Walking toward the Renton Pavilion Event Center Tuesday night, I was struck by the crowded parking lot on the downtown side of the lovely Burnett Linear Park.
The chatter was lively as I walked past the Red House Beer and Wine Shoppe. And then the Piazza. Though late in the day’s run, the Renton Farmers Market was still in full swing.
It felt good to hear the sounds and see the sights of a lively downtown. If only it would happen on other nights and during other seasons, and not just Tuesday in the summer.
Bill Ptacek, director of the King County Library System, noticed the hub-bub. He liked what he saw, too, the potential for a thriving downtown, with one of his libraries as a centerpiece.
Yes, a new modern library is an essential piece of rebuilding downtown Renton. Those who want to see the new library succeed and some who still don’t want the library to move turned out in force Tuesday night at an open house to have their voices heard about its future.
To his credit, Ptacek allowed some questions about the controversy that led up to that night. I still think it could have allowed for more of a discussion before breaking up the crowd into smaller groups.
Still the energy felt positive and there was still plenty of chances to fill the air with tension and debate that’s so important to design a new library that everyone will ultimately embrace.
• • •
I’ll occasionally run comments we receive to our stories online. There’s particular interest in the library posts, since it seems everyone disagrees – at least those who post – with my support to join KCLS.
Here are some of the comments on our recent editorial about speaking up at Tuesday’s meetings. They’ve have been edited for space, but you can read them in their entirety (and see me take a couple hits) at rentonreporter.com:
From Bethasher
It will be interesting to see what happens with the Highlands branch. I’ve heard that the land swap is stalled because the developer hasn’t included much low-income housing at all. In fact, I heard that the development is mostly market rate. Oh, except for the library of course! Although the City will own the land under the library after they build it to the tune of 9 mil of our tax dollars and give it away,
they aren’t charging the County (KCLS) a thing.
Greeneyes
We did make our voices heard. It just wasn’t what “THEY” wanted to hear. Who cares anyway – we have seen the city will do whatever they feel. Ask Mr. Fiddlestix!
From mthrship
The citizens of Renton have made it plain all along that moving the downtown library from it’s family friendly location was not what they wanted. The City Council and the special interests they represent have chosen not to listen.
