Well gosh...What a lot of news there is today. I'd intended to delve into the background of the Gateway Transit Center, but I couldn't just let these other items pass without putting them out for comments. We'll sort of move up the scale, from small to large.
They'll struggle onward in spite of losing Dick's spite...
First up, Dick Goodman of KONP has retired. Obviously KONP has been hampered by this move on Dick's part, since they haven't even got a story about it up on their own website. Dick was responsible for most of the "news" content on said website, and it was always notable for his errors in spelling, grammar and facts, as well as injections of his own personal vitriol and right-wing wackiness. Will KONP be able to maintain the level of "quality" Dick Goodman brought to them? Stay tuned...
From the audio to the visual, we move on to the efforts to revive the very much dead Lincoln Theater. Folks, it's easier to fix a car while it's still functioning, rather than waiting until it dies. Where were all these people when Paul Cronauer and Max Mania tried to save the (still living) Lincoln a few years ago? Do they understand what a hindrance a non-compete clause is? Do they understand how much it costs to convert theaters to digital? Are they prepared to raise and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy the Lincoln, hundreds of thousands more to update it to digital, and then (at a bare minimum) hundreds of thousands more to at least spruce the dump up? Cronauer was at least willing to invest seriously in it - anyone else stepping up to the plate? These people who are envisioning it as being a dinner theater or anything like that obviously haven't been inside the Lincoln for a long, long time. It's a dump. Dark, dingy, rotten, with totally non-ADA compliant bathrooms, etc., etc.
The Lincoln joins the ranks of the local living dead.
I'll say it again: If it could have been saved while still in operation, it would have been smoother and easier to transition to something else, something new. But once a theater has closed, it's very difficult real estate to move. Especially if it's in the kind of rundown shape the Lincoln's in. I fear it will just join the long list of Port Angeles albatrosses that litter the real estate landscape.
Moving on now to a living business that is still having problems...Our friends at Nippon are having heartburn with their boiler. There are cracks in the boiler's water tank, which was obviously built to Port Angeles levels of quality. (Which is to say, expensive and non-functional.)
Well now, I think I see what yer problem is fellas...
Now, as someone who is adamantly opposed to the whole biomess idea, I could gloat about this delay - one in a series of delays affecting this project. (So many delays and "maintenance outages" and other bumps in the road to make one suspicious that they're planned events...) But I will instead focus in on the last quote in the PDN article on this. Given how many different versions of their plans that Nippon laid out prior to building this mess, and given how many outright lies they told during that process as well, it's amazing to see mill manager Steve Johnson quoted as saying: "It shows the value of effective and honest communication on a timely basis." Now that is some chutzpah.
Finally, we come to the ongoing drama at the County Courthouse. That is to say, the ongoing drama at the County Courthouse surrounding Sheila Roark Miller.
Long story short, the State compiled a 515 page report on her, a report which contains many, many troubling allegations and established facts. The State, which doesn't actually do anything to enforce its own rules in most cases - think the Port, for instance, and Karen Rogers - isn't going to do any more with this issue.
Mike Doherty thinks the County Commissioners should at least read the report. But Mike Chapman and Jim McEntire both say they aren't going to do even that. Doherty - rightly - cites concerns about how documents were backdated, altered, and destroyed, as well as how Roark Miller mistreats County employees. Both other Commissioners insist that they're done with this issue. Done, even though, really, they never got started, since they won't even read a report.
The ever-slippery Mike Chapman is quoted as saying "It's up to the public at this point to determine what needs to happen." Never mind that it's your job to do your job, right Mike? And how do we square that statement with these others you made, such as "I don't think there's a need to come back," and "I'm not going to change my opinion"? So you're saying that, sure, the public can weigh in and speak up, but no matter what, you've already made up your mind? That's a predetermined outcome, Mike, not one that the public can affect. So you're not only blind, not only happy to cover these problems up, but you're also a liar and a hypocrite. You and McEntire can circle the wagons all you like, but it doesn't make these problems just go away. Kudos to Mike Doherty for speaking up for the people, and for a thorough and open process to deal with these issues.
Anyway, now it's your turn to speak up. How many missed opportunities can one city survive? How many red flags can one county survive?
I know that Mike Doherty is somewhat of a fighter, and is very informed, and obviously cares more than a little about the people of Clallam County. But when you see things like this, with the other two commissioners just obstructing, obstructing, obstructing, you have to wonder if it's worth it for Mike D. to stay. I wouldn't blame him at all if he washed his hands of the whole mess and just left Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb to stew in their own rotten juices.
ReplyDeleteYes, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb...But you'd have to be Tweedle Even Dumber to want to join them...
DeleteThat county flag reminds me of something, but I can't quite put my finger in it...
ReplyDeleteYeah, so much typical Clallam County/Port Angelesness in these items. A local resource (the Lincoln) is on the rocks, but no one gets concerned until, duh, it's gone. Our local "industrial customer" spends $80 million bucks and can't build a water tank that holds water. And a local elected official gets caught doing things she shouldn't, and the other elected officials don't wanna touch it.
ReplyDeleteYep, just another typical day here in our little piece of paradise. And it's only Tuesday!
the agent (our own Gase) says the price will be $259k, for a business loan that would be several thousand a month. ($259k for a commercial loan of typically 5 or 10 years, would be $4-5k a month, $48-60k a year), meaning that the establishment would have to have money to start it, rehab it, and run it for several years, at a deficit. Meanwhile, general operating costs (electric/employees/ongoing repairs) Just rough numbers would be that it would need at the VERY least 400 people to pay at least $20 a ticket to come out of their homes to show each month, every month, all year round -- at the very minimum. I don't think even as an established theater there were that many tickets sold in a month. I would be shocked if they had a total monthly attendance over 200 individuals.
DeleteAnd, the non ADA isn't a huge issue (it is eligible for historic landmark status). However, the lack of fire exits is a concern. As is the fact that all of the "work" has probably been cheap, not to code, and all of the original fixtures were sold on ebay years ago.
As for fire exits.... ONE that might exist (rear of building) does not appear to be operational. How can this be?! And, I does it even have a TO CODE fire suppression system?
It's not that big a deal that it closed. However, the ideas bandied about -- for an art/foreign/old movie house -- we just don't have the right demographics to be supported in this town. (Not for several thousand a month!!!) And, it's not like we support theater in this town, either. Part of it is a lack of IMAGINATION, and the rest is that whom ever takes over the booking, will likely be from here, and ..the result? Michael Jackson impersonators? The same tired performers that do the Pier events on Wednesdays in the summer? The same performers that show up at the Juan De F*cked festival every single year? YAWN.
And, I would suspect that the head-in-the-mud syndrome that is so common up around these parts is partially because the fools can't read.
DeleteThe one in the red can read...the other two look like defective clones. (Not meaning to offend clones.)
DeleteThe problem with Paul and Max trying to save the Lincoln a few years ago was two fold: no community support, and, the amount of $$$
DeletePlus, the ideas bandied around were the same tired ones now..."oh make it an revival movie theater" "make it a community playhouse". Folks...I can watch old movies in my home on Netflix. I don't go to see small theater productions of "Oklahoma" or "Annie Get Your Gun" because I don't care to see small theater, or try to NOT doze off in theater seats.
And, the Lincoln Theater was never a glamorous theater...never a movie palace. It was built on the cheap, and it was UGLY to start with, and then uglied up in the late 30's, and the interior is lacking a grand lobby, decent bathrooms AND anything that might have been remotely interesting was torn out and sold years ago (the organ, the light fixtures, etc.) It's a tribute to the attitude of "good enough" that plagues this area.
To do anything at all with the Lincoln Theater would require a major outlay of hundreds of thousands of dollars, as noted. All that might, I say might, start to bring the property back up in value. Might.
DeleteIf you look at the tax records for that block, the Lincoln has been going down, down, down in value for a decade. The owner knew this day (closing it) was coming, and obviously saw no need to put a single cent into it, especially with his Deer Park theaters just outside of town.
So once again, we have something that might have once have been of value that's been allowed to atrophy and waste away. And once again, after the fact, we have a few suddenly concerned locals crying crocodile tears over the loss.
Personally, I think it's a fool's errand to even waste time talking about trying to revive that theater as anything to do with films, performances, etc. It's too expensive, and, as other posters have pointed out, we just don't have the demographics or the market for something like that.
The smart money would be on trying to figure out what could go in that space once the theater is torn down. Or we could just gut it and turn it into yet another faux "antique" shop. But as a venue, it's done, folks. The arts community needs to get a clue.
Of course, I could be wrong about all of this if those fine folks at PA Untied succeed in their plans to nearly double the local population...
Coming soon in Port Townsend, they have performances by some musicians from Turkey. This will bring some real culture to their little town, and they're doing a free performance, too.
DeleteMeanwhile, here in Port Angeles, what do we get? A Michael Jackson knockoff, which is a different kind of turkey altogether.
This difference demonstrates why anyone who dreams of doing anything cultural or artistic with the defunct Lincoln Theater is doing just that - dreaming.
See the problem with discussing what to do with it once torn down is that buildings downtown tend not to be rebuilt. We've lost more buildings than we've gained. Buildings are turned into parking lots or vacant lots. Since the Lincoln is in a pretty awkward place for a parking lot, I would guess it will look more like the vacant lot west of Matthew's Glass, where the homeless hang out. I have no confidence that it would be rebuilt if torn down.
DeleteNeedless to say, we wouldn't be faced with this whole Sheila Wreck Miller issue if our county did things like EVERY OTHER COUNTY IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY and had her position as an appointed one, not elected.
ReplyDeleteThen, if she was doing these things, the lines would be clearly drawn, and it would absolutely be the responsibility of the Commissioners to deal with it. But here, with our odd set up, the Commissioners have an out by saying "But she's another elected official. It's up to the voters to deal with it."
The timing of this is ironic, given that the City has begun appointing people to their so-called Ethics Board. But across the street in the courthouse, I guess there's no need to even go through the motions of bothering with silly things like ethics or responsibility.
Of course, you raise an interesting point or question. Why aren't people filing recall papers? Is it REALLY the responsibility of the Commissioners to deal with this, or the voters?
DeleteThese are, to some extent, rhetorical questions. Do we really believe the voters of Clallam County care enough to do ANYTHING about this? Other than bitch and moan, of course.
Not only do " the Commissioners have an out..." They have a lawful prohibition NOT to get between the elected official and her direct supervisors (the public). Criminal Violations (if any) are the responsibility of the Prosecutor and the Attorney General, Ethics Violations (if any) are up to the voters to determine.
DeleteWe've all heard of businesses or places being risk-averse, but Clallam County is completely information-adverse. If it's real, if it's quantifiable, they don't want to hear about it. This mindset pervades the courthouse.
DeleteNot too long ago, there was a proposal to do an inventory of all the culverts in Clallam County. The Feds were going to put up the money to do so. But Jim Jones literally freaked out, and shot the idea down immediately.
Why? Because if they did the inventory, then the County would have information about the culverts. And if they had information, then they might be expected to do something.
In other words, they'd rather wait until something actually fails, then deal with the crisis, rather than keep up to date on what is going on, what condition things are in, etc. It's crazy, but that's how they do business in Clallam County.
Ah, so many things to comment upon.
ReplyDeleteDick? There is a statement all by itself. That he was the primary "news" guy at KONP.
With his retirement, does this hold out any hope that the tone of KONP will change? It has been such an embarassment for so long.
The Lincoln? One of the things that the Arts Council, Bob, and others seem to be missing in their glowing plans to create a non profit dinner theatre (or some such thing) is the patronage issue. Other than Bob's groupies, there isn't a great population as in Tacoma, to finance ongoing support and operations, much less do all that is required to renovate the structure to current standards.
I'd love to be proven wrong.
Nippon? Why should they care? They got the millions in tax money, and tax breaks. And, thinking about what Port Townsend said, maybe it isn't economically viable to run the thing, with the cheap natural gas on the market.
Mike? I'd be really surprised if he runs again. I don't think he will. Our loss.
Sheila? I see that issue as one of many barometers showing how much people care about what is going on, and how much they are willing to do anything about it all.
The points you make could all pretty much be lumped together under the heading of "Clueless."
DeleteKONP wants to be the "voice of the community," but only airs shrill right-wing programming, and had crabby old right-wing Dick as their "reporter." Hence they kind of missed the boat in terms of, oh, over half the community.
The Lincoln Theater, as you say, would require far, far more of a population base to make a go of...anything, really. Our local Arts Council isn't up to taking on a project of the scale this would require, and I can't think of anyone else locally who would possibly be interested. So why are they wasting their time holding meetings? Focus on battles you can win.
As for Mike Doherty, it sure seems like he's been taken aback and surprised at the coziness between McEntire and Chapman. But Mike Chapman goes wherever the wind blows him. When McEntire won, he provided a new, heavier gravity to draw the weaker Chapman into his right-wing orbit. Doherty, with his "facts" and "thinking" can't compete with the emotional appeal that Republican politics have for Chapman. He should have seen this change coming, especially with all the dirty work Chapman did to/with the Democrats behind the scenes to get re-elected, but oh well. Doherty's learning the tough lesson now.
But I don't think the voters will learn the lessons they should about Sheila Miller. She's bad, vindictive news. Altering and destroying documents are serious acts, and show a real, deep disrespect for the rule of law. Sheila's almost an anarchist with her views on things like building permits (don't need them) and other basic tenets of civil society.
Like you, I'd surprised if Mike Doherty ran again. And if that happens, I don't know who the Democrats would put up against Sheila Miller, AND who they might scrape up to run for Doherty's seat. Even though the far-right candidates have had good election years locally recently, this one could shape up to be the best one yet.
Which is not a good thought.
I think Bob Stokes should get the city to buy the Lincoln Theater for him to use as a secondary venue for his studio-thing.
ReplyDeleteYeah. Studio Bob is well lit, but has terrible acoustics. If he ran the Lincoln Theater then he'd have a place with better acoustics and terrible lighting.
DeleteFOR THE RECORD: I know that's not Dick Goodman in the photo. I was trying (apparently unsuccessfully) to make a joke about how Scooter and "the gang" will have to get along without Dick. Thanks to the three of you who "corrected" me. I'll try to make my attempts at humor more "transparent" in the future.
ReplyDeleteFURTHER FOR THE RECORD: Dick Goodman is gone...But the quality lingers on.
DeleteIn just one story on their website this morning, KONP left the apostrophe out of "it's," but made up for it by using commas inappropriately. They also used the phrase "inferences to bad morale," which wasn't quite right, but close! And they also referred to the "commissioners workesession," which is wrong in a number of ways.
So, take comfort, dear readers. It looks like the KONP website will continue to be a source of local comedy and color.
As the Simpsons might say, the PDN and KONP both put the ACK! in accurate.
DeleteI am ashamed to say that I voted for Mike Chapman. To say he's been a disappointment is a colossal understatement. To say he's been arrogant and short-sighted is getting closer to the truth. I wish I hadn't listened to Ed Chadd, and had supported Dale Holiday instead of Chapman. I'm sure she would have worked with Mike Doherty to deal with these concerns, rather than shutting him and the public down. Sorry, Mike Doherty!
ReplyDeleteWho is the whack at the KONP studios that always does the weather report and says stupid things like "Here IN the studio the temperature is 48 degrees" (or whatever the current temperature is). It's not OUTSIDE the studio, or AT the studio, it's always IN the studio...like what idiots, turn up the damn heat!
ReplyDeleteGiven that Dan Gase is involved in the sale of the Lincoln you can bet that whoever buys the property is looking for a tax write-off. They'll talk a lot about "revitalization", "history" and "community" and the local Brainiacs will get behind all the hot air. And the grim reality: "This place is a mess!" and the Lincoln will continue to rot until it is ultimately bulldozed in a parking lot.
ReplyDeleteBecause we all know that there just aren't enough parking lots downtown.
DeleteI don't understand how Dan Gase can be allowed to have anything to do with any real estate issues in town. And, any real estate dealings his company is involved with, that have any city decisions, either. This is just a clear case of conflict of interest. Clearly, there are economic interests involved.
ReplyDeleteThis is another example of "institutionalized corruption".
Yes, and don't forget that Dan Gase is sitting in the seat he "inherited" from Brooke Nelson - another realtor. Realtors are trouble in local politics. Always.
DeleteI may have a Mike Doherty update for you tomorrow...
ReplyDeleteWhether he runs or not, the local Dems are still in disarray and trouble. Even though Matthew Randazzo is gone, the damage lingers on. And remember, the last time Mike D ran it was way too close an election, even though his opponent was an idiot. And that's the more conservative district, so if there's a primary, it will tend to favor the more conservative candidate from either party.
DeleteThe damage Matthew Randazzo did to the Clallam County Democratic Party will take years to repair - and only then if new people come in and actively work on those repairs. After the way they allowed Randazzo to destroy their own candidates for County Commissioner, so that he could help his "friend" Mike Chapman (who was paying him) win, they have zero credibility with a lot of people. Until I see some active and public rebuilding and rebranding of the local Democrats, I will be extremely wary of anything they do, and anyone they support.
DeleteThey've been a nest for snakes like Randazzo and Steve Tharinger for too long to change overnight. Meanwhile, we get to look forward to having three Republican County Commissioners because of their machinations.
Yeah, we know he isn't going to run for re-election, and they have asked ***** to run in his place. I know who, but won't spoil the "surprise". That's what politics are all about, right? The fun.
ReplyDeleteDon't leave these important decisions to party hacks. If you think you can run and run on some good ideas--go for it. Don't wait to be anointed by the party.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes. And so we lose another "landmark" from downtown. OK, let's consider downtown. Downtown is downtown instead of up near Swains because certain prominent citizens at the time had bought cheap land on the mud flats between the two paper mills and had the downtown built there on unstable pier pilings, much to their economic benefit. Then the streets were filled with mud washed down from the bluff. Over time these trashy old pier shacks became "historic"... and obsolete.
ReplyDeleteSeveral well meaning folks have tried to rebuild these shacks into sound buildings, but trying to fix the downtown seems like putting lipstick on a pig. Meantime there has developed a false perception that there is not enough parking downtown, as if more parking would make the pig more competitive with modern shopping centers. So the downtown deteriorates, one shop at a time and the commercial center of the county moves to Sequim. Those shops which remain successful are the ones which have moved out of downtown. The ones that don't move out simply fail sooner or later and are replaced with office buildings, doctors offices, and low income housing. Chalk up another zero for Port Angeles foresight. Meantime Victoria has an attractive park-like tourist area around their harbor with grass, museums, and other neat stuff.
OK, folks. Here's a proposal. Eliminate most of the buildings downtown. Create an attractive park-like area with lots of grass and attractions people would want to come and see, along with shops whose products would be attractive to visitors arriving by cruise ship ferry and motor home, or staying in motels. These people don't buy faux antique furniture to drag home on the boat or motor home. They don't go to movies they can see at home or on the tube for a fraction of the price. They do, however, buy souvenirs, eat in restaurants, and go to the farmer's market. They go to museums and go by tour bus to other local attractions. They would enjoy the walk down the waterfront that local people think of as such a boondoggle.
By this standard, the Gateway center is a good thing, the waterfront walkway is a good thing and the "historic" aspect of downtown needs to be culled of things and buildings that do not fit a tourist-centered profile. We need to create an area that would attract visitors and be much more efficient in separating them from their money.
Now, in fairness to the old timers in the area, they have a point when they say "People move to PA because they like it here, and as soon as they arrive they start trying to change it." On the other hand, if people had not come in bringing outside money the local people waiting for the fish and timber to return would have turned PA into a ghost town long ago.
Good lord! I've just read the PDN article about the forum the Arts Council hosted about the Lincoln Theater. Sounds like a room full of clueless, naïve people.
ReplyDeleteWe're talking about an extremely run down property, one that also has some severe limitations (non-compete clause, non-ADA bathrooms and other physical problems, etc.), and that, if nothing else, also costs a quarter of a million dollars to purchase before you can start spending money on all that other stuff.
But it sounds like whenever anyone tried to discuss the undeniable reality of the building itself, Cathy Haight would say "we're not here to talk about constraints." Hey, Cathy. It's a big box full of constraints. You don't gain anything or make points by ignoring that fact.
The little bead shop owner, Lauren (whose hobby business is supported by a husband with a real job, by the way), said "If we could get a Kickstarter campaign going, we could generate a buzz." Again, totally unrealistic. The only buzz Port Angeles generates is from Bob Lumens' buzzsaw logo. She obviously has no idea at all just how difficult such campaigns are. Theaters in better shape, in bigger communities have struggled to do the whole Kickstarter thing. For all intents and purposes, no one in Port Angeles has been to the Lincoln Theater for years - now we're supposed to believe they're going to rally 'round and raise the half a million dollars it would take to buy it, convert it to digital, or otherwise simply make it useable and presentable?
It ain't gonna happen, folks. Look at it like this: If every single one of those 75 people who attended this meeting were to pledge $1000 dollars each - heck, even $2000 each - they still wouldn't have enough to just buy the building.
Dream if you want to, Arts Council. I guess you people have to keep busy with something. But the Lincoln Theater is closed, dead, and is going to stay that way.
If we could generate a "buzz" like the one Lauren must have had on when she got her face all tattooed, then yes, we could probably raise a million bucks for the Lincoln.
DeleteBut the fact remains that people like her remain more of a hindrance than a help. As the original poster pointed out, she's one of these locals who has a "business" that's underwritten by a spouse who works, and isn't intended to make money. But that doesn't stop these people from thinking they're business people, with great ideas and insights into "how to fix things."
Lauren's shop is right across from the Lincoln. She's watched it decay and get rundown for year after year. And now that it's actually closed, she's suddenly roused into action? That's like watching your neighbor's house burn to the ground, THEN calling the fire department when all that's left is a smoldering foundation. In other words, it's too little, too late.
Port Angeles could improve itself, but only if people get proactive, and stop being reactive. Those efforts should also be centered on realistic, incremental improvements, not these pie-in-the-sky, let's put on a show fantasies.
To put it another way: If it made economic sense to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in the Lincoln or downtown Port Angeles, then the owner of the theater would have done it himself.
Theaters are a whole different beast. Kickstarter isn't really the right place to try fundraising for an UGLY theater (maybe once the facade is taken off, but right now it's UGLY) in a remote little town where only 1/4 - 1/3 of the people are computer literate. And, Kickstarter isn't the place to try and raise funds for a project that will take (at least) a year, if not two to get fully off-the-ground. And, the theater projects that have been accomplished did so with many volunteers, and a lot of real-world experience backing it. Then, there is the problem with vision. Vision doesn't come through group-think. This town is crazy about group-think. No one wants to actually DO anything, just talk about it. So, while I like the idea of a little theater in town, I don't see it ever happening, and if it does, it would just turn into another failed project.
DeleteNow, if the greedy old owner would care to do right by the community he has taken money from for all these years, that's another issue. He bought this theater from a city trust, maybe HE could set up a trust, and a foundation, and kick in a few bucks to take out all the bad construction he's done. But, they don't make old men like they used to. Now they're all old greedy bastards with big egos and patting themselves on the back for being real estate wizards. Yeah, no one cares about the future, or wants to make amends for the past. So, this idiot has it up for $100k over what he weasled it from Lauridson Trust. And, before that he leased it, at a very low rate, for years and years. Too bad he doesn't have any generosity of spirit, or he'd donate it to a non-profit, or back to Lauridson trust.
The problem is -- we have no vision.
ReplyDeleteThe Lincoln has some big constraints (like the whopping price for a building that has had NO improvements since it was "bought" from the Lauridson Trust for $160k, but meanwhile, the owner wants $100k more? Really? For what? Ego?
The whole concept of running older movies is really DEAD all over the country. And, suddenly there is a glut of these small theaters that can't operate because they can't afford to go digital.
Guess what? This means the alternative sources of funding (grants, investors) has also dried up, because demand has out paced the source. (Teat has no more milk -- waaa waaa.)
Meanwhile, we have a community that is resistant to EVERYTHING, and a local government that is all caught up in poverty thinking (lets get money to match the grant, so we can fix something. Let's tax the people more....raise the utility rates, and come up with more fees). Without actually focusing on what they could do to turn our economy around. There are things....but, that's a whole other issue.
The Lincoln, could be part of the picture, but it needs to be a whole picture, not just one ratty old theater, in a ratty old downtown. But, meanwhile, instead of a real Chamber of Commerce OR even any visionaries on the proposed PA Untied...we have the same stale stupid people, spouting "what if..." without a clue how to work together.
I can see the vision....but, I'm still technically an "outsider" (after 20 years) and without someone ELSE running our Chamber, and the PADA and all that...there is no way I'd venture into this folly.
Let's see now...If the old, rusty Rayonier tank (now the Turd Tank) was worth a million dollars to the city...Well then, they ought to be happy enough to shell out, say, half that for the Lincoln.
DeleteWhy not? It's only other people's money, after all. And once the Lincoln is all fixed up, it can be a "cultural attraction" for all those young, hip, creative hi-tech workers who will come flooding in here due to us having, jeepers! WiFi and everything.
And don't forget that PA Untied is going to nearly double the population around here in a few years. Why, we may need the Lincoln as temporary shelter when all those people rush into town...