THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, August 4, 1996                TAG: 9608030024
SECTION: COMMENTARY              PAGE: J4   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                            LENGTH:   49 lines

DESIGN CAN'T BE IMPOSED ON CENTER'S DEVELOPERS

The interest developed over the design of the MacArthur Center has been healthy. Exchange of ideas is an important part of any urban development. Two issues seem to be at the heart of the discussion:

1. The general plan of the center with flanking garages.

2. The perceived lack of street exposure and points of pedestrian interest.

There is consensus among the members of the Design Review Committee and the Planning Commission that the proposed plan is an improvement over the previous plan that did not incorporate the entire site and that it successfully reflects the design criteria developed by the retailers that have to live with the financial consequences of design decisions.

Concepts proposed by others are interesting, and many have been considered in the design process but have lacked the support of the Taubmans, the Nordstroms and the Dillards. The city is faced with taking the advice of these retail experts with a proven record of financial successes or insisting that they risk their millions on the advice of some of our well-intentioned citizens. I think we know which way that one is going.

The Design Review Committee, the Planning Commission and the city's design consultants developed a set of design guidelines that include the goal of some transparency and pedestrian-level visual activity. This will be the most challenging of all of the design guidelines for the developers and for the city.

We will not see the return of a Smith & Welton-style building. However, we do not want a suburban mall in downtown Norfolk either.

The designers, developers and retailers are struggling with the issue. The input of interest groups is helpful.

I am, however, disappointed that a few of my architectural colleagues seem to think that they can, in a ``charette'' process, bring this issue to a conclusion. In the charette process, the client participates and the client's design criteria are explored and concepts developed based on those criteria. To do this process without client input is both naive and arrogant. It reinforces the stereotype of architects as egocentric solution givers. This effort undermines the city's effort to turn 17 acres of fallow land into an income- and job-producing part of our city. It crosses the line between constructive criticism and divisiveness. I encourage my colleagues to avoid this approach.

JAMES E. GEHMAN

Norfolk, July 18, 1996

Editor's note: Mr. Gehman is a member of the Norfolk Design Review Committee and a former president of Hampton Roads Chapter and the Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects. by CNB