WSHM's Donor Wall To Muck Up Pedestrian Flow?

So, sometime last week, Kevin noticed the wall being built in front of the Bridge of Glass along Pacific and started asking some questions.  He found that the wall would have an artistic component to it and that it was owned by the Washington State History museum.  Today, I received an email telling me that the wall is to be a donor wall for the museum.  What makes my tipster livid is the larger ethical dimension of public access.  It’s one thing to try and create foot traffic in front of one’s institution, but building walls in front of bridges is a bad design, “crazy public policy,” and subversive to the greater goal of linking Pacific Avenue to the waterfront.  “We built the Bridge in part because of its value in wayfinding; putting it behind a brick wall is mean spirited and tacky.”  Ouch.  What do you think?

Update: Construction on the wall has been stopped by the city.  Crazy. 

Link to The News Tribune

Photo submitted by Erik.  Thank you.