As a retired Realtor, Sandra Swain’s recent excellent reporting alarmed me. Most of the plans for the old Safeway property will cost millions, both in city money and in taxpayers’ dollars. All of the ideas seem to be huge real estate development schemes. I feel we, the community, could do something fine (though small) for a lot less.

As a real estate counselor, I always tried to get to the heart of my client’s wishes. To bowdlerize Walt Kelly’s Pogo, “I have met the client and he is us.” My plan for a small park and gazebo would allow for future development, as well the ability to redevelop the block in stages, over time.

Several years ago when I served, briefly, on the board of the Clatsop County Historical Society (CCHS), I was privileged to see the heavy, rusting iron spire that used to top the Flavel house. It was removed some years ago from the deteriorating cupola for safety reasons.

Earlier in the week I spoke to Randy Stemper, the CCHS board president. He felt the current board could be persuaded to allow the community to reproduce the spire and also its dome and beacon. This could be done with lighter, durable materials and perhaps sheathed in copper, to top a simple, newly-designed, neo-Victorian gazebo.

This gazebo could be built with the community’s help at the heart of a brand new “pocket” park sited upon the footprint of the demolished old store building. As you may recall, the community and Astoria Visual Arts helped refurbish and repaint the mural at another of Astoria’s pocket parks, Fort Columbia.

Wouldn’t it be great for all of us to hear, “Meet me at the gazebo in the heart of downtown Astoria?” We might even call it Spire Park. I can envision an elegant covered structure with benches built into each corner that would be large enough to hold a bridal party for some photographs.

It only needs a real architect, who might donate his or her design, and some talented builders to fabricate this dream into a reality. Perhaps it would focus and unite citizens into pursuing a doable, not-too-spendy exercise with an enjoyable outcome.

I can visualize the dedication ceremony with the whole town singing along as the Astoria High School Band plays a tune from the film, The Wizard of Oz, “If I only had a heart.”

Steve Emmons

Astoria