Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Shots Around the Sloop: America

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know why this flagpole looks like it's always about to come crashing down? Or why the patio at this place is so uneven and unsafe? Or, better yet, why no one has done anything about it?

Stephen Reginald said...

There are plans to even out the patio. Like everything, it costs money to do that. It's uneven, but unsafe?

As far as the flagpole goes, you might want to ask the owner of Cafe Society.

Anonymous said...

I love this area of the Sloop...so so so pretty.

Anonymous said...

The falling flagpole was part of the Vietnam museum that used to be a tenant of the building. It flew an American glad as well as a POW-MIA flag. As far as it being on an angle I was told by a museum curator that it was like that to symbolize fallen soldiers.

As far as the uneven paging stones, why bother fixing, it isn't unsafe, just watch your step. Seriously, some people make mountains out of molehills on this site.

Anonymous said...

The pavers are supposed to be fixed up at part of phase II of the Park Districts renovation of the facility. (The Park District was deeded the property from the City in late 2008)

Phase I is open, as the first floor has been transformed into a children's indoor place space, and two community rooms. You can see the pictures at www.park550advisorycouncil.com (new building not renamed yet).

Phase II (timing TBD) would include more multifunctional spaces, a fitness room, possibly a kids fitness space, Phase III would then look at the 3rd floor space and roof.

Currently the "National Vietnam Veteran Art Organization), it is an art organization fyi, is on the 3rd floor and has an agreement for another 1-2 years to use the 3rd floor space until they find a new home.

To the original question, the reason for the patio space issue is the lack of maintenance by the previous building operators. And yes, there are unsafe sections.

Mr Downtown said...

When the museum was being built, one of the veterans commented about how, in Vietnam, he'd never seen a flagpole that stuck straight up. Whenever some stupid insignificant hill was taken, they hoisted the flag but whatever pole they put up was always leaning precariously. So they deliberately placed this flagpole as a tribute to that history, which veterans would appreciate.

Anonymous said...

I've been to Viet Nam War monuments/memorials all over the country, including the national mall memorial in D.C. All the permanent flag poles at all of these memorials are standing straight.