 |
| The "neo-Georgian" façade of the Buffalo Wild Wings Building from Google Street View |
Last month, Buffalo Wild Wings announced that they would be closing their 202 S State Street location. As we say goodbye to this business, it's a great opportunity to for us to reflect on the architectural significance of the BW3 Building, formally referred to as Corner House Apartments.
Looking at it now, it's hard to imagine the modest, 9-story building could be of much architectural significance. To understand the importance of the BW3 Building, we need to jump back to 2003.
There were no tall buildings built in downtown Ann Arbor in the 1990s. Hobbs & Black's 101 N Main, erected in 1989, was the last "high rise" built downtown before that stagnant decade. Indeed, the dearth of multi-family construction during that time can be seen in permitting data for the city.
 |
| Permitting data by year and building unit count. |
Though short compared to many of the downtown buildings that succeeded it, the "Beautiful Georgian-style building with such subtle, understated decorations" became the first of several downtown "high rises" in the 2000s. These new buildings caused a some to decry that building was out of control and that Ann Arbor was bing overrun by tall buildings. Though, as we can see in the above chart, there was little multi-family permitting in the aughts and almost none in the teens.
While it seems insignificant today, the BW3 Building has played an important role shaping Ann Arbor's physical and indeed, political, landscape. Though the rate of downtown construction was relatively modest in the first two decades of the millennium, the perception of out of control development has driven a great deal of political discourse in Ann Arbor. So as we say goodbye to Ann Arbor's downtown Buffalo Wild Wings, let us pause an acknowledge a building that ushered in the contemporary age of #a2Council politics.
 |
| Zoe Clark and Lester Graham from Michigan Public's 2012 election night party at Buffalo Wild Wings |
The discussion around A Requiem for Buffalo Wild Wings reflects how people connect restaurants with memories, routines, and changing social trends over time. Many longtime customers see it as more than just a food chain because it became a place connected to sports, gatherings, and shared experiences. Conversations like these also show how people search for comfort and support in different areas of life, including education, where ged exam help becomes important for students trying to manage stress, improve their future opportunities, and stay focused on personal growth despite everyday challenges.
ReplyDeleteA requiem for Buffalo Wild Wings brings to mind a lot of the gradual changes that happen at certain venues. It was an entertaining place to spend some quality time with my friends, but it has gradually lost its charm. Perhaps that is what happens to famous chain restaurants as time passes by. While researching the topic, it occurred to me that humans associate food spots with their cherished memories. Even during my CIPD assignment writing help work,
Delete