PUBLISHED ON November 6, 2007
Yakima Herald-Rebublic
Section: Opinion/Editorials
Capitol should anchor revitalized downtown
When thinking of a revitalized downtown Yakima, it's not difficult to envision the Capitol Theatre as a primary anchor, especially with ambitious, long-range upgrades and expansion being planned for that community treasure. But as much as we like the Capitol and what it can do for the community, let's make sure all the bases have been covered before signing off as a community on such an ambitious project.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
PUBLISHED ON November 20, 2007
Yakima Herald-Rebublic
Section: Opinion/Editorials
Capitol plans would be benefit
To the editor - Picking your battles properly can mean the difference of your voice having meaning or being seen as a bad joke. This is the case in reading the objection to the planned Capitol Theatre expansion by the "fledgling" Historic Preservation Commission. It's not like the Capitol is going to put a Vegas-style entrance or anything that wouldn't complement the style of the Capitol. I feel my grandfather and later the city in their rebuild acknowledged it's the right style for downtown and representative of our history.
Right up the street the classy Sullivan's building is falling to an ugly chain store on Yakima Avenue; now that's the end of a renaissance. At least Olive Garden tried a little to blend into our look. The Wilson building demolition trade for another form of existing downtown style is the best-case scenario for an old building, Sullivan's is the worst. If you want to drum up support, let's go after people who want to turn downtown into a strip mall. The Capitol just wants to highlight what we already have; that is truly preserving history.
FORBES MERCY
Yakima
PUBLISHED ON November 16, 2007
Yakima Herald-Rebublic
Section: Opinion/Editorials
Center aisle plea
To the editor - With the exciting plans for expanding the Capitol Theatre, I must ask if there is any thought of establishing a center aisle in the main theater.
The fact that it hasn't happened yet doesn't cancel the possibility of an emergency that would necessitate immediate evacuation of the theater. The current seating arrangement, with only side aisles, is a long-standing recipe for catastrophe.
Wouldn't this be a good time to correct a dangerous situation?
Ben Van Eaton
Yakima
PUBLISHED ON November 16, 2007
Yakima Herald-Rebublic
Section: Opinion/Editorials
Self-destruction
To the editor - I am appalled to read in the Nov. 7 Yakima Herald-Republic in "Theater expansion plan 'fluid,'" and "Downtown Walgreens moves forward," of the planned destruction of two more historic structures, the Wilson Building and the complex at Yakima and Seventh avenues. What is with the city that it continues to allow its architectural history to be destroyed?
Please refer to the book, "As the Valley Was," which I edited for Yakima Federal Savings and Loan in 1968 to see what Yakima used to look like: Beautiful old buildings that no longer exist, a continuing pattern of self-destruction.
And, while on my soapbox, one more comment: NIMBY works if you live in the Willow Lake area. But if, like me, your home is in the 44th/45th/Summitview area, it did not: The "re-creation of a lovely old neighborhood" envisioned by Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital is still just a vision, four or five years and holding. "The ordinances allow it" is the ongoing excuse for that as well, incidentally, as for the proposed Wal-Mart in West Valley.
JEANNE CRAWFORD
Yakima
PUBLISHED ON November 15, 2007
Yakima Herald-Rebublic
Section: Opinion/Editorials
Protect our history
To the editor - The Nov. 4 headline should have read: "Capitol gains - Our community loses another historic building."
As downtown Yakima's renaissance continues to build momentum, another old building becomes threatened, not by an ill-informed property owner or greedy builder, but by our Capitol Theatre.
Hidden within the ambitious expansion plans is unfortunately the end of the historic Wilson building. The theater manager wants to make improvements to complement the downtown remodel. But there is another equally important new movement in Yakima: historic preservation.
Most of the expansion plans are appropriate, including the rear staging and offices and the plaza-style Third Street. But the idea of destroying another building that possibly has a beautiful facade under its metal siding is a bad idea. Old photos reveal a fantastic looking building that could be renovated to complement the already restored historic neighboring structures. Restoration is often a process of discovery in which layers of additions must be removed to formulate a plan. We do not need a five-story reproduction of Seattle; our history is a more appropriate inspiration. The architect should find a way to restore the Wilson to its original grandeur, or have respect for preservation efforts.
Regardless, many precious gems have been lost because somebody said it wasn't possible to save them. The common thread most attractive cities across America have is that they have protected their history along with new developments. If we continue to destroy our history, Yakima will suffer from the loss of identity that these buildings provide.
Scott Charles Irons
Yakima
PUBLISHED ON November 12, 2007
Yakima Herald-Rebublic
Section: Opinion/Editorials
Hooray for Yakima
To the editor - I am so proud to come from Yakima! This is a community that moves an auto wrecking yard next door to our premier tourist draw, the Washington Wine Country. Napa should take a page from our book!
And how about those council members who protest closing off Third Street downtown to create a stunning pedestrian plaza in conjunction with expansions to the jewel of Yakima, the Capitol Theatre? Their complaint: We can't close Third Street because it appears the police wouldn't figure out other ways to get from Yakima Avenue to Chestnut in case of emergency. Since we keep cutting taxes in the name of fiscal responsibility, apparently the city cannot afford maps for the Yakima Police Department and hence the cops are unaware of alternate routes, specifically Second and Fourth streets.
Away from the downtown, we have a housing community that shudders at the thought of the Yakima Valley Technical Skills Center building next door. Yes, all those industrious students going to school to learn specific job skills are just the types to vandalize and spray graffiti. Better to put the school down by the new jail, a Dickensian message to our youth that if they fail, they'll end up over there in the Big House.
And now the coup de grace. A newly elected councilman and his wife demonstrate the kind of integrity voters are looking for: anonymous, unsubstantiated rumors and potshots on a blog. Wow! This place just gets better all the time.
Wendy Warren
Yakima
PUBLISHED ON November 9, 2007
Yakima Herald-Rebublic
Section: Opinion/Editorials
Leave it alone
To the editor - I read the Nov. 4 articles about the Capitol Theatre. After all the time and money that was spent restoring that beautiful building to its former glory, why would anyone want to change its appearance? Isn't history important anymore? In fact, I thought it was listed on the National Historic Register. Why would that have happened unless there was an expectation of keeping a semblance of the history of the building.
I am sure that I am not the only one out in the community at large that feels this would be a great desecration of a beautiful place.
Elizabeth Watkins
Yakima
PUBLISHED ON November 9, 2007
Yakima Herald-Rebublic
Section: Opinion/Editorial
Wilson is city history
To the editor - Re: The Nov. 4 article, "Wilson Building demolition has few detractors."
It's too bad the Capitol Theatre is not planning on incorporating the historic Wilson Building in its planned expansion. While not significant, this building is of the same era as its neighbors, the Capitol Theater and the Commercial Hotel, both of which have been renovated and are very much a part of downtown Yakima.
I realize that economics play a part in the decision of whether or not to use an old building, but what price is history worth? As one more piece of Yakima's past bites the dust, there is that much less for future generations to enjoy. What with the recent trend toward reusing old buildings (Sports Center, Talcott's Building, Old Colima Building, Seasons, YWCA, etc.) it is surprising that the Capitol Theatre board is not considering saving their own piece of history.
If the city allows this building to be torn down, not only is a piece of Yakima's past lost forever, but it is also a slap in the face to those business owners who have spent many thousands of dollars to renovate and preserve their historic buildings.
Bruce Newell
Yakima
