(2004-12-07) Jacobs Uncool Rural Lofts

KarrieJacobs is the un-CoolHunt-er. My talent is discovering the places where hipness goes to die. I drive around the country and stumble on phenomena that make me realize that something I once valued is about to be eaten alive by mindless commerce. She writes about (Rural) Frederick Co - On one corner, surrounded by nothing, was the Steam Plant, a low brick building dominated, as are so many subdivision houses, by a twin garage (which, given the look of the building, appeared to be a truck entrance). In the background were the more typical beige tract houses that cover much of the greater Denver CO area. I looked inside another one-maybe it was the Cannery-and took note of the 24-foot ceilings supported by steel trusses. Very weird. Then I told myself that these buildings are exactly as industrial as a more typical subdivision's "Tuscan villas" are Italian... The lesson here is that when you argue for stylistic change and that change eventually comes, it turns out that style is beside the point. (Urban Design, Design)