Which theater would you rather go to?

Yesterday's Baltimore Sun has an article about the Mechanic Theater, an urban brutalist urban renewal project that has been supplanted by the restoration and rehabilitation of the Hippodrome Theater. The article, "Face-lift for the Mechanic: The darkened theater's new owner hires an architect to redesign the plain concrete exterior of one of downtown's early symbols of renewal" discusses the plans the owner has for bringing back this theater

But this is definitely a case of a picture being worth thousands of words--and shows that "modernism-based urban renewal" doesn't seem to be a long-term sustainable redevelopment strategy.

A new use hasn't been decided upon yet for the Morris A. Mechanic Theatre.(Baltimore Sun photo by Doug Kapustin). Jan 5, 2005.

Baltimore's newest jewels, the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center and the Hippodrome Theatre, opened to the public last night with red carpet, fanfare and the Broadway show The Producers. The restored theater is an important part of the rebirth of Baltimore's west side. (Baltimore Sun photo by Algerina Perna) Feb 10, 2004

Eutaw Street is busy as patrons arrive for opening night at the Hippodrome Theatre. Baltimore Sun photo by Doug Kapustin). Feb 10, 2004

Carpenters installing railings. Baltimore Sun photo.

Urban brutalist modernism, or grand places? Does the Mechanic Theater have a future at all?

Click here for more Hippodrome photos from the Baltimore Sun.