MaryJae
Save Las Manitas
RECEIVED Mon., July 24, 2006
Dear Editor,
Re: Las Manitas [“My Migas, My City,” News, July 21]: So this is progress? Is every vestige of weirdness in Austin doomed?
I've been going to Las Manitas since it was created, and Lidia and Cynthia Pérez are my heroes. Feisty Cynthia always has a wry and very welcome comment on current politics – and sometimes she even gives a much-appreciated back rub. (Definitely not the Bush surprise version he stupidly bestowed upon German Chancellor Merkel!)
Other cities have saved social landmarks. As but one example, legendary P.J. Clarke's restaurant in the middle of Manhattan was saved from the wrecking ball when a huge 45-story skyscraper was designated for the block. As the Web site says, the restaurant has stood on its corner site for some 130 years (www.pjclarkes.com).
Of course it didn't fit in with the developer's design to have one corner removed from a building site where the value of land is virtually measured in square inches. But P.J. Clarke's was left virtually undisturbed on its corner, regardless of the cost and design changes necessary.
It's easier and cheaper, of course, for a developer to level a block and start from scratch. But in this instance, a major part of Austin's soul would be destroyed. Can we allow that? I hope not.
Re: Las Manitas [“My Migas, My City,” News, July 21]: So this is progress? Is every vestige of weirdness in Austin doomed?
I've been going to Las Manitas since it was created, and Lidia and Cynthia Pérez are my heroes. Feisty Cynthia always has a wry and very welcome comment on current politics – and sometimes she even gives a much-appreciated back rub. (Definitely not the Bush surprise version he stupidly bestowed upon German Chancellor Merkel!)
Other cities have saved social landmarks. As but one example, legendary P.J. Clarke's restaurant in the middle of Manhattan was saved from the wrecking ball when a huge 45-story skyscraper was designated for the block. As the Web site says, the restaurant has stood on its corner site for some 130 years (www.pjclarkes.com).
Of course it didn't fit in with the developer's design to have one corner removed from a building site where the value of land is virtually measured in square inches. But P.J. Clarke's was left virtually undisturbed on its corner, regardless of the cost and design changes necessary.
It's easier and cheaper, of course, for a developer to level a block and start from scratch. But in this instance, a major part of Austin's soul would be destroyed. Can we allow that? I hope not.
Claude M. Gruener
