Letter to the Editor: Town Center is an opportunity to show off our history and uniqueness
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
To the Editor:
Regarding the Town Center Plan Options, it seems to me that the Town Center is a wonderful opportunity to “show off” our history and uniqueness. Two of the three plans offered would destroy the landmark quality of one of the most unique features of Shoreline, the Red Brick Road, by moving it and/or “lifting it to grade”. An outdoor stage is also a feature which would only be usable in summer, and any performances or productions would have to compete with Aurora's traffic congestion, air pollution, noise, and attention span of attendees. Where would people park? Aside from an interpretive kiosk, these two plans present more of the same elements to be found in our other already fine park system.
It's in the remaining plan (Option #2) that there is something really unique and culturally significant to preserve, the Red Brick Road, aka Ronald Place. It is not only a rare piece of history, but a source of pride for the community, a link to our past that you can feel with your feet! What better way to experience it! It is a point of interest and a draw for tourism. Without including a revenue source (tourism) in our planning we have a recipe for higher taxes and a wasted opportunity for historical significance. And what a benign artifact! It doesn't block anyone's view, requires no maintenance, costs nothing to preserve, and it's already there.
Like a creek running through Town Center it appears above and below ground. Sections of it still can be seen as it winds alongside Aurora and then due to development it goes underground and disappears where it crosses Aurora about N. 185th St. veering northwest towards Linden St. What a beautiful way to commemorate history and honor local businesses by preserving the thing that brought community, utilities, and business here in the first place!
These two sections are what is left of a very long road from Seattle and we are the owners! Let's not lose it forever! Let's move forward with the plan option that respects the integrity of the RBR, leaves it undisturbed, and ensures its continued existence with landmark status for us and future generations to enjoy.
Vicki Westberg
Shoreline
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7 comments:
Okay, I'm not saying the the red brick road isn't cool. But tourism draw? Revenue source?
Snort!
No kidding. I don't see people coming from miles around to view a row of bricks. And certainly not paying. However, it might make a nice backdrop to the proposed Shoreline Farmer's Market (which I hope everyone reading this will support!): http://shorelinefarmersmarket.blogspot.com/
You naysayers have so little imagination. Why can't you see that this unique, historic asset can be a part of the total picture there at the Town Center. Sure, few folks would probably come to see that feature alone, but as an essential element of a "historic center" of town, it would be wonderful.
As it stands now, that park is boring, windy, dirty, cold or hot. And only a few people can be see walking there. But, it is a nearly blank canvass with one element in place waiting for other cool things to join it.
So, add an "Interpretive Center", restroom, sculptures, plantings, and happenings, like a farmers market or whatever, and then you have a place that tourists WOULD come to see. The essential element is this "heritage walk", and then let the retail elements fill in on the edges to bring more interest.
The Red Brick Road was designed originally as a HIGHWAY to build a community and retail core. Let's enable that to happen again. Let's not destroy the one true thing of real value on this site.
Excuse me, 9:51, I didn't say anything about tearing up the road, taking it out, etc. But it won't be a tourism draw beyond a curiosity for people going to the park or live here anyway.
How many people have made the effort to visit the Lynnwood historic park with the interurban car and farm house? Anybody?
Do you really think that anybody would would specifically travel from anywhere to visit it? Not bloody likely.
Let's just not get silly about it. Save it as an interesting historical add on to the park, but PLEASE don't try to sell it as a tourism attraction or a revenue stream. That's just insulting.
I actually have visited the Lynnwood site. I think we can do much better.
There's is kind of isolated, nest to a Jaguar dealership and most of the stuff there is artificially placed and presented.
The Red Brick Road is authentic where it is. If you develop the Town Center in such a way that preserves the past, while also bringing new things to it's commercial core, there will be a great "conversion" of people, history, commerce and "vibrancy" that so many cities seek.
There is no need to get angry and get insulted. What's wrong with bring tourists here for a whole range of things? It is actually called out in our Comp Plan and Heritage Code. We have lot's of potential tourist attractions that can be exploited to bring outside dollars here.
We have wonderful "regional parks", events, and plenty of retail. Let's do more of the same and also preserve our history as a fundamental value.
What's wrong with that?
"Convergence" is the term, I meant to say. a vibrant "Convergence" of people, commerce and history.
So many great cities have that and make the most of it. Why not Shoreline?
The City obtained millions of dollars in federal grants and promised to preserve the red brick road in the Heritage Park. It is in the 32 Points document. I think that to change course now might be considered a fraud if they don't preserve the Red Brick Road. The National Park Service considers keeping objects in their original location and setting part of the preservation process, not just the objects themselves. To pull the bricks up and use them as decorative pieces does not preserve the Red Brick Road.
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