Late and ludicrous Hancher proposal
Yesterday, the Press-Citizen published a letter to the editor that was hilarious, perplexing, and kind of sad. (I think that pretty much describes about half of all reader letters published in the US.)
The letter, written by Ken Duffey of Iowa City, was titled “Ways to preserve old auditorium.” The impending demolition of Hancher Auditorium tugs at Duffey’s heartstrings. At the time Hancher was built, he “thought it was the most impressive structure that the University of Iowa had ever built and that it was in the most idyllic setting.” He would even be in favor of “having it placed on the National Register of Historic Buildings.” “It is much more significant than many old houses in town,” he wrote.
Architecturally, Hancher is a little too brutalist for my tastes, but I agree it is ideally situated — albeit in a floodplain, which is why the flood-damaged auditorium has sat unused for almost five years and will be demolished to make room for its replacement on higher ground. It will be sad to see it go, but there really is no alternative.
However, that has not stopped Duffey from making a heartfelt proposal:
After reading that I wondered, “Is this guy serious?”
News flash, bro: the university is BUILDING A NEW HANCHER! I understand longtime citizens may get teary-eyed and nostalgic about the demolition, but it is not like we will lose the facilities forever. Barring another renege from FEMA over federal assistance, I think the plans are almost set in stone at this point, neutralizing Duffey’s proposal. He should have spoke his mind a little sooner.
Regardless, his idea is absurd. Move the current structure to lower City Park, which is even closer to the river and more prone to flooding? It makes no sense. Not only would a Hancher City Park be redundant since a new Hancher will open in a few years, but the city would never find anyone to insure it.
Please tell me Duffey is not serious. Tell me he is joking.
The letter, written by Ken Duffey of Iowa City, was titled “Ways to preserve old auditorium.” The impending demolition of Hancher Auditorium tugs at Duffey’s heartstrings. At the time Hancher was built, he “thought it was the most impressive structure that the University of Iowa had ever built and that it was in the most idyllic setting.” He would even be in favor of “having it placed on the National Register of Historic Buildings.” “It is much more significant than many old houses in town,” he wrote.
Architecturally, Hancher is a little too brutalist for my tastes, but I agree it is ideally situated — albeit in a floodplain, which is why the flood-damaged auditorium has sat unused for almost five years and will be demolished to make room for its replacement on higher ground. It will be sad to see it go, but there really is no alternative.
However, that has not stopped Duffey from making a heartfelt proposal:
Recently, I was struck with an idea: Why doesn’t Iowa City get it form the state and move across the street to City Park?
We have a small theater for the Shakespeare festival in the lower park that is getting old and the Englert is very limited by its size. It would be a perfect venue for so many more attractions.
This is a great chance to turn the university’s loss into the city’s gain and to save a grand structure.
After reading that I wondered, “Is this guy serious?”
News flash, bro: the university is BUILDING A NEW HANCHER! I understand longtime citizens may get teary-eyed and nostalgic about the demolition, but it is not like we will lose the facilities forever. Barring another renege from FEMA over federal assistance, I think the plans are almost set in stone at this point, neutralizing Duffey’s proposal. He should have spoke his mind a little sooner.
Regardless, his idea is absurd. Move the current structure to lower City Park, which is even closer to the river and more prone to flooding? It makes no sense. Not only would a Hancher City Park be redundant since a new Hancher will open in a few years, but the city would never find anyone to insure it.
Please tell me Duffey is not serious. Tell me he is joking.
