The Fence Comes Down!
This photo was sent to us today:
In what has to be one of the most significant events in downtown Tacoma history, the fence that forces pedestrians through the Washington State History Museum arch has come down. The free flow of people may now commence. From Imagine Tacoma in 2008:
The design of the History Museum and its grand arch at the terminus of South 19th Street at the foot of the UWT hill-climb is an urban gesture of compelling quality – with the arch having the added bonus of framing the tilted hot-shop cone of the Museum of Glass. And yet, right next door the Chihuly Bridge is ‘fenced off’ from Pacific Avenue – caged in to force pedestrians to detour through the Museum’s arch in hopes of spurring additional patronage to the Museum and related retail.
This is a classic example of parochial interests not understanding the greater community benefit of its actions – and how ironic it is a museum devoted to history that has taken this position.
The claim that a fence is needed in this location to stop vehicles from driving on the plaza above the subterranean auditorium below is a total red herring. Large decorative bollards spaced equally along the existing fence line will provide the needed protection – and has been a successful urban design tool for centuries (and provides some of the leaning/sitting amenity that Gemzoe presented as one of his 12 quality urban design elements).
So the word on the street is that the process of bringing the fence down has been in the works for a bit. Now we’re starting to see the progress. Amazing.
From 2008
Previously on Exit133: Imagine Tacoma – Set the Chihuly Bridge Free (read the comments)
AND
The Donor Wall – Follow Up (6/29/2006)
WSHM Donor Wall to Muck Up Pedestrian Flow (6/27/2006)
Filed under: General
9 comments
E Erik B, March 15, 2012
Awesome news! Great to see a good result in the end which we never thought we would see:
Flashback:
A great day for walkability and good urbanism in Tacoma!!
C Christine March 15, 2012
It is about time! In protest, I have refused to patronize the History Museum since that fence went up and I’ve hatched ill-advised plans on how to tear it down in the middle of the night. Steal a bulldozer? A team of ox seemed appropriate considering the team that was in the old history museum but I didn’t know where to find ox or if “gee” meant go right of if it was “haw” that meant go right. But finally, the ugly fence has come down. Maybe I will visit the museum now.
R RR Anderson March 15, 2012
David Nicandri is rolling in his shallow grave right now.
E Erik B. March 15, 2012
Here was the proposed brick Donor Wall with the “view hole” that was proposed by the WSHM and eventually stopped by the city:
L lahar March 15, 2012
How did they keep that under wraps? Or maybe I’m just out of the loop. Anyway, a nice surprise!
S Scott March 16, 2012
This is definately a vast improvement. I went down there today to take a couple pictures. It’s not obvious if they mean to take down the rest of it, or even the center column. They’ve got some black bars attached to the side of the columns now where the fence panels used to attach.
J Jesse March 16, 2012
Magnificent job!
Next step? Small shopping/food vendors with roll up (pretty) garage doors north of the old Union Pacific Lobby…. built in red brick along the sidewalk. One can dream…
E Erik B. March 16, 2012
They’ve got some black bars attached to the side of the columns now where the fence panels used to attach.
Hmmmmm. Maybe they want to put a gate where the fence used to be.
A angiel March 16, 2012
“Mr. Tacoma, Tear Down Your Fence!”