Later today, the governor will snip the ribbon on the new hotel/condos/whatever on Battery Street in Burlington.

This is not one of those commentaries about the governor's penchant for ribbon cuttings. I'll leave those to others.

This is about the building. And does the governor, as he's cutting the ribbon, say something like: "I know it's ugly, but ... ?"

I'm not an architect. I can't even play one very well at home, where I'd like to remodel my basement but have shown questionable skills at gauging the size of rooms. However, I do, as they say about art, know what I like when I see it.

This new building is not the kind of art I'd want hanging on my walls. The views from inside looking out, those on the upper floors anyway, are probably spectacular. Those of us on the outside looking in don't have that same benefit.

I had the occasion to stroll down by the waterfront last night with friends visiting from Arkansas. They were impressed by the mostly picture-perfect scene. I was less impressed by the new piece on the picture.

The hotel actually opened in April, but it's a little hard to tell from the outside, because frankly, it's a little hard to tell what all is going on with the building. The ribbon cutting comes just before the Vermont City Marathon, which will bring lots of guests to the hotel and lots of people lining the street and asking, "Was that there last year?"

As you runners chug your way up the Battery Street hill, the Taiko drummers providing the beat that makes your feet keep moving, I ask you to to ponder whether I'm missing something, or should Burlington scrutinize the designs of its development a little more closely?

- Terri Hallenbeck