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| Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton eonline.com |
Blogger Candidate Forum wanted to check in with a couple of thoughts on round two of the Great Debate. The edge to Democratic nominee Secretary Hillary Clinton. How did this round go? In a word: nasty. It did not take long for Republican nominee Donald Trump to go nuclear, bringing up former President Bill Clinton's treatment of women. He went as far as to seat First Gentleman-in waiting's former accuser front and center, in a pathetic effort to distract his opponent Typical of Mr. Trump, avoid answering the questions and divert attention back to Madame Secretary. For his part, Mr. Trump remained mostly calm, channeling a little of his running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence. For her part, it was an average debate performance, not quite as fiery as round one. Mr. Trump persistently refused to describe his now viral audio/video tape as nothing more than "locker room talk." He promised to prosecute Madame Secretary if elected president and broke with Gov. Pence on the topic of Syria. In short, the debate was acrimonious. The final round is onOctober 19, in Las Vegas. This is the make-or-break debate for both candidates. Now on to today's post: part two of the 2016 list of 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.
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| James River Lynchburg, Virginia en.wikipedia.org |
Lynchburg, Virginia
In Wednesday's post, Blogger presented the first part on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's annual list of 11 Most Endangered Historic Places (http://www.savingplaces.org). Today, yours truly presents the next group, starting with the James River in Lynchburg, Virginia.
The historic James River winds its way through a collection of cultural, historic, and natural resources in Virginia's Historic Triangle-a region that hosts 3.5 visitors every year. The National Trust's objective is persuade law makers, considering a power line project, to either bury the lines or consider an alternative route that would protect the gorgeous landscapes of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Trail, Historic Jamestown, Colonial Parkway, and Carter's Grove.
The James River was first placed on the 11 Endangered Historic Places list in 2013 and part of America's first nationally recognized water trail. The James River has been the scene of significant historical events that go back to pre-colonial America. Beginning with the founding of the first permanent English colony in 1607, to serving as a transportation during the Revolution, a site for Civil War battles, and so much more. This beautiful river has been the integral to American history. Its cultural resources are forever intertwined with early American history and the region's environmental health. The National Trust seeks to stop the construction of the transmission line in this historically significant place and raise awareness to the threat to the James River and spur public action.
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| Lions Municipal Golf Course Austin, Texas austintexas.gov |
Austin, Texas
Our next stop is in Austin, Texas for a round of golf. A round of golf at the historic Lions Municipal Golf. Did you think we were going to just any golf course? The Lions Municipal Golf Course was established in 1924 by the members of the Austin Lions Club. The "Muny," as it is affectionately known, is Austin's oldest public golf course and often known as the first desegregated course in the South. The golf course was desegregated in the late 1950, when two African-Americans youths strolled onto the golf course and permitted to play, marking the quiet desegregation of the Muny. This is noteworthy because it was done without conflict or a lot of debate.
Presently, despite being placed on the National Register of Historic Place this past summer, the golf course's fate is in doubt. Its lease, now held by the City of Austin and the University of Texas, technically expires in 2019, but previous public comments suggest a possible end to this agreement to make room for a potential commercial development on the site. The future of the golf course is predicated on a longer-term lease agreement between the city and university. Without a longer lease, the Muny cannot continue to bring to showcase an important part of American history.
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| Mitchell Park Domes Milwaukee, Wisconsin en.wikipedia.org |
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
We now travel from Austin, Texas to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to pay a visit to the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory-i.e. Mitchell Park Domes. The Domes were designed by local architect Donald Grieb, who won a national design for the Domes, and built between 1958 and 1967. This well loved institution is a fine example of engineering and a nationally recognized major example of Midcentury Modern architect. The Domes have been the focal point of community life and a magnet for tourist for over fifty years. The Grieb design features three domes: The Show Dome, the Tropical Dome, and the Arid Dome. Each dome features a wide variety of flora that an observer dubbed a zoo for plants. Late First Lady of the United States Lady Bird Johnson dedicated the Show Dome in 1965. Included with the breath taking architectural feature, The Domes are wonders of modern engineering that feature the world's first conical domes. They are the only conical domes in the world in use as conservatories.
After a small piece of concrete was found on the floor earlier this year-Milwaukee city officials temporarily closed The Domes to the public. Milwaukee County estimates that it would cost about $70 million to repair The Domes. Based on this estimate and other determinants, civic and park officials are now thinking that The Domes have outlived their usefulness and could be razed. Local preservation advocates have been encouraging the County to pursue alternatives. The National Trust's history of championing Modernist resources and its vast network of people passionate about Midcentury Modernism can help find a preservation solution.
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| The Embarcadero San Francisco, California sfexaminer.com |
The Embarcadero
San Francisco, California
We now head to Blogger's home state of California, to the beautiful City by the Bay-San Francisco. Our next stop is the National Register-listed The Embarcadero Historic District. The Embarcadero has been the historic link between San Francisco and gorgeous bay. It is a major economic driver for the Bay Area, home to variety of sea-faring activities while acting as the region's ferry hub. Its historic character, boosted by the 1991 demolition of the elevated Embarcadero Freeway and the completion of the major rehabilitation project including the landmark Ferry Building. All of which contributed to the revitalization of the urban waterfront.
Success aside, the waterfront faces two natural threats: earthquakes and the rising sea level. A recent earthquake vulnerability study of the 3-mile seawall concluded that there was a greater than average risk to the waterfront. If that was not enough, the Embarcadero's buildings are also under threat from constant exposure to the harsh marine environment, exacerbated by climate change. Case in point the Port of San Francisco expects a rise in the sea level of nearly 66 inches by 2100. These dual threats present a giant challenge challenge to the future of the waterfront. The at-risk assets generate $2.1 billion from rents, business income, and are significant contributor to the tourism industry, valued at over $11 billion. The dual seismic and climate threats require a joint federal, state, regional and local response that necessitates creative approaches to assure long-term resilience for the Embarcadero's storied history. The National Trust's ReUrbanism work highlights the importance to adaptive reuse to serve a 21st-century urban population.
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| Broadway Boulevard: The Sunshine Mile Tucson, Arizona forum.savingplaces.org |
Tucson, Arizona
Our final stop on our tour is the city of Tucson, Arizona. We are cruising a two-mile stretch of Broadway Boulevard called the Sunshine Mile. The Sunshine Mile is dotted with glass storefronts, geometric designed buildings, and uniquely designed signage. This two-mile roadway represents Arizona's most important concentration of Midcentury Modernism. The Sunshine Mile was primarily built between 1939 and 1972 and was developed as a commercial corridor following World War II as the American sense of optimism and economy boomed. Some of the buildings along the Sunshine Mile were designed by influential architects such as: Sylvia and William Wilde, Anner Rysdale, and Nicholas Sakellar.
Currently, the Sunshine Mile is under threat from a proposed transportation project that would widen Broadway Boulevard from four to six lanes and in some portions-as much as nine lanes. This plan would require the demolition and sale of several along the boulevard. However, a group of Tucson's architects, planners, citizens, property owners, and advocates are looking for a compromise. Working with civic officials, the group senses the opportunity to create policies that would preserve Broadway Boulevard's iconic architecture. The Sunshine Mile is an vital and irreplaceable part of Tucson's history and highlights recent research by the National Trust's Green Lab, which presented evidence that the Sunshine Mile and similar areas with historic, smaller buildings, and mixed period style blocks significant add to the city's economic vitality, neighborhood vitality, and residential density, This is comes at a significant time when cities are reusing older buildings to attract residents and grow local economic revenue.
If you would like more information about the National Trust for Historic Preservation 2016 list of 11 Most Endangered Historic Places and/or would like to get involved with campaigns to save these historic site, please go to http://www.savingplaces.org
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