4 ms·

Yes, this is very true and I think hints at the reason why those manhole covers can exist in Japan, whereas they'd be unthinkable in North America. The notion w

Yes, this is very true and I think hints at the reason why those manhole covers can exist in Japan, whereas they'd be unthinkable in North America. The notion would be laughed out of any city budget here.

coldtea 8y ago
>The notion would be laughed out of any city budget here. An ironic thing is that, not caring about immediate ROI and budget justifications in the past (and investing in public parks, nice buildings, etc), is what makes some cities tons of money (from millions of tourists every year). Will ever a new city (born under the "quick ROI is everything/who cares for beauty" mindset) be as nice as to attract visitors in the future? I seriously doubt so. (Shanghai, which is largely built lately, was also an treasure of a city for many centuries, and spends a lot in the impressiveness -if not construction quality- of its modern buildings and skyline).
- sonnyblarney 8y ago
  With cities I don't think it's 'ROI' so much utility and pressing budgetary needs. There is always a war over budget. There are 10 projects that 'they'd like to do but can't'. Every city wants more buses, has potholes, has sewage problems, needs infrastructure. 'Pretty manholes' might not make it to the top unless someone really, really cares. Or it's part of a secondary budget.
  - Joakal 8y ago
    In NSW, Australia, there's many millions for stadium repair. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/29/gladys-berejiklian-backs-down-on-anz-stadium-knockdown https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/29/glady... For child abuse for poor people? Budget cuts. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-19/nsw-legal-aid-refuses-to-fund-sex-abuse-claims/4698484 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-19/nsw-legal-aid-refuses...
    - sonnyblarney 8y ago
      Well see that's the thing. Any city councillor who says 'pretty manholes' will be superseded by someone who says 'children and the poor'.
pacaro 8y ago
While they’re not quite in the same league, Seattle has some pretty incredible manhole covers too, there are 115 different designs, it would take quite a while to hunt them all down https://seattle.curbed.com/2014/7/11/10076250/seattle-manhole-covers-public-art https://seattle.curbed.com/2014/7/11/10076250/seattle-manhol...
ams6110 8y ago
Doesn't necessarily take much of a budget to do these sorts if things. I've seen this for example in towns where the traffic light control boxes are colorfully painted by local artists.
- rb808 8y ago
  > I've seen this for example in towns where the traffic light control boxes are colorfully painted by local artists. Lol Graffiti Artists.
  - NamTaf 8y ago
    Not at all. Here in Brisbane (the AU one) the city council got local artists to do them as works showcasing our city's lifestyle. There's hundreds of different works of art around the place, and they run the gamut from a graffiti-style work to more traditional pieces. It really does help jazz up an otherwise pretty boring piece of infrastructure.
electricslpnsld 8y ago
> The notion would be laughed out of any city budget here. I could see it happening. Portland, Oregon has an art tax that goes towards things like large scale murals in public spaces. An extra 5-10% on the cost of a man hole cover would fit within this, easily.
- bigj0n 8y ago
  5-10% isnt realistic. These are carved from aluminum and molds are custom made, and the colored ones are than partially filled with colored resin. This adds substantial material costs, but more importantly adds a lot of skilled labor to a process which is usually just simple casting.

coldtea 8y ago

>The notion would be laughed out of any city budget here. An ironic thing is that, not caring about immediate ROI and budget justifications in the past (and investing in public parks, nice buildings, etc), is what makes some cities tons of money (from millions of tourists every year). Will ever a new city (born under the "quick ROI is everything/who cares for beauty" mindset) be as nice as to attract visitors in the future? I seriously doubt so. (Shanghai, which is largely built lately, was also an treasure of a city for many centuries, and spends a lot in the impressiveness -if not construction quality- of its modern buildings and skyline).

sonnyblarney 8y ago
With cities I don't think it's 'ROI' so much utility and pressing budgetary needs. There is always a war over budget. There are 10 projects that 'they'd like to do but can't'. Every city wants more buses, has potholes, has sewage problems, needs infrastructure. 'Pretty manholes' might not make it to the top unless someone really, really cares. Or it's part of a secondary budget.
- Joakal 8y ago
  In NSW, Australia, there's many millions for stadium repair. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/29/gladys-berejiklian-backs-down-on-anz-stadium-knockdown https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/29/glady... For child abuse for poor people? Budget cuts. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-19/nsw-legal-aid-refuses-to-fund-sex-abuse-claims/4698484 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-19/nsw-legal-aid-refuses...
  - sonnyblarney 8y ago
    Well see that's the thing. Any city councillor who says 'pretty manholes' will be superseded by someone who says 'children and the poor'.

pacaro 8y ago

While they’re not quite in the same league, Seattle has some pretty incredible manhole covers too, there are 115 different designs, it would take quite a while to hunt them all down https://seattle.curbed.com/2014/7/11/10076250/seattle-manhole-covers-public-art https://seattle.curbed.com/2014/7/11/10076250/seattle-manhol...

ams6110 8y ago

Doesn't necessarily take much of a budget to do these sorts if things. I've seen this for example in towns where the traffic light control boxes are colorfully painted by local artists.

rb808 8y ago
> I've seen this for example in towns where the traffic light control boxes are colorfully painted by local artists. Lol Graffiti Artists.
- NamTaf 8y ago
  Not at all. Here in Brisbane (the AU one) the city council got local artists to do them as works showcasing our city's lifestyle. There's hundreds of different works of art around the place, and they run the gamut from a graffiti-style work to more traditional pieces. It really does help jazz up an otherwise pretty boring piece of infrastructure.

electricslpnsld 8y ago

> The notion would be laughed out of any city budget here. I could see it happening. Portland, Oregon has an art tax that goes towards things like large scale murals in public spaces. An extra 5-10% on the cost of a man hole cover would fit within this, easily.

bigj0n 8y ago
5-10% isnt realistic. These are carved from aluminum and molds are custom made, and the colored ones are than partially filled with colored resin. This adds substantial material costs, but more importantly adds a lot of skilled labor to a process which is usually just simple casting.