The remark was indicative of a belief shared by no small number of citizens and political officials. While these are vital, indispensable considerations, they should not exclude consideration of architectural aspirations that are primarily visual and symbolic in nature.
Architecture does matter and matters a lot, especially in the life of cities.
It should never be dismissed as incidental to the evaluation of a proposed project's merits or desirability. Nor should it be sidestepped because some people believe design to be merely a question of taste and aesthetic preference, a matter not susceptible to regulation or negotiation. It also exemplifies how a rigorous process of design and design review can contribute to the steady improvement of a project's architectural imagery. Just a couple weeks ago, shortly after the preservation review board hearing, the latest architectural concept for the arena received the blessing of the Commission of Fine Arts. Since design began, several cycles of transformation and refinement have made the arena's facades better and better, the result of a number of specific design philosophies and strategies adopted by the architects and their client.