When people see what is proposed for some of the stuff in the East Village, they're going to have the exact same thoughts - why weren't we consulted in the process? I can just see it now.
Trust me, getting the general public involved with design is a disaster waiting to happen. This is why the RFQ process is so engaging and much more effective. If we let the public have a say in everything we do, we'd get absolutely nowhere.... very quick and at the taxpayer's expense. You want to see what happens when the public gets involved? Be prepared to see tax dollars go down the drain, quick, with little results to show.
Not everyone is going to like the bridge. Frankly, they don't have to; that's what good art and design does - it makes you question, value and compare. It engages people, however they see fit. I'm happy the city gave one bridge to Calatrava, and the other to the locals. I don't think alot of people see the long-term value of having a bridge from an international architect designed in this city. If one doesn't think that this first bridge will have an influence on the 2nd bridge, then they haven't done their proper homework.
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