I won’t even pretend I know or understand the rationale or the politics behind the new proposal to locate a $35 million Montana Heritage Center in a new building cum parking garage across the street from the current museum.At first blush it seemed a bit strange – after the 2005 Legislature agreed to provide the seed funding to locate the new museum in the space now occupied by the Capitol Hill Mall. Upon further review, strange doesn’t even begin to describe the new proposal – it’s downright bizarre!  The architects who presented the new plan are the ones hired to develop the 20 year plan for the capitol complex (Wait! Do I hear a conflict of interest?). The proposed new museum would be built on an existing parking lot – of which there is a prodigious lack thereof already – at the corner of 6th and Sanders – a currently overly congested intersection. The building as designed will only be large enough to satisfy the projected demands of the museum for less than ten years and the parking garage would only have about 59 more spaces than the existing lot.  Not much room for many museum visitors there.  Of the more than 50 people attending the public hearing last week only one spoke in favor of the plan!!!!! Doesn’t this sound like a government plan – too little, too late, for too much, with complete disregard for previously agreed upon proposal?It’s time to derail this train and get the original plan back on track.  We need a place to showcase Montana’s history.  A place that’s easy to find, easy to get to, with lots of parking and plenty of room to grow as our future becomes our history.  We need to “Mall the Museum”!!! If you agree – post your thoughts here and then copy and paste them and send them to: Sheryl Olson
2 Helena Handbaskets
Going our way…?
I am wondering why those at the Museum did not follow what the 2005 Legislature had voted to do. Although HB 540 did not specifically refer to the mall, the fiscal note did reference the 250,00 sf of the building and the fact that 50,00 sq ft could be rented for $15 a sq ft. As any Legislator would tell you, they authorized bonding authority for the Mall. I would have to ask the question, “Who gave the administrators at the Montana HIitorical Society the authority to consider a sight other than what the 2005 Legislature had agreed upon.
Thanks for the great information 2HHB, now that I’m figuring this blogging stuff out I’ll be back attcha’ on this site often. My response to your right on logic and Grammy B is this, my guess is the Historical Society Director is in the hip pocket of our illustrious Governor who has his own agenda on the whole museum situation (like that should surprise any of us)…..the legislative proposal is NOT Brians proposal, thus, it’s being derailed for his plan, whatever that is. I heard Director of the Historical Society speak recently at a Helena service club and he told the group that the idea of several small, community based museums was being talked about. Sure, that’s how Brian can make himself look good all over the state rather than having one site in Helena which makes the most sense….don’t foget now, this is ALL ABOUT BRIAN……isn’t everything?
When I first saw the comment above by the Evil Twin, I thought maybe there was a bit too much blame being placed on the Governor for the decision on the capitol complex. After all there are other folks in the Administration who may have their own agendas. Then while researching the issue a bit from what was being said outside of Helena I stumbled on a story from the Billings Gazette from July of last year.
“Schweitzer, however, called for holding back [on the decision to site the museum at the mall] until Richard Sims, head of the Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott, Ariz., has taken over as Montana Historical Society director and has a chance to evaluate what the society needs. Sims is moving to Montana and is expected to begin work at the society soon. ‘We won’t get the cart out in front of the horse,” Schweitzer said. “Get Sims here first. Sims can get a handle on the Historical Society operation and its needs, come up with a recommended building site to meet its needs, develop a fundraising plan and a set timetable’, Schweitzer said. ”
Maybe Evil Twin is more right than I suspected – the original steering committee, co-chaired by former Attorney General Joe Mazurek (D) and former First Lady Betty Babcock, was appointed by someone other than Schweitzer. His comments from prior to Sims’ arrival surely indicates that the governor had other plans and had found another lackey to carry his water… Guess if it’s not Brian’s idea, he won’t go along.
Sad.
Well it appears that Sen. Bruggeman has got it figured out, what a novel idea…..it’s called playing by the rules. If the big kids in the Gov. office can’t figure out that the legislature told them what their pleasure is then I guess they’ll understand it if they get cut off at the pocket book….jeez Louise, how difficult can this possibly be. Don’t you have a mental picture of what it’s going to be like for parking on the hill, especially during a legislative session with the new Historical Site being that close to the capitol? Will be interesting to sit back and see what happens next?
It was interesting to watch the hearing on Helena Civic TV yesterday regarding the Mall issue. Janet Kelly is very smooth. She knows how to handle a meeting. It was also interesting to watch Richard Sims twist and twitch in his chair. The fat lady hasn’t sung yet on this one, but if body language counts for anything and if I were a bettin’ man, I’d BET Governor Scheister has Janet Kelly and the Mall site in the bag!!!!!!