Historic Preservation Trumps Parking Lot Plans

Historic preservation triumphs over parking lot plans. That’s not a plot we get to talk about all that often, so we wanted to share the story we read in Peter Callaghan’s article in yesterday’s TNT. Callaghan calls attention to the changes in the traffic and pedestrian improvement plans at Western State Hospital that came in response to concerns expressed by a historical advisory committee.

According to the article, a plan for improving parking included paving a portion of the historic parade grounds. This raised some concerns for the historical advisory committee, which objected to paving over one of the most historically significant pieces of land in the area, and possibly in the state. In a victory for historic preservation, the committee’s a voice was loud enough in the process to demand that their concerns be addressed. At this time, Callaghan reports, the hospital will not be paving the parade grounds, and the proposed paving improvement project will focus on pedestrian safety and other pavement repairs around the campus.

Our hats off to the historic preservation committee for their perseverance.

Read more from The News Tribune.

Photos courtesy of the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation