No 'donor wall' but stop work order lifted

A squirrel in our attic has just sent me info regarding your favorite topic and mine: the downtown WSHM donor wall. The short of it is the stop work order has been lifted so no wall, but the fence is now clear to go back up. Here's some text from a certified letter sent from the City of Tacoma out to Nicandri and the WSHM:

"The purpose of this letter is to provide notice that Stop Work Order issued on September 26, 2006 is hereby removed on the condition that the remaining work under the permit be limited to reinstallation of the old fence, using materials as with its original construction, and the same location as before demolition. Please note that this action does not limit, or alter in anyway rights the city has under the easement agreement to access museum property."

It also doesn't sound like the city has any other legal power or say to urge Nicandri and the WSHM to leave any kind of gap in the fence for pedestrian access.

So where does that leave anyone who believes such a passage would be great for residents and visitors while not harming museum visitation? Let's start by sending emails. Click the following link to send a message of support for leaving a pedestrian passage where the fence once stood. Feel free to add in your own thoughts and perspective to the email and thanks for your support.

Send Email

Want to express your opinion but stay anonymous? Drop in a comment below or email it to me and I'll pass them on. Thanks!

Previously on KFnet

Comments (6) | To Top

4/11/2007 @ 11:48am

The "donor wall" is now scheduled to be installed in Tollefson Plaza. Thus, there is no reason to have any fence whatsoever blocking the pedestrian pathway to the bridge of glass.

"Please note that this action does not limit, or alter in anyway rights the city has under the easement agreement to access museum property"

That right is useless for Tacomans if a fence remains blocking pedestrians. What good is an easment if it can't be used?

by Erik

4/11/2007 @ 1:12pm

The fence will remain because taking down the fence would drive a dagger into the heart of the WSHM gift shop's business interests.

Citizens could walk freely between the side walk and bridge without being assaulted by annoying advertisements and bills.

This would spark a freedom in the minds of pedestrians that could escalate into expecting more and more freedoms.

People would expect to be able to walk wherever and whenever they pleased... like some kind of unbroken, free spirited unicorn stallion.

Productive members of the working classes NEED rules. They NEED security cameras on every corner of the street. They NEED to be deprived of chairs in the link stations. People NEED rules, fences and oppression.

Without the rules the ruling classes wouldn't be given the controls to label our citizens criminal and thusly would not feel justified when they impose their will upon them.

WSHM: Love is not a Fence; Love is an Opening.

by RR Anderson

4/11/2007 @ 8:20pm

Tonight (around 6:30 p.m.) at the New Tacoma Neighborhood Council, councilmember Julie Anderson gave an update on the construction material blocking direct access to the Bridge of Glass.

She indicated that the city was lifting the stop work order and that the donor wall would be placed in Tollefson Plaza. She stated that from here on out, it was a public relation issues as to whether the Washington State History Museum would re-build a fence there or not. She spoke at some length on the issue.

She urged the 25 or so people there to contact the Board of Trustees of the WSHM.

From my understanding, the city certainly would have opened direct access to the Bridge of Glass if there had the power to do so.

(I note that there were a number of other city council members in the room who spoke on other issues)

4/12/2007 @ 7:00pm

Let's organize a peaceful protest-lots of signs and leaflets. I'll bring my daughter. Name a time and date.

by Jennifer H.

4/12/2007 @ 7:11pm

Wow- there is a history conference reception planned at the museum nex Th. April 19 at 5:30- check their events page. That might be a good time to protest or talk to Nicandri.

5/10/2007 @ 4:00pm

Thanks for posting this Kevin. I still cannot believe that this is an issue. If Nicandri won't listen to the public, then maybe we should talk with the museum board. The names are below- of course email address are not posted on the WSHM web site:

Gary Alexander, Olympia
State Representative

Charles W. Bingham, Fox Island
Retired Senior Executive, Weyerhaeuser Company

Charlotte N. Chalker, Tacoma
Attorney at Law, Gordon Thomas Honeywell
Malanca Peterson & Daheim

Steve Conway, Tacoma
State Representative & Labor Relations

James P. Dawson, Puyallup
Financial Planner, LPL Financial Services

Melanie Dressel, Gig Harbor
President & COO, Columbia Bank

Robert Ficken, Issaquah
Historian

Billy Frank, Jr., Olympia
Chairman, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission

Daniel K Grimm, Puyallup
Director, Doughty Hanson & Co.

Denny Heck, Olympia
Retired President of TVW

Jim Honeyford, Sunnyside
Washington State Senator

Tom Huff, Gig Harbor
Retired Washington State Representative

John Hughes, Hoquiam
Editor and Publisher, The Daily World

Larry Kopp, Tacoma
Managing Member, Globe Capital

Ottie Ladd, Lakewood
Real Estate Investor

Alex McGregor, Colfax
The McGregor Company

Antone Minthorn, Pendleton, Oregon
Former Chairman, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

George Moynihan, Issaquah
Retired Director of Pacific Science Center

Samuel H. Smith, Seattle
President Emeritus, Washington State University

Sid Snyder, Long Beach
Retired State Senator

Harriet Spanel, Bellingham
Washington State Senator

Liping Zhu, Cheney
Professor of History
Eastern Washington University

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
Christine O. Gregoire Governor
Sam Reed Secretary of State
Terry Bergeson Superintendent of Public Instruction

by morgan

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Wed. April 11, 2007, 06:49am PDT