Who stands to benefit most from the hasty destruction of Peavey Plaza?

By ignoring the recommendations of historic preservationists -- including its own Heritage Preservation Commission -- the Minneapolis City Council is raising the specter of all its past urban planning debacles.

This is not to say that cities can never change; rather, they must change, as they reflect the changes around and within them.

But change doesn't mean destroying a celebrated piece of our heritage, designed by one of the most-renowned landscape architects of the era -- simply to save a few bucks and achieve what the city claims will be "a better use of public space."

I would argue that, with some careful planning and discussion, we could preserve the past while looking toward the future.

By failing to even consider the new, superior designs submitted by the plaza's original architects that keep historic elements intact while improving accessibility, once again my beloved hometown has failed at the urban identity/vision thing in favor of the "wrecking ball of progress."


DAVID HLAVAC, EDINA