When one considers that the architecture of the city influences the mood, the humor, even the character of its citizens; when one considers the civic pride, pleasure and sense of community that may be inspired by the architecture of a city, it is a strange reflection on our kind of civilization that we leave the initiative in designing our cities, piecemeal, largely to commercial interests, and their approval to penny-wise councilors, and we do so at a time when, more than ever before in history, pecuniary considerations are dominant.