Which came first?
…. The Chicken?
…. Or The Egg?
Better yet …. which will be around forever?
By their separate actions, which place apparently appreciates the iconic structures of their two respective cities the better, St. Louis or Houston?
Ralph Bivins, editor of Realty News Report, is a past president of the National Association of Real Estate Editors. and the author of an op-ed article this week for his own journal that unequivocally shows St. Louis in the better light while dutifully chastising the wealthy Houstonians – whom we often reference here as the local tycoons “With deep pockets and short arms” who never seem to show up when we locally rouse and raise the question, once again, – “What are we going to do with the Astrodome that is both a fitting and workable usage plan for preserving our Houston icon – and one of the world’s great modern templates of stadium architecture?”
Bivins goes straight to some bottom line evidence stretching back to the early 1960s in favor, so far, of St. Louis:
“While St. Louis labored for its Arch, Houston was building its Dome. Both were unprecedented feats of engineering and construction know-how. The builders attempted things that had never been done before and erected remarkable structures.
“St. Louis is stepping (up) to the plate — now spending $380 million to keep its 1965 masterpiece a vital part of the community.
“If St. Louis can raise that much money, why can’t Houston come up with $242 million?
“It’s time for the leadership of Houston to lead. Whether it’s Rich Kinder, Ric Campo, Gerald Hines or some of our elected officials, Houston has great leaders who can mobilize this city. A great task lies ahead. May our leaders step forward now on behalf of the Astrodome’s future.
“The Astrodome can be transformed into something grander than it ever has been. Let’s dream big . . . again.”
Thank you for stepping up to plate, Mr. Bivins, and becoming the latest writer to swing for the fences in behalf of Houston’s “Eighth Wonder of the World”. The Pecan Park Eagle has been a long-time supporter of converting the Astrodome into the greatest collection of museums on local history anywhere – while interspersing fun places t0 dine, be entertained, or shop for items that are appropriate to the general theme of the venue’s new, more far-reaching and meaningful purpose – one that can serve the educational needs of school educational tours throughout the year.
And we still prefer an idea on that level to notions that an indoor park for people who are willing to pay for parking at ten bucks a car is a cheaper way to go.
Hope to see a lot of you this Thursday night at the 6:00-8:00 pm , April 9, 2015 celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Astrodome’s first baseball game. Admission and parking are both free and we may all get a chance to actually go inside the Dome on this special occasion. Stay tuned to the Houston Chronicle and other media on where to enter and what you may wish to bring. Most of the evening will be spent outside on the north side of the Dome and we are being told that, if you shall want a place to sit, you should bring a light, easy-to-carry folding chair.
We will be sitting with the folks at the SABR (Society for American Baseball Research) artifact presentation table.
Regards, Bill McCurdy, The Pecan Park Eagle.
Houston, Baseball, & Other Musings.
The Pecan Park Eagle 