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<br />II. EXISTING CONDITIONS <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />During the next two decades, many thousands of dollars will be spent <br />building and re-building the Village of Arden Hills. Will Arden Hills <br />through its physical environment continue to reflect abundance, excellence <br />of design, and beauty within its magnificent setting? Or, will the Community <br />reflect ugliness, declining prosperity, and mediocrity? <br /> <br />Many urban areas are suffering from visual "blight" as a result of being overly <br />preoccupied with the economic and political problems of expansion and <br />renewal to the exclusion of social and aesthetic responsibilities. We are <br />inclined to overly stress the quantity of buildings rather than the quality of <br />living that these buildings will provide. <br /> <br />Technological advances have given us new materials and techniques which <br />have enabled us to build more and build it faster but also to destroy more and <br />destroy it faster. And in our haste to get into the future, we have all too <br />often used the worn-out but handy cliche of style, and the easily accepted <br />design, rather than the more dIfficult discipline and truth which are essential <br />to excellence. 1 <br /> <br />If Arden Hills is to remain a good example of suburban living, new growth and <br />development demands sensitivity and restraint. Our respect for individual <br />taste must not be rewarded with common ugliness rather than civic beauty. While <br />we are the richest nation on earth, the designs of our cities are poverty stricken <br />and an increasing number of citizens are asking, "Is God's own country fast <br />becoming God's own junkyard?" <br /> <br />In Arden Hills, there is still the opportunity to maintain and develop a satisfactary <br />living and working environment. There: is, evidence, however, that the to:l6l <br />development pattern for the area in question may be considerably less than ideal. <br />A primary potential danger is the possible economic deterioration that could result <br />in future years from the present piece-meai approach to area commercial develop- <br />ment. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Existing development has been on a parcel-by-parcel basis without the benefit of <br />guidance from an over-all plan which would indicate what the total district may <br />become in the f!lture. Unfortunately, the history of commercial development in <br />both the centrol cities and suburban areas would indicate that such development <br />may prosper for a time but eventually succumb tax competition from better <br />planned areas. <br /> <br />1. Toward a New City, Community Renewal Program, Minneapolis, <br />December, 1965 <br />