paving paradise?

this cute little building that doesn't take up much air space will soon be knocked down to make way for a hotel. a hotel on washington street. takes me awhile to wrap my mind around that. but with the beautiful new river walk and renovated piers and the ralph lauren, juicy couture, marc jacobs, coach, stella mccartney and diane von furstenberg stores, i guess it really isn't so farfetched. the old grey west village ain't what she used to be. twenty three years ago i used to work for a small catalog company on west 11th street whose windows looked out over black topped piers on which sat beach chairs whose occupants patiently held up their reflective sun tanners. now there's a tanning salon where the old funky pottery barn used to be, and grass where the black top used to be. no, i'm not complaining. the river walk and bike path are a tonic for west village residents. and the hotel? well, i just hope it isn't too tall. i do like my sky.