Though I've never been there, Gary Indiana will be forever in my mind
the standard of   development gone amuck due to the wonderfully bizarre
and somewhat obscure 1970s movie, "Greaser's Palace".  As Jesse, the
zoot-suited messiah who parachuted into the wild west,  said:

"I bring you a message.
Exactly six miles north of Skagg Mountain in the Valley of Pain, there
lives an evil devil-monster.
His name is: Bingo gas station motel cheeseburger with a side of
aircraft noise and you'll be Gary, Indiana.
And he loves to hurt people.
The last time I saw Bingo gas station motel cheeseburger with a side of
aircraft noise and you'll be Gary, Indiana, he told me what he wants to
do.
He wants to come down here and kill each and every one of you.
But I said: "Bingo, wait a minute!"
And the reason I said that is because I believe in you people.
I believe you can do the job.
I believe you can help each other.
I believe you can make this world a better place to live in."

Now it sounds like a damn good architectural school commencement
address.

Mitch

--

F. Mitchener Wilds, Senior Restoration Specialist
Restoration Branch
State Historic Preservation Office
919/733-6547
http://www.hpo.dcr.state.nc.us

***My opinions may not be those of my agency.***