Position II: Historic Buildings as City Assets
When I was fighting to preserve Lynch School, some of those who wanted to destroy it stated that my arguments were not reliable because I had “too much imagination.” That was very interesting to me because humans are the only animal capable of imagining the future. And yes, I am a particularly gifted animal in that sense. My imagination is connected to considerable knowledge of architecture, real estate markets, and urban development. I was able to imagine the incredible potential of a repurposed and developed Lynch School. I was also able to imagine the horror that we are all experiencing right now as we watch the destruction of the building.
Many of you have told me with great pain that you can’t bear to drive by anymore.
As it has been dismantled, we have been able to actually see the magnificent construction, and it brings home just how wasteful this decision was, and how we were failed by our city government.
The citizens who opposed the sale and destruction of Lynch proposed possibilities based on knowledge of economic factors. The city government persisted in the sale and demolition because they lacked both competence and imagination.
The city still has many fabulous buildings that visitors and potential investors are awed by.
Historic buildings are capital, they should be treated preventively.
For the past 5 years as a commissioner, I am now vice chair on the Historical Commission I have contributed suggestions and ideas to help the planning department purposely seek a constructive preservation course of action.
My fellow commissioners and I have also worked tirelessly to create a new Preservation Ordinance to replace the standing Demolition Delay Ordinance which could truly help prevent disasters like the destruction of Mater Dolorosa, the Bud, and Our Lady of Immaculate Conception.
The New Preservation Ordinance will have to be approved by the Ordinance Committee (a sub-committee of City Council), and then ultimately by the whole Council.
The Preservation Ordinance will not pass unless we have people on the council that believe and understand the value of historic buildings.
