Smithsonian For Sale

[Robbien]

The Smithsonian is in need of major repairs and the Bush Admin told it to go raise the money on its own, government funds were needed for other purposes.

And so, for the first time, the Smithsonian is inviting public or private developers to renovate a museum on the mall. The new public-private redevelopment strategy involves the Arts and Industries Building. It sits empty, closed four years ago because of safety concerns about a collapsing roof.

. . .

To restore the building to circa-1900 condition — a shell and roof — is estimated to cost upwards of $60 million. The Smithsonian has invited public and private developers to submit by Jan. 7 their qualifications for renovating it. Those selected will be asked to submit proposals.

To be sure, the Smithsonian has set some standards for developers. It warns against anything that detracts from the “dignity” of the Mall — no “nightclubs or similar commercial entertainment venues, residences, hotels, religious activities or partisan political activities.” And, to save the building's face, literally, its original name “National Museum,” which is etched outside, must be kept. It will continue to be the Arts and Industries Building — and can't be named after anyone or any company.

But there can be no doubt this is business. Inside, retail is an option. And, benefactors' names can be used inside.

. . .

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Rules Committee chairwoman, has said involving private developers in the Arts and Industries Building renovation is a promising idea. She has scheduled a hearing this week on the Smithsonian's money problems. That same day, developers will get a look inside the old Arts and Industries Building.

http://www.hernandotoday.com/columnists/MGB7PJ4SY9F.html

[mcscajun]

1. NOooooooooooooooooooo!!!

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[Turbineguy]

2. National Parks are next

He's only got a year left to destroy America. Of course he can always grant himself an extension. God said so.

[krispos42]

3. So, what's next?

Selling ad space on our soldiers and military vehicles?

Imagine, right underneath the American flag on the right shoulder, a desert-camo Burger King or Pepsi logo...

:puke:

[KoKo]

6. Shrink Wrap "Beazer Homes" on our MIlitary Vehicles? Buses in

my area of NC are "shrink wrapped" with "Beazer" which is in big Mortgage Meltdown but I guess they had a contract with my city. Made me sick. I pay tax dollars for Public Transportation but "Beazer Homes" in bright red shrink get's the publicity..even when they are in the crapper and my tax money will probably end up bailing them out down the road when it all sorts out.

:-( Disgusting. Most of this had ramped up during Bush II but there were bits of it earlier on. Chimp just made it his own along with the crap people that the Repugs have placed in our State Governments with the DRE Machines>

[Wilber_Stool]

8. At least they'll know

what they're fighting for.

[KoKo]

4. We don't need no Stinkeen Museums...It's the New America! Old Moldy places

that kids get creeped out in... Better to just do a video game on it maybe with a little Virtual Reality goggles and who needs the damned old Smithsonian with it's leaky roof. Disney should come it and put a Smithsonian Theme Park there. It would help tourism and make it profitable so that we taxpayers don't have to bother with it.

:sarcasm: Heard this from Grover Norquist. "Smithsonian Drowned in DC Bathtub." WAR IS GOOD...PAY FOR WAR! :nuke:

[FreeStateDemocrat]

5. Thrown under the bus by DINO Feinstein, R-Calif., the pathetic California

Democratic Party must be quite an assortment of special interest groups that can't agree on how to nominate real Democrats. A puke governor and senator really impressive for a "blue" state reminds me of Conn.

[Robbien]

7. Where was she when the GOPer in charge was squandering millions on perks

for himself? Millions just gone from the Smithsonian budget under the previous GOPer head of the Smithsonian while DiFi slept and now she is in favor of saving a dime by opening a Wal-Mart in the Arts Museum.

[troubleinwinter]

9. Excellent idea!

Just like Huckabee thought the 'Hollywood Celebrities' should finance AIDS research.

Dianne can peel off a few of her $94 million...maybe refinance her $16.5 million home in SF, or her home on the ski slopes at Lake Tahoe, or the one in Hawaii.. what a "promising idea"! Most of her bucks are from private real estate development.

What a charming way for our nation's historical heritage to be privatized by "private developers".

Somebody get me off this stupid earth.

Oh, here's just one of her homes:

[blues90]

10. This is so freaky , why not

Just let the building die and it can stand as a shrine of a reminder of what american once was . People can drive by in their SUV's and other forms of transport and snap photo's from their wal-mart bought digi cam .

They did something like this to the Hollywood Bowl , it's now owned by Disney and what once was a place to enjoy the real outdoors and have a picnic has become full of crappy gift shops with everything from China .

I haven't been there since the mid 80's and went in 2006 and was amazed how they ruined it .