ann arbor is overrated.

A consultant hired by the A2D2 group solicits some serious, in-depth analysis from the community on downtown development:

Selecting a male volunteer from the audience who towered over him, he then turned to participants in a downtown design workshop and asked: If the two of them were buildings, “which would you rather have next to your neighborhood?'’

The example was intended to illustrate “why the community should care about developing some guidelines and standards for the appearance, shape and mass of new buildings downtown.” Well, it’s about time someone tried to overcome those timid Ann Arborites’ historic reluctance to form and express opinions about building mass and appearance. Perhaps we could also hire a consultant to tease out the A2 position on whether Bush is doing a good job as president.