Pretty dumb

Downtown is really struggling. The recession isns't helping. How can we make the central city more appealing to investors, convince them that it's a good place to offer a product or service people want and make a profit in the process?

Say, here's an idea. Let's tell those investors we don't even want them downtown unless they live up to our Downtown Design Standards. Be pretty or else you can just take your filthy old investment money to the suburbs:

Informational stations were set up around a conference room and the public was encouraged to ask questions about what the plan and ordinance changes would mean for potential developers and existing businesses that plan on upgrading their properties, as well as the public.

“You have to draw the line somewhere,” said resident Rebecca Gregory. Gregory was concerned about the choices of colors that are used on structures in the downtown.

Kim Bowman, executive director of the department of planning services with the city, explained the new plan does not specifically address color choice. It would, however, require people interested in development to meet with an eight-person design review committee that would help steer them through their design. This could help avoid choosing a design that does not fit in with the city's vision of the downtown. Some of the guidelines in the new plan are suggestions; others will be backed by changes in city ordinances.

Well, thank goodness the plan does not "specifically address color choice." That might go a little too far and make developers think they'd stumbled into a bunch of control freaks or something. And what genius to have an "eight-person design review committee" to help people aboid a design that "does not fit with the city's vision."