I'm talking about 30th and Broadway. And yes. Yes it is.

Looking North on 30th 2
Google Maps
loading...

But why? Here's the thing. I know it's a more industrial stretch of Broadway, with businesses and whatnot. But there are great stretches of Broadway with business that look perfectly fine. They may not be picture perfect, but they certainly aren't eyesores. They don't look like they'd be the establishing shot of a post-apocalyptic zombie movie, or part of a sequence showing the ravages of an alien attack. But 30th and Broadway, specifically the east side of 30th, just looks so desolate and out of place compared to the rest of Broadway, and indeed a lot of Quincy. The west side of 30th, with Hardees and that Cash & Loan place... you're doing alright. Keep up the good work. But on the east side?

South Side of old CM at 30th & Broadway
Google Maps
loading...

I'm not going to spend a lot of time on the north east corner, where County Market and Long John Silvers used to be, because we have already extensively covered it over the past few months. HOWEVER! CVS owns that entire lot. Do something with it. Stop dragging your feet, CVS. But now to the meat... the main course. THIS UGLY AS SIN BUILDING:

West Side of House at 30th & Broadway
Google Maps
loading...

It would appear to be a house, especially with those two doors. But the door is on the second floor and opens to nothing! WHAT IS THAT?! WHAT ARCHITECT DESIGNS A HOUSE LIKE THAT! I guess if you're planning an Ocean's Eleven-esque heist on the neighboring Dollar General, it would work to go rooftop to rooftop, but seriously... who's gonna do that? If you have the resources to do an Ocean's Eleven-esque heist, set your sights a little higher than Dollar General. (Sidenote: Don't actually rob anything. It's wrong. Morally, ethically, religiously, and legally).

But maybe it's not a house. Maybe it's a business. But WHAT?!

North Side of House at 30th & Broadway
Google Maps
loading...

Seriously! No signage. No windows. No wacky waving arm-flailing inflatable tube-man. Just a repainted Mystery Machine van and what look like refurbished prison walls. Anybody driving through from the east must just assume "Oh! That must be where the fight clubs are held. And the vacant lot across the street is where they're installing the Thunderdome." And anyone driving in from the west probably thinks "Remember that show Burn Notice? This looks like where they would set off explosives in that show." I don't know why those thoughts are geographically exclusive, but they are.

Here's why it's so strikingly ugly. There's the big revitalization push with The District that is going fantastically. The District is gorgeous. All of Maine Street is just a nice drive and/or stroll. You go a block up or a block down from Broadway, and you're usually looking at beautiful residential neighborhoods. Even other business heavy intersections are generally pleasant to look at.

18th & Broadway
Google Maps
loading...

SEE?! That's 18th and Broadway, which has Walgreens, Ayerco, a different Cash & Loan place, and a vacant lot. But the vacant lot is flanked by trees and a bar. Two things which no one has a problem with. Our own intersection, 24th & Broadway, is appealing to look at.

But it's like no one's even trying with 30th and Broadway. Which is just sad.

More From KICK FM, #1 For New Country