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General : Are We Done Yet?
Wall Standoff Heading Toward Resolution?
The News Tribune is reporting that we may be close to a resolution in the Washington State History Museum / City of Tacoma SOS donor wall debacle. The potential fix was mentioned in yesterday’s City Council study session. The idea is that Century Park would move from between the History Museum and the Federal Courthouse to Tollefson Plaza across the street. The site where the wall was going up would become an iron fence once again.
I see this as a very positive development. Some may argue that the fence is still a problem. Yet, it gets us past the existing stalemate. Debating public access and the ‘right thing to do’ becomes much more difficult once the brick and mortar dries.
The deal’s not done yet, but at least people are talking.
Link to The News Tribune Editorial Blog
Previously on Exit133 (tread lightly)
(Thanks for all the tips)
Link | Posted on 17. January 2007, 15:18
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There’s no reason to keep a fence up no matter the final compromise. Give people options when they’re walking around downtown and give more open access to and from the Foss.
1 | Posted by KevinFreitas | Jan 18, 12:02 AM
Some may argue that the fence is still a problem.
Yes. The city should continue to work to enforce its easement and allow pedestrian direct access to the Bridge of Glass and Foss Waterway.
The site where the wall was going up would become an iron fence once again.
It was previously suggested that the continuous brick wall was required for the Century Park area.
Thus, if Century Park is moved to Tollefson Plaza, there isn’t any logical reason left to erect a wall of any sort. A few low and narrow metal or concrete poles can keep the cars out.
2 | Posted by Erik | Jan 18, 12:12 AM
If the goal is open access this is a step in that direction. Take it. Sometimes progress in negotiations comes in phases. This solution doesn’t preclude open access in the future. Start that discussion again once the proposed park, and the potential for a brick wall, is gone.
3 | Posted by TomE | Jan 18, 08:02 AM
Sheesh, I’m just glad it will be resolved, and it seems like a great solution. I must be the only one who, even after reading comments from both sides, never understood the amplitude of all the hubbub. I would walk the bridge of glass once a week, and upon the returning to the Pac-Ave side, I could imagine how a small park would have been a nice break before (what I feel is) a slight jog to the gate near the crosswalk. And I never had (nor saw people have) trouble finding access the other way. However while driving down Pacific I could see how eliminating the wall (“aperture” notwithstanding) and fence would make the waterway more visually connected. I guess I missed something along the way after I tuned out of the debate. Soon it will all be water (or trains) under the bridge. But hey, when they remodeled the Pantages, what’d they do with my 1980 donor brick? (LOL – Just kidding.)
4 | Posted by Dave L. | Jan 18, 09:27 AM
My wife posted an entry in Dec. regarding visitor confusion around the area of the WSHM and Bridge of Glass:
Link to Cassioposa.net
Speaks volumes to how having multiple options for passage to and from the Bridge would help alleviate some confusion.
5 | Posted by KevinFreitas | Jan 18, 10:57 AM
Wow, I just read that sampling of overheard quotes – thanks! I had no idea it was that bad. Hilarious; baffling; scary; eye-opening. I’m glad we’re (for the most part) not a hunter-gatherer species any more. “I see that mastadon, but how do we get there? Aw, let’s leave and come back later.”
6 | Posted by Dave L. | Jan 18, 11:22 AM
I am planning a demonstration that will be performed once the iron fence is reinstalled. In protest of pedestrian rights, A group of artists will “crash” a large cardboard effigy of a Boeing 757 into the WSHM Fence. A large sack of red confetti will erupt from the nose of the plane on impact and my Trojan task-force will jump out of the shredded fuselage having pink cardboard feet tapped to their foreheads. These “foot-solider” demonstrators will then symbolically head-butt the fence until sufficient administration outrage has been reached.
We will continue our absurd guerrilla antics until people take us seriously.
Thank you.
7 | Posted by RR Anderson | Jan 18, 04:07 PM
RR:
Crashing a plane—bad connotations.
8 | Posted by UPSPatrick | Jan 18, 09:53 PM
UPSpatrick:
Don’t dunkleburger all over my dream. ;)
9 | Posted by RR Anderson | Jan 19, 05:22 PM
Commenting is closed for this article.