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History museum doesn’t belong in Civic Center

Thursday, October 25 at 12:00 PM

This Speakout has not been edited.

By Annette Woodward

While we debate the pros and cons of putting the Colorado History Museum in Civic Center Park, I believe it is instructive to go back and look at the reasoning that brought us to this place. Before the City expressed a reluctance to sell an empty building because of the potential need for more office space, before the State expressed a reluctance to use land they already own for the same reason, and before the State had put a final budget on the project making land acquisition a factor, the Permit building was the preferred site and Civic Center Park was rejected for a significant loss of open space and no room to expand. Those objections have not changed. They are the price for saving future office space.

So now that Civic Center Park is the preferred site it needs to be sold to the public. To this end there are several arguments. The first being that many historic plans show a twin building to the Carnegie building. But one has to remember that the size of the park and elements within it have changed over the years, as well as the density around it. Once the City and County building was constructed, there was no longer a mention of a “mirror building.” I invite you to go to the Greek Theater and imagine a four-story building rising up10 feet away from its steps. Or stand on the corner of 14th and Bannock and imagine a building blocking your view of the park.

Much stress has been placed on the ability of the museum to activate the park, but can it really? Once the visitors come in the front door of the museum, they will need to have a reason to go out the back door and into the park. The same social ills and neglect that keep people out of the park today will still exist tomorrow. A building, in and of itself, won’t change them. There has been some money committed in the proposed bond issue to fix some of the historic structures, but there needs to be much more of a commitment if the park is to become a place to enjoy for an hour or an afternoon. More activities like the Civic Center Conservancy’s Farmers Market, or a cultural center in the Carnegie come to mind.

And that brings us to another selling point. If we let the State build the museum in the park, they will renovate the Carnegie. But this renovation was also included in the two other proposed sites and shouldn’t be the deciding factor. The renovation of the Carnegie is an important part of the park’s master plan and the City should find a way to do it regardless. Giving away open space in our park should not be the price tag.

And we can’t ignore the future. What happens when the museum needs to expand? It has already moved three times in its history. Unless we give up more open space the museum will have to move, leaving the City with an aging building in Civic Center Park that can only be used as a museum.

The Colorado History Museum is an important institution for the State and the City. Our Mayor and our Governor should give it a higher priority than empty office space, commit the necessary funds, and find it a home without compromising downtown open space.

Annette Woodward is a member of The Coalition to Save Civic Center Park. She is a resident of Denver.

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