Roseville development a ‘monstrous carbuncle’

We were heartened by the news of a new development planned for downtown Roseville. The additional homes and businesses it will bring should bolster the fortunes of our friends and neighbors. However, upon viewing the architect’s rendering of the planned development, we were, too, reminded of the words of our patron saint, King Charles III, when he said, “What is proposed is like a monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend.”

Perhaps a more traditional or vernacular design would be more harmonious and attractive for the downtown in question. We notice both the developer and architect for this project have chosen traditional and vernacular designs for their own office locations, and we suspect the people of Roseville, if given a choice also would. After all, a building with traditional materials and ornamentation suggests the durability of a place, and we suspect that is, in fact, what the people of Roseville are hoping for in their downtown.

Kate Cherry, The Club for Traditional and Vernacular Design

Clinton Twp.