Friday, July 3, 2015

Pink Pussycat

... or maybe it's a leopard or some sort of panther. I just don't know, and I really don't care. Heck, it could be a slice of pink watermelon for all I care. As many of you know I'm not a big fan of murals anyway. Some might call this wall a mural. I call this wall crap or something worse. But there's a history here. This is Congress Square in the heart of Portland. It's one of the most picturesque pieces of our city, if you ask me. At the corner of High and Congress streets, you'll find the IM Pei designed Portland Museum of Art, just to the left of this intersection, the triangular H.H. Hay building, across the street is Congress Square Plaza Park and just to its right the once iconic Congress Square Hotel. It is now the home of many offices, studios and shops. Across Congress Street is this street-level eyesore. This building, topped off with a clock tower, is known as the historic  Schwartz Building built in 1920. Renovations, promises and lots of plywood and black plastic sheathing have all been a part of facade of this structure on the ground level for the last 10-15 years. That's a long time to view plywood, notices and ugly graffiti. I would think that the 'neighbors' would be raising a big stink, and I think they are. Way back, I do remember it was all glassed in, and Channel 13 would broadcast their morning news here, similar to the old TODAY Show with Dave Garroway. You could walk right up to the glass and watch the comings and going of that thing called 'live TV'. That was then. This is now. Are we getting close to a rebirth? There are serious rumors that a glassed-in upscale restaurant with condominiums above is lurking on the near horizon. The unveiling and opening is supposed to be in early July... of THIS year. 
However, I'm not holding my breath on this one.
It still has the air of a 'work in progress'.
I'm waiting for this jungle cat to disappear first.
Here's wishin'.
Hopefully, things will take an upswing soon.
Today is July 3.
Meow.

11 comments:

  1. Well, I'm sorry to hear you don't like murals but I would agree that this whatever it is doesn't seem too fitting for a historic building with a clock tower!

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  2. I'm with you. This, and most other so-called murals, belong in comic books, not on walls.

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  3. Oh I always thought it was such an eyesore...I started to think it was permanent...let us hope it will finally go away...Maybe you could be a neighbor & call city hall or council folks is nothing happens this July?

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  4. that is a very long time to be boarded up. I hope it gets uncovered soon.

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  5. I can't agree more with you. A bit of color of some dull walls in the outskirts may even be nice, but this is a bit too much and a real eyesore!

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  6. Not a very friendly looking cat.

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  7. Not as friendly as a pink panther!

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  8. I'm in the mood to enjoy almost everything I see. Am I the lone voice to celebrate "the pink panther? LOVED those movies!!

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  9. I couldn't care less if it's temp. And Dahdum dahdum... Oh yes, the Pink Panther...

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  10. Cool find. The pink Jaguar is very well done.

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  11. A retired teacher wearing a paper bag over his head could get rid of that thing with a late night visit with one can of black spray paint.

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