing his plan to site a huge neon rose atop the Oregon Visitors' center in Waterfront Park this morning, in advance of a discussion over the demolition of Memorial Coliseum.
Leonard talked at length about the importance of the Oregon Visitors' Center as a prime "work of early modernist architecture," before public discussion took place. The irony, of course, is that Leonard is a supporter of Mayor Adams' plan to demolish Memorial Coliseum, which architectural heritage folks say is...a prime "work of early modernist architecture."
Portland architecture blogger Brian Libby was clearly dumbfounded by the presentation. "This is insane," he said.
"The sign severely diminshes the architectural integrity of the building," said architect Joseph Readdy.
"Is the sign going to be iconic or ironic?" asked architect Rick Potestio.
"Although I'm here to talk about the Rose Quarter issue, I wanted to reiterate what these gentlemen are saying. It's wonderful that Commissioner Leonard has moved to restore the building," said Libby. "But with all due respect when I heard that there was going to be a neon rose on top of the building, I thought we might as well put 'Eat at Joe's' on it."
"And in my heart of hearts I believe that John Yeon would be rolling in his grave if he knew that a neon sign was going to be placed on the building," Libby continued. "I just feel like it's very crass."
"I understand the resistance but I don't think it's fair to characterize this as a hamburger sign or as something that belongs in Estacada," said Leonard. "I think this will be an iconic image."
Leonard has been talking about plans to have the rose blink during the rose festival, too. Several people in the audience have been shaking their heads and whispering, in response.
There have also been concerns about the cost of allowing the Rose Festival to occupy the building for a low lease. City Commissioner Dan Saltzman asked whether the budget has even been worked out. "We don't have a budget, yet," Leonard admitted. Saltzman said he was concerned that the deal, which is being done through Leonard's water bureau, might lead to water rate increases.
"This is not going to impact rate increases," said Leonard. "Well, you're telling me that, but I'm not seeing the details of the lease," said Saltzman. "I don't know how many times I can tell you that, and if you don't believe me, I don't know what to do," Leonard said. "Well it sounds like you've got all the details of the lease worked out," said Saltzman. "Nobody is trying to hide anything from you," said Leonard.
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That is fucking retarded!
What is the place a whorehouse now?
Leonard is on my shit list forevs.
Most experts would say "Rosebud" represented the time in Charles Foster Kane's life when he was truly happy, the only time. Iroically, or not... it was when he was poor too. However, I've always thought that "rosebud" actually represented the vagina, the true source of a man's happiness. It seems more likely he would be thinking about that on his death bed.... which is it for Randy?
seriously, what the fuck is going on in portland? what are we fucking cleveland?
Randy Leonard has lost his fucking mind.
Time for a WTO in Seattle fucking explosion!!! Good God, Leonard is a mental MIDGET to even THINK about a neon rose! We have the most beautiful REAL rose garden in the WORLD!!! We're called the city of Roses!! We have a goddam ROSE FESTIVAL every fucking year! ENOUGH WITH ROSES, you moron!
What has this got to do with the new Ducks basketball arena that is being funded by public money which Matt Davis' wife worked to secure?
JESUS FUCKING CHRIST, DON'T THESE FUCKERS HAVE ANYTHING BETTER TO DO THAN BUILD STUPID FUCKING SHIT?!!?
So Adams has a penchant for barely legal men and Leonard gets a woody over neon .... keep Portland weird, indeed.
Who among us doesn't enjoy a barely legal man now and then? But blinking neon is tacky.
I'm pro-neon signs everywhere*. And I like this, and appreciate Leonard's thinking.
*maybe because I grew up first in LA - where there is lots of great-looking neon - and second in santa barbara, where the city was strangled by the powerful signage committee, and basically every sign had to be adobe-colored.
I think it is tacky. Where can _I_ get one? About 4 feet long, I want to put it in the front window of my house.
Like many other commenters here today, I think I would first like to also say: fuck. Fucking fuck fuck. Rose, fuck. Ya know?
Secondly, I would like the neon rose to be in the rose garden. Neat! You could go there at night and still see a rose. And they should also sell beer there. And take out those thorny plants that stink all summer. I CARE what happens here!
people get your panties out of that bunch, in a year you all will be crying if someone will want to change that rose.
in a year you all will be up in arms if someone wants to change that rose, sheeesh
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