How to Treat a Corner

These two buildings sit across the street from each other at an intersection in Little Italy, San Diego. One of these buildings has a relationship with the street and sidewalk, it is accessible from the sidewalk, and it brings life to the neighborhood with outdoor dining and a fountain. The office building is walled off from the intersection. There are no entrances on this side of the building except for a garage entry. The mirrored windows prevent even a visual connection to the rest of the neighborhood from either side of the glass. The building on the left seems more likely than the other to contribute to making the neighborhood a place worth a caring about.