Does the Grand Central Market need a makeover

What wrong with a little dust and dirt? Apparently we've become a society that is so paranoid about a little, insignificant, micro-speck of dirt that we rush to clean and sanitize the surface it lands on. Yet, the irony is when it comes to the built environment, that dust and dirt take on a certain charm. This fact seems to be a bit lost on Adele Yellin, the president of the Ira Yellin development company,who are planning to give the Grand Central Market a makeover. Makeover maybe fine for people who need fine tuning in their appearance but a should be applied judicially to built environments. User of public spaces become accustomed to said spaces being just so. These places become a second home so someone coming in a moving, let's say a lamp, is jarring. Which is the issue confronting the vendors and customers of the Grand Central Market. The Yellin Company wants to "clean the place up" and make it more appealing for the more affluent residents of Downtown. This make sound a bit sacreligious for preservationist but I don't believe that historic places should be encased in amber for all eternity. Places change, that's the nature of the world. How we deal with the change is the real question. Make no mistake, I have no issue with development as long as it's logical. The proposed makeover of Grand Central Market is not unlike the proposals for Jordan Downs. Basically, they both aim to make the places more appealing to the affluent. But does anyone bother to ask if "cleaning the place up" is the best idea? Probably not? That lived in charm exuded by Grand Central Market is what attracts and keeps the regular customers. That and the reasonable prices. Why are developers and planners in a rush to gentrify every single place? What's wrong with authenticity of place? Authenticity of place means presenting a place as it is without pretense. When designers, developers, planners, et cetera try to simulate the lived-in look it often comes off as half hearted at best. After all, if your trying to attract people with a shabby-chic-type aesthetic why not leave well enough alone. I don't mean keep the unhealthy and unsanitary elements but to mess too much with what's already there. Which is why Grand Central Market does not need a radical makeover. The modest changes it's undergoing now: pipes and ceilings being scrubbed; the sawdust removed is fine. No one really wants to breath in dust and mites, especially if they have allergy issues. A bit of paint is fine, as is changing the light bulbs, and wi-fi is a really useful addition. Beyond that why make it "Westside cute." The grit and grim are part of the authenticity of place. It adds to the overall ambience of the place. Yes places change and sometimes change is necessary but how much and how to go about it is the question.