Spokane7
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March 15, 2010 in City
Weighing in
A weekly look at reader comments and reactions to the news
Despite an offer from Spokane County to use conservation money to pay for the former YMCA building at Riverfront Park, the city of Spokane has struggled with how to raise the money and whether to develop or raze the facility. Many readers appear frustrated at the continuing City Council hand-wringing over what to do. Find complete coverage of this issue and the full reader debate at www.spokesman.com.
ChefGus: The use of the Conservation (Futures) preservation money is antithetical to the rules and regs around those funds. How it ever got to be part of the options for this seemingly large mistake is beyond most lay persons such as myself.
Ninch: Conservation funding made the most sense. The building would disappear and the site would be open for more compatible uses as already outlined in the Comprehensive Park Plan.
Dreich: Historic? The land it sits on is historic. That building is not. Tear the ugly thing down … and paint that bridge another color, too. I never understood the baby blue nonsense on either of these structures. The old brick Washington Water Power building with the green lighting? Now that’s a beautiful and historic building.
Johnclarke: Less talk, more action. How hard is this? MAKE A DECISION already.
Soccermomsusie: I think this is an attack on Christianity. In case you forgot, that’s what the “C” in YMCA stands for. Probably an attack on the Y and M part too.
John Little: I agree that conservation funds should be used to acquire and conserve larger more pristine tracts of land. But the city should consider the option of selling some of the peripheral park property west of Monroe to pay for this, and return the centrally located Y property, with respect to the park core, back to a more natural state.
Oce: I like the idea of an aquarium.
WillyPeter: Having lived in several “big cities” in America, I know that nothing in those communities is more valued than parks and open spaces.
Dreich: Soccermomsusie, “Attack on Christianity?” Who? What? Huh? If the “C” in YWCA stands for “Crazy,” then you should be an honorary member.
dana635: Imagine the spectacular views of the falls without the hulking shell of the YMCA’s mediocre architecture blocking the way. This is a fantastic opportunity to increase every citizen’s access to the beautiful Spokane River. Take the conservation futures. Tear down the YMCA. Make Spokane an even better city!
Man dies following early Saturday car crash 
liarsinnews on March 15 at 5:11 a.m.
I can`t believe the number of cheerleaders that want to waste taxpayer revenue and rip down the Y building. It reminds me that it is not unusual to pick and chose comments to suit the fancies of the owners of the SR. Let the private sector purchase the property and realize some real estate tax money, notwithstanding where the heck would the money come from? I`m told using the conservation monies is illegal.
MrNatural on March 15 at 12:01 p.m.
This may seem like a waste of money to some but there is a majority of us who consider the spiritual and aesthetic value of reclaiming the riparian area of the falls priceless and worth much much more than a few pieces of silver. If it is so damn important to make a buck in downtown Spokane why not develop the whole damn park. Why not yank out the carousel and the fountain and put in your precious condos. Be sure to maximize every damn square foot as tall as you can build and even cover the river with concrete slabs so you can build on top of that too!…The problem with this town is that there are some people who’s taste is only in their mouths!
Signed Cheerleader #1