TX Governor's Mansion expansion is blueprint for historical disaster

[sonias]

AAS 1/05/10
Editorial: Texas Governor's Mansion expansion is blueprint for historical disaster

When the idea first came up to add a 3,000-square-foot addition to the Governor's Mansion as part of the postfire rebuilding project we weren't quite sure what to think about it.

We're for progress, but something didn't seem quite right about tinkering with the basic footprint of the graceful building that long has been a source of civic pride.

Now we know what to think about mansion expansion: Not much. It's a bad idea for many reasons, checklisted admirably Tuesday by Mandy Dealey, president of the Heritage Society of Austin. Dealey spoke to the State Preservation Board, which includes Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Strauss.

(snip)
The June 2008 arson that gutted the mansion was a tragedy. Rebuilding it to anything much different — save for safety and other necessary updates — than it was prior to the fire invites tragedy upon tragedy.

The Texas Historical Commission would do damage to its name it if participated in that.

AAS 1/05/10
Critics rip renovation plan for Texas gov mansion

AUSTIN, Texas — Historic preservationists told Gov. Rick Perry on Tuesday they object to a renovation plan for the fire-ravaged Texas governor's mansion because a proposed new building on the property would be an "unsightly appendage" causing visitors to gasp in disapproval.

A two-story building addition is "sure to evoke the comment, 'What were they thinking?' " said Mandy Dealey, president of the Heritage Society of Austin.

Though the governor is to live in the mansion, Perry, presiding over the State Preservation Board meeting, said he is staying out of the taste debate surrounding the Greek Revival-style home that was built in 1856 and severely damaged by a suspected arson fire in 2008.

A $26 million renovation is under way but far from complete. Perry said the state preservation board is briefed on the project, but that the Texas Historical Commission has authority over it.

"I'll leave it with them to make the correct decisions," Perry said. "I don't consider myself to be a historical preservationist and certainly not an expert in that field."

Business as usual with Perry - he's the Chairman of the State Preservation Board and it's packed with his appointees:

AAS 1/05/10
Perry: Experts will decide fate of mansion

Even as their staff members continued working to obtain approval of a two-story addition to the Governor's Mansion, members of the state board responsible for the landmark house distanced themselves Tuesday from any decision on the increasingly controversial project.

Let the Texas Historical Commission settle it, insisted the members of the State Preservation Board, who include Gov. Rick Perry, the board chairman and the guy who used to live in the mansion before an arsonist burned it out in June 2008.

"I'll leave it with them to make the correct decision," Perry told reporters Tuesday after a brief meeting of the preservation board — its first in almost three years. "They're the historical preservationists. They're the historical experts here, and they have the expertise to make the right decision."

Ditto for two other members of the preservation board: Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and state Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands .

"I am very supportive of the historical integrity of the Governor's Mansion," Dewhurst said.

So who sits on the State Preservation Board? No surprise - they're all Republicans.

State Preservation Board Members
Board Member
Governor Rick Perry, - Chairman
Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst- Co-Vice Chairman
Speaker of the House Joe Straus - Co-Vice Chairman
Senator Tommy Williams
Representative Charlie Geren
Charlotte C. Foster, Citizen

So who sits on Texas Historical Commission? Every single one of them appointed by Governor Perry. I would venture to guess they're all Republicans too.

Texas Historical Commission Board Members
The Texas Historical Commission is composed of 17 citizen members appointed by the governor to staggered six-year terms.

This is so typical of Perry. He creates a ruse about the process being transparent and independent, yet the decision is a done deal since he controls each of the members who decide the outcome.

The people of Texas get screwed once again as Perry rams an "unsightly appendage" down their throats, tries to shift responsibility to another agency he controls, and calls it progress. :grr:


Sonia

[hobbit709]

1. If there's a way to screw it up

Goodhair and his cronies will find a way to do it.

[tbyg52]

2. How handy that the fire gave him an opportunity to foist this on us.

As I recall, the security arrangements at the construction site were pretty much garbage.

[white cloud]

3. Preservationists criticize renovation plan for Texas governor's mansion

AUSTIN – Historic preservationists told Gov. Rick Perry on Tuesday that they object to a renovation plan for the fire-ravaged Governor's Mansion because a proposed new building on the property would be an "unsightly appendage" causing visitors to gasp in disapproval.

A two-story addition is "sure to evoke the comment, 'What were they thinking?' " said Mandy Dealey, president of the Heritage Society of Austin.
>>>>>>>>

Mansion project manager Dealey Herndon, who oversaw restoration of the Texas Capitol in the 1990s, told the Austin American-Statesman that the need for additional space "is the one position that's immovable."

Preservationists say the proposal would destroy a large live oak tree on the mansion grounds.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-mansion_06tex.ART.State.Edition1.116b7fe.html

[white cloud]

4. no spine

http://tinyurl.com/ydwof23

[sonias]

5. Love how Herman started out with the Appalachian Trail hook

Perry looks really, really bad in that video. Boy he's aged quite a bit. :evilgrin:


Sonia

[white cloud]

6. look what he has

buried in his closet!!!!

[sonias]

7. Addition to Governor's Mansion withdrawn

:wow:
If this wasn't an election season Perry would surely have won this. Since the media is paying attention and Texans are too - he retreats. (for now)

AAS 11/15/10
Addition to Governor's Mansion withdrawn
With little explanation, State Preservation Board says controversial 3,000-square-foot building no longer being considered.
The 3,000-square-foot addition, two stories and a basement, would have connected to the northwest side of the Governor's Mansion.

Plans for an addition to the historic Governor's Mansion that had created a firestorm of opposition in Texas were abruptly shelved late Friday by state officials.

With little explanation, John Sneed, executive director of the State Preservation Board, which was spearheading the project, announced in a three-paragraph statement that the proposed north addition to the 153-year-old mansion "has been withdrawn from further consideration."

The move, rumored as late as Thursday as project officials struggled for an alternative that would provide more space in the 8,900-square-foot mansion and satisfy opponents, avoided a potentially nasty public showdown over the project in two weeks, when Texas Historical Commission officials were to possibly consider the approval of a permit to allow the addition to be built.

Sweet!!

:bounce::woohoo::bounce::woohoo::bounce::woohoo:

Now if we can only make sure Perry never moves back into our Governor's mansion!

Sonia

[tammywammy]

8. Good news Sonia!

The addition was a travesty.