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Boarded Windows- What's up Downtown Steering Committee???
By Bobbie McCreary

 

October 09, 2008
Thursday PM


As most of you are aware, for the past 5 years Ketchikan Youth Intitiatives has coordinated an effort to develop a themed approach to painting the boarded windows of Diamonds International, usually in collaboration with students from Revilla High School and then completed with a community wide event to complete the art project to brighten up our downtown in the Winter. We have received many compliments on this effort (some years more artistic than others!) Three years ago this project expanded to a series of murals installed on the boarded windows of the Bernard Passman building, created by Revilla students under the direction of local artist and muralist, Mary Henrikson.

This year when approaching the two building owners we were advised there was a city requirement NOT to have boarded windows. We were unable to determine any such city ordinance or effort. In a follow-up conversation with Todd Phillips of the Downtown Steering Committee, he explained they had approached each building owner requesting that they not board their windows over the winter. He also indicated that they had the support of the Fire Department who said it created a life safety hazard when the windows were boarded. My response was....I wish we had known of this effort so we could have approached the owners to install art inside the windows if boards were coming down. Of course, by the time I found out, it was too late to change the mind of the Diamonds International building (which has installed advertising posters to display jewelery in their windows.) Just today I discovered the boards ARE UP on the Bernard Passman building. And this comes AFTER we have started an iniative to auction off the art pieces.

So, downtown committee or City fire department, what's up? Please let me know. 225-2250 or kyi@kpunet.net

Bobbie McCreary
kyi@kpunet.net
Ketchikan, AK

About: " Supporter of healthy youth activities in our community; one of the founders of Ketchikan Youth Initiatives and currently serving as a volunteer administrator."

Received October 06, 2008 - Published October 09, 2008

 

 

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