Perhaps Ms. Forbes can explain why Kenneywood Park went to great lengths to recreate the classic section of the park, or why the City is so proud of the Vintage Grand Prix? Is Ms. Forbes suggesting that the public would be better served with a static display of these unique vehicles in a proper illuminated gallery sans the Grand Prix?
Is it an accident that the new ballpark looks like a reincarnated Forbes Field? Why do people pay thousands of dollars for toys I played with when I was a kid? (I wonder if Maggie Forbes owns anything that we've seen on the antique road show?) What about the WW II Submarine at CSC? Perhaps the science center should scrap if for the latest nuclear version. What about Frick Mansion, the Clark Candy bar sign, (Where is that now?) and Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall? Remember the D. L. Clark Mansion (on the North Side) and the Syria Mosque (in Oakland)? (Sorry, both locations are now parking lots.)
Is Maggie suggesting that the interesting and unique Smithfield Street Bridge be razed due to its age? Why stop there? Perhaps all the unique, but old bridges should be razed and replaced with something fresh and less Historical. Pittsburgh could then call itself the "City of Modern Bridges."
What are we to do with the Theatre District here in the City of Pittsburgh, Ms. Forbes? Does it seem reasonable to perpetuate the Pittsburgh Symphony? Especially when their claim to fame is the ability to play music that was composed hundreds of years ago? Perhaps Ms. Forbes should wield her power and enact legislation requiring that all theatrical and musical performances in the City of Pittsburgh be composed or authored within the past 5 years of the first performance to receive tax-generated funding.
Why are consultants from the Boston area, working on restoring the classic nature of West Park to its 1867 splendor? Why does City Government feel the need to spend $80.00 Million on West Park when the result is to create something that once was? Why is the Project Manager for the Children's Museum (who's Director has expressed little respect for local History) involved in the West Park Project? What portion of this $80,000,000 will be funneled into deconstructing the original Buhl Planetarium?
Is Ms. Forbes suggesting that Kaufmanns' Clock be scrapped and replaced with the latest in digital technology? What should the City do with its Inclines? Why keep this type of "artifact" technology around when it has been replaced with automobiles and public transportation? Why does the City feel the need to recreate the streets of days past, by bricking Grant Street? Perhaps Ms. Forbes can explain why people drive to Washington County just to see a trolley. Some of these trolleys are the last of their kind in the world. (You can also get on them, touch them, and even ride them.) Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood felt perfectly comfortable with his outdated and classic trolley. Is Maggie Forbes suggesting Fred Roger should have replaced it with a Monorail or a Maglev to transport the children to make-believe?
Why do the people of New York City (and New York State) feel no embarrassment in associating their image with a building (The Empire State Building) that opened in 1931? Perhaps San Francisco should straighten out Lombard Street now that horse and buggy transport has become passe. And what should be done with those World Famous Cable Cars? Perhaps they should follow Pittsburgh's example and display them in a Museum or History Center. Seaside states (including New York) are extremely proud of their anachronistic and obsolete lighthouses. Should they be torn down as a victim of radar and GPS technology?
Perhaps Ms Forbes would be kind enough to share her theories regarding the Liberty Bell, The Statue of Liberty, and the White House. (Is she suggesting that the President move to a modern condo?) Perhaps Ms. Forbes would like to comment on the "misguided" efforts to preserve and perpetuate the historical aspects of Washington D.C. or Philadelphia. It's reassuring to know that the disrespect for History permeating Pittsburgh has not reached other cities. (If Independence Hall were here in Pittsburgh it would be Independence Mall or Independence Parking Lot by now.)
Were the Rockefeller's crazy for kicking in $23 million Dollars of their own money to initiate the preservation and perpetuation of Colonial Williamsburg? Her logic implies that the Rockefeller's actions were nothing short of lunacy. Using Maggie Forbes reasoning, the City needs to dispose of The Carnegie Museum and its contents with the rest of Pittsburgh's history. This logic seems to eliminate the need for the Heinz History Center's expansion or the elimination of the Center and all institutions that currently house relics and artifacts.
Pittsburgh is no longer the "Steel City". Is it wise to retain the current name of our pro football team and risk the danger of remembering our heritage as a manufacturing town? It may be time for the team to consider a name that reflects the City's new direction. One can effortlessly surmise Ms. Forbes perspective regarding the enshrinement and worship of four "sacred" Uber-Bowl Trophies currently residing in our publicly funded Sports Cathedral.
Ms. Forbes may believe that the names of cities, towns, boroughs and their streets and structures should be changed every 5 years to avoid the possibility of enshrinement. (Perhaps we should start with Grant Street, Fort Pitt Boulevard, and the remaining wall of Forbes Field.)
How should we deal with the risk of new structures becoming historical? Perhaps some new slow-dissolving space-age polymer could be used as a construction medium. The material could be designed to dissolve at the same rate the structure's design falls out of favor with fad-planners and fad-developers. (This radical technology would reduce demolition (designing with dynamite) and construction costs, thus reducing or eliminating the use of our State and Regional Assets Tax. (R.A.T. Tax). Dissolving- Polymer Construction would also solve the public relations dilemma as well. These trendy fad-driven buildings would begin to disappear right before our eyes. People rarely get attached to something that isn't built to last.
Extrapolating her notion causes one to wonder why humanity should care for anything more than a few years old. (What about our Grandparents, Ms. Forbes?) Is Ms. Forbes also suggesting that we should ignore the thoughts and opinions of people who reach "old age"? Perhaps Ms. Forbes' opinions should be ignored.
Tragically, Ms. Forbes is a "victim" of her own logic, for the Children's Museum is contained in a shrine. The Old Post Office building they occupy is a historical landmark with National Registry. Why is this structure exempt from her misguided logic? Why is it still standing? Have the Children's Museum and Maggie Forbes chosen to conveniently ignore their history and destroy the remaining history of the original Buhl Planetarium? (The City of Pittsburgh owns the Buhl Planetarium and its contents.)
Perhaps it would be wise for the Children's Museum to sell their present structure to those who value and respect History and escape the confines and encumbrance of this nostalgic building and its architecturally significant neighbors. (The Buhl Planetarium and the Carnegie Library) The Children's Museum would then be free to construct their neoteric architectural monument that reflects their vivid imagination.
I would suggest that the above-mentioned self-dissolving polymer be used for construction. This would remove the risk of building a historic structure that may become a shrine. And to quote Maggie Forbes: "Building a shrine around what once was will do nothing for this City. That's very misguided."
Here is radical idea for this area. What if Pittsburgh was actually proud of its heritage and "discovered" a way to package History in such a way that people would travel to experience it. What would it take to convince the Mayor and City Council of the concept that Historical Tourism is synergistic and reaches far beyond the buildings and structures to encompass the human experience? Think of the possibilities. (The number one reason people visit Pennsylvania is for its History and its Great Outdoors.) Think of the cash flow. The Pittsburgh region grossed $3.00 Billion in visitor and tourism dollars for 2000. (Call Harrisburg and talk to the Visitor's Bureau if you don't believe me.)
Perhaps Pittsburgh would be wise to protect and preserve the things that make this City unique and set it aside from other cities in the world, rather that striving to create a City that looks, sounds, and smells like any other city in the world. (Makes one wonder why anyone would want to travel to Pittsburgh, especially if it's local government's intent to squander our tax dollars just to create the quintessential Generic City.)
Perhaps the City should turn off its History Erasure Machine before it's too late, and consider changing its slogan from "Pittsburgh: The City with a smile (or perhaps a contemptuous grimace) on its face" to "Pittsburgh: The Globally Unique City that built America."
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