Astounding news reached me yesterday that not everyone agreed with me on the Bank of Richmond building's red look. Earlier this month I said I didn't like it. Now it seems that some people always liked the deep red and also appreciated its historic roots.

Then yesterday the copper cone took shape, and I have to admit the red looks better than it did.

That settled, building owner Mark Howe should consider a proposal offered by two consultants who paused outside Point Richmond Market yesterday morning. A passing TOTP correspondent overheard them not only suggesting that underwear hang in the windows but that they themselves could help choose the styles.

I suspect that the Design Review Board would want to review this modification. We can be confident, though, that when the scheme's historic nature is pointed out--the Point once thrived on brothels--board members would applaud.

It would then be up to Mark Howe to let function follow form--while he recoups his enormous investment.

Call the upstairs a bed and breakfast if you have to, Mark, but show us the full potential of our historic district.

• Great building gets bad paint, Talk of the Point, August 6, 2003