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Midtown Specific Plan . Views from streets were assessed to define locations where positive views exist. Street frontages were reviewed and notated according to their positive or negative appearance. Buildings that are not well maintained and frontages that are visually overwhelmed by a confusion of signs are examples of factors contributing to a negative appearance. Positive factors include well maintained frontages, buildings and setbacks, or mature landscaping along the street. . Based on the inventory review and field surveys, elements that strengthen or weaken Midtown's visual qualities were identified and mapped. A discussion of the visual strengths and weaknesses of Midtown follows. Strengths Aesthetic Street Views The factors that influence these views are the architecturally significant buildings along Civic Center Drive and the view east on Eighth Street, which is terminated by an attractive residential structure. Views along Bush Street are enhanced in the blocks that have mature street trees on both sides of the street. Buildings of Character These include the buildings identified in the Survey of North Main/North Broadway Corridor, dated March 22, 1992 and prepared by the Historic Resources Review Committee. In addition, individual structures and groups of structures that add to the character and scale of various streets in Midtown are shown. Mature Street Trees Bush Street and Broadway have large numbers of mature street trees, although several blocks have only a few or none. Some of the east-west cross streets also have segments with mature street trees, including Eighth Street, Tenth Street, and Washington Street. Open Space Several significant open space areas make a positive contribution to Midtown. These include the church at Tenth and Main and the financial institution at Main Street and Washington. Positive Street Image Exhibit 4 shows several street segments throughout Midtown which exhibit an overall positive image due to the quality of landscaping, well-maintained and attractive building facades, and signage that is in scale and character with the buildings. Weaknesses Large Expanses of Unscreened Parking The negative impact from unscreened parking areas is exhibited primarily along Sycamore Street and Broadway between Civic Center Drive and Tenth Street. Many of these parking lots lack landscaping that provides visual buffering. This lack of screening magnifies the adverse impacts of large expanses of parking. Negative Street Image Also shown on Exhibit 4 are various segments of Midtown's street frontages which are visually unattractive. This is due to a combination of factors, including vacant buildings, deteriorating buildings, unkempt grounds, loud colors, blank walls, and unattractive signs. Chapter 2: Existing Conditions 15 11 B-1 0