Ambassador no more?

[thelakelander]

The context, in an urban sense, is just as important (more, imo) as the individual architectural parts.

The church was historic (over 50 years old), as well and at least gave the block a sense of scale.  But if we want to take it back to its "Turn of the Century" environment, the proper context would be a compact block filled with similar styled houses.  At no point, from a historic preservation standpoint, would the house be in its original context sitting on a block of filled with asphalt parking and grass.





I think seeing these historic structures (both grand and plain) in their natural urban setting is what makes neighborhoods like Riverside and Springfield so desired and gives them their sense of place.  Unfortunately, its the exact thing missing from the Porter house.

[RiversideGator]

Nice pictures but the problem is that the church did not do anything to provide context either.  I do not favor the parking lot either but the grass lot is a lot less obnoxious to me than a decaying deconsecrated church with average architecture.  I wish all the houses in those postcards had been saved together to provide proper context but it was not to be apparently.  The current setting is the next best thing to showcase the surviving mansion which is really one of a kind downtown IMO.

BTW, the best news is that the Ambassador is not in danger of demolition and is for sale.  Hopefully someone who cares about the urban core and adaptive reuse (i.e. not Hionides) will buy it and make it a hotel or apartments again.

[thelakelander]

If the goal is to make the building stand out, in what is supposed to be a dense area, I guess so. 

The average church could have been something great that helped the atmosphere of that entire block with a little tender love and care.  The buildings that house the London Bridge and Chew are both simple plain jane structures that enhance the scene surrounding the more elaborate buildings next door or across the street. 

Imo (I know you feel the same way), we need more little plain churches like that and less neglectful land owners who believe preservation is only about saving the most elaborate buildings at the expense of others that help create the urban environment.

[thelakelander]

The current setting is the next best thing to showcase the surviving mansion which is really one of a kind downtown IMO.

Though not as large, there's another isolated one in LaVilla on Forsyth near Jefferson.  There's also a few left in the Cathedral District.