Many thanks to Julie Muhlstein for her persuasive column concerning the potential loss of an historic block of Hewitt Avenue. (Friday, “An authentic, historic Everett is worth another look.”) The examples she cited should convince anyone that historic preservation is worthwhile. For the city’s leadership to promote redevelopment there is incredibly shortsighted, particularly when the goal is to provide parking for a proposed courthouse that should never have been approved for the block in question.
History is what gives any town its charm. Imagine Everett if the high school or the Hotel Monte Cristo had been lost. Picture Snohomish with one of its historic downtown blocks replaced by a modern building with a rooftop parking garage. Once historic buildings are gone, they are gone for good. If the city continues on this path, downtown will become less pleasant for walking, shopping and dining. What we’ll be left with is plenty of parking in a place no one wants to visit.
I will quote Russell Baker: “Usually, terrible things that are done with the excuse that progress requires them are not really progress at all, but just terrible things.”
Linda Staab
Everett
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
