This is a photo of that painting. It's tempting to read the Great Shippe debacle as a metaphor for the grand economic, neighborhood and cultural schemes that have marked New Haven's entire history. We depend too much on mammoth, poorly devised or unrealistic ideas to catapult our city to greatness. Some leaders try to replicate worn-out generic visions from other U.S. cities rather than build on what makes us special. I suggest that, yes, the Shippe is a metaphor, but an inspiring one.
Some grand plans founder.
At least we have them. Lots of them. But even the bad ideas contain some creative, thoughtful parts, like a broader vision for the city's waterfront. Or, thanks to the dreamers of the '60s, a cool arts district. There's a circular driveway.