In her letter to the Az Star, Jean Israel echos what many many of us believe: The wall along the east side of Oracle road approaching Tangerine, is a blight on our community.
Ugly wall is no enhancement
Not so long ago the drive north on Oracle Road toward Tangerine was one of the loveliest in the area. Now the highest, ugliest wall has been erected along a particularly scenic portion, completely wiping out the mountain view to northbound drivers. The final insult is the etched mountain peaks in place of the real beauty of that face of the Catalinas. The "decorations" that were promised are no enhancement.
When will Arizona appreciate the beauty of its Sonoran desert and mountain surroundings? Rosemont mine comes to mind, a potential scar in a particularly beautiful area of the Santa Ritas.
Jean Israel
Tucson
10 comments:
One need only go into the FHWA(Federal Highway Administration) web site and, in 'search', type in:
"keeping the noise down"; it's very informative; Among other 'stipulations' the FHWA guidelines state:
"...can be effective regardless of material used"
"...must be designed to be visually appealing"
..."must be designed to preserve aesthetic values and scenic vistas"
(please note the use of the term MUST)
This site then goes on to illustrate different types of walls and materials utilized in other areas, including GLASS PANELS, which artistically are a far cry from what we have had perpetrated upon us in Oro Valley.
Yes, ADOT et al can talk all they want about the meetings they had, the public 'notifications', etc. but, I ask, did they even show the federal guidelines along with alternatives in order that more appropriate choices might have been considered?
To all: please go into the FHWA site and become informed. The result we got in Oro Valley is typical of some of the down-our-throat shoving that has blemished our otherwise beautiful town.
So why doesn't a group of concerned citizens contribute sufficient money to file legal action against ADOT and have the wall replaced. That's your recourse.
Posting on this blog is going to accomplish nothing.
Well, my goodness, so-called OT, you have something to say about everything, don't you? It's curious that you say, "Posting on this blog is going to accomplish nothing" and yet you posted on this blog!
Don't be so pessimistic. Maybe some civic-minded individual such as yourself will come along with deep moneybags to sue the ADOT and Mayor Loomis. As we used to say in NJ: "Hey, you never know."
Wish I had the wherewithal to purchase a wrecking ball!!
Were not the residents of Rams Canyon given choices.....including having no wall?
Hi Ferlin--- Yes. ADOT met with the interested homeowners of Rams Canyon, and certainly received their input.
Not too many of them expressed any interest, and the majority of those that did opted for the sound barrier.
As far as I know, ADOT determined the height required to mitigate the noise emanating from the additional traffic due to more lanes.
As for the wall design, it is my understanding that the late Jim Kreigh suggested the use of "brands" that in the opinion of many, do nothing to enhance the ugliness of the massive wall.
Is there any reason they couldn't have brought in tons of dirt and created a large hill/berm between the homes and Oracle Road and then planted lots of vegetation along that hill? This would also have cut down on noise levels and would have used natural materials instead. And no one would have sprayed graffiti on it. I'm sure it's just a matter of time before the graffiti "artists" show up.
Hey Cowgirl--- While some welcome the wall and the "branding," others believe it is grafitti.
By the way, as horrible as the wall looks, particularity driving north on Oracle, try it from the Rams Canyon side. To some, it looks like a prison wall, with the views of the Tortillas completely obliterated.
VC, a berm tall enough to mitigate their sound standards(?) would have been EXTREMELY difficult if not impossible to put in place. If you haven't visited the website I suggested above, please do so and look at the glass wall barriers that have actually been utilized.
By the way, they are now 'planting' painted metal cacti against the walls at the bases of these edifices; hopefully these 'plants' will grow (LOL).
I like VC's idea of hills to cut some of the sound while blending with the surrounding hills. Alas, it is too late unless someone picks up my dream of a wrecking ball and runs with it...Whoever pointed out that the squiggly "brands" look like graffiti is right on. Mayor Loomis abetted this desecration which again proves that all of his taste is in his mouth.
I believe that the "new" Town policy in conserving water does not include berms. Depressions are in vogue :)
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