Trumping The Public Good?

A week or so ago, Chicago architecture critic Blair Kamin publicly blasted a ten-foot kiosk erected in the city’s downtown loop by developer Donald Trump to advertise his planned new 92-story hotel/condo building. As it turns out, The Donald doesn’t take criticism particularly well. “Trump argued that the kiosk is justified because he spent $18 million to rebuild the superstructure of Wabash Avenue next to his tower… [But] the significance of this battle transcends the tiny stretch of North Michigan Avenue sidewalk where Trump’s kiosk was planted. Cities around the country are struggling with similar conflicts…”