But the tenants of the other have been silent, the reverse of what those who know the building's history might have expected, because the 1903 Belleclaire at 77th Street and Broadway was one of the flashiest buildings of turn-of-the-century Manhattan.

But American Motors was putting pressure on its dealers to erect flashy, expensive new buildings to match those of the Big Three dealers.

The Colleges, occupying an historic district, remained largely unchanged, but for some contemporary dormitories and flashy athletic buildings.

The gigantic, multitentacled corporation, Automatic Atomic Motor Repair Shops, Inc., had come in under the laws of the State with their flashy building, against the wishes of the village council, and had already taken half of Fara's repair business.

"You can raise money for a conservatory, which is a flashy building that people visit."

This question, as framed by one commentator, does come to mind: "What if instead of all these flashy useless buildings, the countries would build useful public works?

Arts leaders argue that as cultural institutions in many other international cities - including London, Shanghai, Toronto and of course Bilbao - are building flashy new buildings, New York can't afford not to keep up.

"We don't have the money or inclination to put up a flashy building," said Derek Wilber, the wine maker and an owner.

"For us, what's truly important is the products and the software you produce, not a flashy, tall building."

Can the essential qualities of, say, Rockefeller Center or the Woolworth Building or the Plaza Hotel, or even of so comparatively flashy a building as the Chrysler Building, be described so easily?