[Vision2020] 1912 Center (was RE: "Liberals" Slammed For Pro-Business CBD Stance?)

[Saundra Lund]

Hi Mr. Crabtree:

In part, you wrote:
" As to the 1912 bldg. tearing it down to provide parking for high school
students strikes me as a lousy idea. The real solution would have been to
sell it to a private developer to do with as he would. A tax asset rather
than a burden."

I know the 1912 Center is a contentious local issue with good, IMHO, points
on all sides, but I've a question.  If your suggestion was followed, what
would be the response to those private individuals who donated to preserve
the 1912 Center as a *community* asset?  Do you think they'd be likely to
contribute to future community projects if they feared their donations to
the community were going to quickly be turned over to the private sector for
the benefit private individuals rather than the community?

Or, am I misunderstanding your suggestion?

Whether one agrees or disagrees with the decisions that got us here with the
1912 Center, we are where we are.  In addition to the time and energy
invested by the City and the community in the 1912 Center, there were
substantial donations solicited to preserve the building as a community
asset.  I have concerns about how willing individuals would be to make
further contributions -- financial and otherwise -- to community projects if
those projects are turned over to line the pockets of individuals.  Of
course, that cost might well be very acceptable to some . . . 

Of course, I don't have any magic answer that will satisfy all sides, nor do
I know enough to have a very informed opinion.  However, I did attend a City
Council meeting back in December where the Mayor's 1912 Center Use Committee
made a very informative presentation from which I learned a little more.  I
was hoping to see some discussion on V2020 about those suggestions and
possibilities -- does anyone care to share their thoughts?


JMHO,
Saundra Lund
Moscow, ID

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do
nothing.
Edmund Burke

***** Original material contained herein is Copyright 2005, Saundra Lund.
Do not copy, forward, excerpt, or reproduce outside the Vision 2020 forum
without the express written permission of the author.*****


-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of g. crabtree
Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2006 9:51 PM
To: Pat Kraut; vision2020
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] "Liberals" Slammed For Pro-Business CBD Stance?

Ms. Kraut, The pesky question that you pose is quite irrelevant. Parking is
not the real concern and it never was. There are folks who have an
irrational fear of "androids" and they managed to get one of their own onto
the council. As to the 1912 bldg. tearing it down to provide parking for
high school students strikes me as a lousy idea. The real solution would
have been to sell it to a private developer to do with as he would. A tax
asset rather than a burden.
 
g. crabtree