LAPC #291: Cityscapes

/ March 20, 2024
Fayetteville’s downtown square with quaint old-fashioned storefronts.

This week Patti invited us to showcase our cities in the Cityscape Challenge. This was a hard challenge for me. I rarely photograph buildings or cities. Fayetteville is challenging to photograph with few wide-open vistas or skylines. Our town is a growing college town nestled in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains and the buildings are obscured by trees, hills, and narrow roads. The only wide open spaces are on the freeway and parking lots: not particularly appealing. When I moved here, Fayetteville was known for its quality of life, affordability, and safety. We’ve had rapid growth from the University of Arkansas and Walmart that has created a boom in people, prices, and growing pains. We have a severe lack of affordable housing and a large homeless population but it still has its charms.

Since I had no cityscape photos, I went out to photograph our town and came away with many interesting photos from our downtown. Luckily, spring has arrived to add a touch of color.

The middle building is the downtown square area where most of the photos were taken. You can see how the town is tucked into the hills with no clear vistas.

~

This is our public library, built in 2004, as the first LEED building registered in Arkansas. Then they expanded to 190,000 sq ft with a larger youth department, Teaching Kitchen, Center for Innovation, Event Center, Art & Movement Room, and more. One might wonder what a town of 95,000 people needs with a library this large, but it is eye-catching.

~

A side view of the library entrance as seen in the photo above.

~

The new addition flows up the hill toward the original entrance as seen in the above photos.

~

The original post office is now a restaurant called “Cheers” like the TV sitcom.

~

The original jail is now offices, but seems rather dark to me.

~

Central United Methodist Church helps balance out the dark forces!

~

We have many murals downtown. This is one of my favorites, highlighted by spring and the new stairs.

~

Another favorite mural is on the back side of the parking garage on the square. Let’s fly away on our cruiser!

~

This small event center is on the square with the bike mural on the back side of the building.

~

I’m pleased that I found so many interesting buildings to photograph. My choices highlight buildings more than cityscapes, but I had fun. Lens-Artist Photography Challenge #291.

May we find beauty and joy where we are.

Related posts

70 thoughts on “LAPC #291: Cityscapes”

  3. This was enjoyable Brad. Fayetteville certainly has some city charm. The library is a fantastic work of architecture. And I love the way you took us from the dark jail to the seeing the light! lol. Great idea. I am glad you included the murals as they are very much part of cities these days. Love the composition of the photo with the bear. Initially, I thought the bear was a sculpture and hanging. Spring has sprung in Arkansas and that photo looks like a great place to enjoy a coffee outside.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  6. Interesting Brad, I didn’t realize you were in Fayetteville, nearly neighbors! I’m on Kiawah outside of Charleston SC. Have been through Fayetteville but never stopped to visit – it looks really charming in your images. Loved the wall art especially, and the buildings are really well done with interesting architecture. Thanks for joining us with this one!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  9. Well, Brad, for someone who doesn’t photograph architectural subjects, you did a really fine job. Thanks for the beautiful photos and tour to your city. I was there many, many moons ago and can’t recognize those buildings. That shows how long ago!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  10. Great look at your city Brad! Thank you for sharing these views. It does have charm and a quaintness about it. Love the spring blooms popping. The bear mural is my favorite. Love the feeling of him swinging without a care in the world surrounded by those blossoming trees. So whimsical and light hearted. You have become quite good at catching the feeling of things so artistically through your camera. Love it.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  14. Your last line “May we find joy where we are” is gonna stick with me. That’s kind of the point of it all, huh? At least to me. I really enjoy all these photographs of Arkansas. When I think of the Ozarks, I think of my favorite childhood book called “Where the Red Fern Grows.” That public library looks like a very nice place where I would probably be spending my time. 😍

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  17. I still seems like a charming place.

    It seems everywhere is plagued by lack of housing and high costs.

    The planet may be over populated, and overrun .

    Great shots Brad. You know I love the murals. Thanks for including them. You live in a great spot!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  23. What a wonderful place, Brad! I love your photos and it makes me want to come visit!!! I particularly love the old jail!!! What a great building….wonder what kind of stories that building could tell if the walls could talk!

    Happy Spring is starting to pop for you. We have had the strangest weather this winter. But before I know it the thermometer will rise…and so will the humidity!! SEnding all good thoughts and hope that you are super!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Your turn!