Something has happened regarding our much touted Design Review process. Though I realize it isn't possible to catch every single ugly house that comes through, it should be possible to catch the really bad ones.

Please note the home on the 400 block of Bloomfield. No, it isn't blessed with a turret, like a bunch of news ones, it just looks like a big, fat barn, with the garage shoved to the front, to boot. All it needs is a few animals, but alas, no green space to graze…..Maybe it never went to Design Review–an even scarier thought?

I know the Planning Commission is probably the hardest, most time-consuming job around, but "architecture" like this (let's just say 'Barn Brute') really shouldn't fall through the cracks and make me long for the days when the "Height Envelope" was the enforced norm.

– Written by Jen