Lubbock: It’s the Beige and Red City

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I went to the City of Lubbock website and I found something striking.

Let's start by saying kudos to whoever redid the City of Lubbock webpage because it looks really good. The only problem is that it uses pictures of the City of Lubbock. Yes, you read that correctly.

I never really noticed it before, but the whole downtown area featured is almost all beige and brick red. You can see a little of that weird pink/not pink creep in, but that's about it. It's weird and it's almost like it's somehow code for the area. It gives that whole area a 1950s industrial vibe.

The webpage features different downtown shots and, except for Citizens Tower which is white, nearly everything there looks like it needed a new coat of paint 70 years ago. I hate coming up with a problem without having a solution handy, but I actually don't know what I'd prefer; it's just that the sameness is kind of creepy.

Juxtaposed against these scenes of downtown Lubbock is the message, #keeplubbockbeautiful. I do understand that sentiment is really an anti-littering message, but it kind of makes you feel like you're being gaslighted because what you are seeing is in no way, shape or form 'beautiful.'

All of this is just a teensy bit troubling for the same reason that the road to the airport to Texas Tech is: it gives a wholly wrong impression of the city. There are a lot of places in this city that are beautiful, vibrant and architecturally current, but we don't seem to be making an attempt to expose people to them.

Don't just take my word for it, though. Visit the City of Lubbock page and see if you don't come away with the same impression.