The many letters to the Phoenix about the Thames Street project make it obvious that that there is large public interest in this project. It is obvious that this proposed new building will bring increased commercial activity to downtown Bristol and increased taxes to the town.

What is in question here is the architectural design and the ability of the promoters/developers to meet the zoning criteria laid out by the town and still deliver a significant and gracious architectural concept. The revised design is less obnoxious that its predecessor, however it demonstrates no real relevance to the downtown, the waterfront or to Bristol itself.

It is very hard to understand why some people so well versed in planning and design issues would insist on endorsing a project which by their own admission is “totally out of context with downtown Bristol.”

The flat roofed building presented by the promoters is quite ordinary at best and is in some ways visually unpleasant. As presented, this building does not meet the height requirements, has no redeeming architectural qualities or characteristics, and does not deserves approval for variances on the waterfront.

It is not by accident that many of the buildings which have withstood the test of time in our historic district are mostly built of brick or stone exteriors, as was the Harriet Bradford itself. The clapboard motif was reserved for more plebian edifices rather than the higher quality efforts of the more expert master-builders of an era past.

In order to justify all this public fervor, perhaps the developers would do us all a favor and invest a bit more time and treasure in some good design to develop a decent, long-term, weather resistant architectural “parti” and leave the clapboard to the affordable, low-cost housing group.

No matter what, these units will certainly not be low-cost housing, so why should they look like that? There is hopefully still time to do better.

George S. Burman, AIA

66 Highland Road

Bristol