^ The west side of the building - the one with the weeds hanging off - is actually the only redeeming part of the design. It's the sides facing 11th and Grand Streets that are the most reprehensible. The plain stucco and placement of the far-too-small windows seem purely functional - from the inside only - and literally thumb their noses at the public outside. Not only is this design bad, it's rude and distasteful. It's like taking the base of the Watermarke and spreading it over an entire tower like Vegemite.
In better news, the small building just to the south of the San Fernando near the corner of 4th and Main, which used to house a small convenience store and the "Burgers 'n Shit" sign (the death of which still makes me a sad panda) is steadily getting a makeover into a restaurant space. Here's a picture from my phone (I left my proper camera at the office - D'oh!). That's real brick and little bay windows going in. It has sort of a rustic French charm, not unlike that of Angelique a few blocks south. Word on the street is that Ray of Ray's Market across the street will operate a new restaurant/cafe in the space. I have not been able to verify those rumors, and as of now, they are just that: rumors.
And on a not-so-positive note, demo on the Genesis hotel - which will be replaced by the New Genesis Apartments - has not started yet, despite having an official groundbreaking ceremony way back in March. Not even notices on the building of impending demolition. For which I throw out an emphatic wtf.
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