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Show aioiurw Wednesday, April 24, 1974 Page 4 MASTER PLAN: A Visual Survey The importance of the esthetic in a comconsiderations prehensive planning effort is very often overlooked. It is fortunate that in our culture we may make a mild effort to maintain the appearance of our individual buildings or open spaces, but give little thought to the visual impact of the total environment. We too often feel that we are powerless to influence the quality of our surroundings. Park City was originally built in an era of small scale handicraft economy. Materials and equipment were scarce. For this reason there was a natural harmony in scale and appearance of the buildings and structures that comprised the town. The current growth, on the other hand, is taking place in a technologically advanced age which is characterised by a wide variety of building materials and methods, a need to accommodate automobiles, and the capability to remove a mountain if it stands in the way. When converged upon a center of economic viability, such as Park City, the result can be overwhelming change in a very short period of time. It is for this reason that considerable time and thought has been devoted to the identification and preservation of the Park City visual character. The visual survey is a very subjective analysis of the physical image of any given area. It is an attempt to put into words, and depict graphically the impression made upon the mind of an observer by his physical surroundings. The visual survey of Park City is not just an attempt to predict how a tourist might react upon making his first visit to Park City. More importantly, it is an effort to identify those elements of the city that arouse the pride or repulsion of the local resident. A large part of a persons response to his surroundings is a subconscious one. Very often a condition of the environment is sub-- , consciously irritating, but when pointed out, the irritant becomes obvious and can be corrected. The major approach to Park City, driving south on highway U-24- 8, provides a broad comprehension of the city, its natural setting, its historic physical form' and its basic industry (recreation). The mountain backdrop for the city is very impressive. The mountains create not only a natural setting, but establish the walls for the space occupied by the city. The walls provide structure and form to Park City and create' its basic identity as a mountain town. On axis with the view as one approaches the city from the north is the Greater Park Companys resort village. The gondola and ski trails, are very visible and appear to converge on the village. This view establishes the impression for the visitor that he is approaching a community that is largely devoted to skiing. Years ago, aone making the same approach might have seen the large mills with smoke rising from their stacks. The basic industry has shifted from mining to skiing, and the res Mi village occupies a visual focal point that em r emptiness and disrepair. The overall impact of Park Avenue is to make Main Street seem somewhat isolated from the north end of town. The sharp turn from Park Avenue onto Heber Avenue provides a strong sense of transition into the Main Street area, ftne almost has the experience of discovering" Main Street every time he turns this corner. Some of me tirst buildings encountered, such as the Utah Coal and Lumber and the Union Pacific Station, project an image that helps set the theme for Main Street. The 90 degree turn onto Main Street adds again to the sense of arrival at a unique place". It is unfortunate, however, that the Main Street district is interrupted by vacant spaces, and also by some buildings that are incompatible with its original character. Main Street has many phasizes that fact. Hie visual quality and future development of the resort village should be undertaken with careful attention to its dominant location and its importance to Park Citys image. The residential development in Thaynes Canyon is building to the point at which it is beginning to create a definite sense of entry into the city. One no longer needs to make the turn into Park Avenue to feel he has arrived in Park City. This area, however, is becoming dense to the degree that the sense of progression into the city is heightened at the beginning of Park Avenue. The location of the Park Avenue condominiums creates a sense of enclosure along the Avenue. It is therefore, that space across Park important, whatever occurs on the large vacant Avenue from the condominiums original provide some set back from the street and be kept to a fairly low profile in order to keep the feeling of enclosure from becoming oppressive. A sense of arrival along from the east is beginning to develop near the new mortuary site and the warehouse structures and lumber yard. This sense of arrival will keep moving to the east as development progresses. An impressive view of the ski hills and village occurs also along this approach. The recent construction near the north entrance to Park Avenue gives a strong im- -' pression of vitality. The general area between the resort village and the entrance to Park Avenue is still dominated by original residential buildings and thick tree growth, but change is rapidly. The shifting of commercial activities into this part of town gives the observer the feeling that this is now, or is rapidly becoming, the center" U-2- 24 many old miner's homes are portant to the visual experience of Park City. The compactness of the buddings, and the way in which 'they appear to cling to the hillside, create the image of the mining town that is unique and in- that GAPER Through astrology, your future is unfolded. Through this column your time is wasted. STAR CAPRICORN (Dec. 19) A 22-Ja- standing argument should be terminated. Bury the hatchet and find an axe. long 18) For (Jan. some, life is a bed of roses. For you, its a hammock of 20-Fe- b. AQUARIUS poison ivy. PISCES (Feb. 20) 19-Ma- r. LEO 22) Youll (July make a daring financial move. As a result, all your liquid assets will go down the drain. 23-Au- VIRGO (Aug. g. 22) 23-Se- pt. through the Easter Bunnys head thinking he was a burglar. den- 19) You ARIES (Mar. are both incompetent and1 a 21-A- perfectionist. You're a perfect fool. LIBRA (Sept. 22) Plants do not flourish under your care. Get to the root of the problem, it may stem from a soiled conscience. 23-O- ct. 21) You SCORPIO (Oct. will become a fast friend of 23-No- v. 20) You (Apr. somefor are carrying a torch one and this should cease. The KKK arent your kind of an intellectual giant. Your being a mental midget will cause the two of you to be known as the Mutt and Jeff of people. Knowledge. TAURUS 20-M- ay GEMINI (May 2lJune 20) Dont make waves. Servicewomen arent your type. CANCER (June 22) This week is favorable for improving your mind. If you read 21-Ju- SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-I)e- c. average intelligence would take the elevator. are to San Francisco. Main Street makes a slight jog at the end of the commercial district. This is fortunate because this change in direction, as the sharp turns at the bottom of Main Street, helps demark a transition It is at this point that a person realizes he is definitely in Park City, and he tries to comprehend its image. The lack of a harmony-o- r theme- - in the visual surroundings is most evident in this area. Some of the dominant buildings in this area, commercial, office, and hotel structures, are totally incompatible with each other, or with a visual image that one wants to find. A large portion of the seasonal-sktraffic finds its way into the parking lot in this area without realizing that most of Park City lies beyond. The trip up Park Avenue is probably a varied experience for most people, resident or visitor. Though there are some interesting original buildings along the street, the general impression is that of an unkempt area, with weeds, broken sidewalks and gutfences. ters and some chain-lin- k The view of the magnificent old Silver King Coalition building could be a rewarding experience. The building should become a i marking the beginning of the Main Street business district and the historic center of Park City. The incompatible industrial structures and clutter at the foot of the coalition building, unfortunately, detract from it and even help draw attention to its turn-aroun- SLC Departure Schedule Departs Continental Bus Depot 8:30am Arrives Park City 9: 15 am 800 pm 500 pm Park City Departure Schedule Departs TMI Vsiu am 5:15 pm FARES 21) You will climb to great heights this week. A person of join the streets are as im- into another section of town. The old residential buildings that line both sides of Main Street from this point to the d at the top of the hill create one of the most interesting blocks in town. The density of the buildings and their original architecture provide an impression almost of a European village. All of the original Park City settlement from approximately the area of the high school to die end of Empire Canyon (and including Rossi Hill and Heber Gulch) still reflects much of the image of the old town. It would be a great loss to the city, Utah, and the west if this area were allowed to lose any more of this character. Any city or town needs to have a focal point or center. Traditionally, the central business district has provided a focus-th- e town square, the court house, park, Main Street, whatever. It is important to the inhabitants of a town, and to their ability to identify with their town, that such a center exist. In Park City that center has been Main Street. That status will be increasingly challenged by newly developing commercial centers. If the citizens of Park City wish Main Street to continue as the town center, great efforts should be made to improve Main Streets image, its attraction, and accessibility. Im- pulsive acts can cause problems. You discovered that when you put a, .45 slug Smile! paid a lot for those tures. You this column regularly, it will take longer. portant and integral to the Park City character as the cable cars of town. point by Claire Voyant teresting. The wooden stairways oc-curi- ng and focal interesting im- oc-curi- ng landmark and buildings and has great potential to become an attractive pedestrian-oriente- d center, and to continue as the community focal point. The steep slopes on both sides of Main Street (and west of lower Park Avenue) on which stand star gape Arrives SLC 1015 am 6:00 pm $2.50 one way $4.65 round trip |