A vocal opponent of a plan to renovate Plaza de Panama believes there should be compromise between the man bankrolling the changes and the historic societies opposing the plans.
Irwin Jacobs, Ph.D. is leading a $25 million fundraising campaign to return Plaza de Panama to its yesteryears for the 2015 centennial celebration of the Panama-California Exposition.
Plans would be coupled with a $15 million bond issue to bankroll the proposed parking structure.
Click here for a timeline of the issue as plans move along.
Bruce Coons, executive director of Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO), called the plan “way too radical” and unnecessary.
“We shouldn’t have one individual dictating what the park looks like in the future,” Coons said during an interview to be aired Sunday on NBC 7’s “Politically Speaking.”
“I’m sure Dr. Jacobs doesn’t want to be known as the man that destroys Balboa Park,” Coons said.
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“I don’t think it’s going to be a negative for Balboa Park, I think it’s going to be a great positive,” said Jacobs.
The claim that his plans will endanger the historical value of the park is nonsense, Jacobs added, saying his improvements will restore the park back to the way it was.
The entire discussion can be viewed (above) on this week’s “Politically Speaking” with Gene Cubbison on NBC 7. The show airs Sundays at 9 a.m. after “Meet the Press."
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