Have you ever taken note of the warmth and attractiveness of concrete? No? Neither have I. With a fresh abundance of the stuff dominating the core of Winslow we have lost much of what was cozy about the place.

Some touches of color and texture could have gone a long way to giving some warmth to the glacial grey of our new world.

Then there are the odd projections jutting into the roadway and little square plots for trees here and there in the midst of parking areas. I have already noted tire marks on curbs that jut out in unexpected ways and plots of dirt that have been driven over.

Then there are the concrete blocks (tank traps?) that will one day be transformed into benches. Considering the placement of some they are traffic hazards making turns difficult. Then there is the diagonal parking where if you happen to slip into a place next to one of the beds you will exit your car and find yourself tiptoeing through the tulips slogging in the mud.

Or in another case you find your way blocked to the sidewalk and have to walk back into the street and around parked cars to reach the sidewalk. If these things were conceived of as “calming devices” why do they irritate so?

Now that we have reached the grand-sweeping sidewalk and blithely stroll along, I suddenly confront a totally ill-planned narrowing of the way and in this unexpected squeeze stands a large utility pole. I thought there was a highly paid design firm involved here and a herd of consultants on hand to make this a “world class” main street.

Then there are the new trash collection bins. So ecologically correct and, yes they do offer a different texture and tone (but maintaining the overall theme of brutal inhuman efficiency).

Being as big as they are, they have some difficulty being out of the way. I am sure the water and sewage flow much more freely below Winslow Way than do the people above.

The trees and the plantings are yet to come and they will fight to soften the bleakness of their setting. Well, it is done and we will get used to it – we always do.

But I have to wonder why we seem to end up having to get used to something that is done to affect our daily lives that is far less than is should be and more irritating.

Eldon Van Liere

Bainbridge Island