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Residents split over Womoda: praise for arts campus, anger over demolition and scale
Summary
Public comment at the Historic Resources Preservation Board meeting split sharply: supporters praised the museum, community art space and economic benefits; opponents urged postponement and warned the project would erase downtown character and allow demolitions.
Dozens of residents and business owners addressed the board during the public comment period, offering sharply divergent views on the Womoda plan development. Supporters argued the museum and cultural campus would revitalize downtown, create visitor traffic and provide arts programming; Deborah Robert called the proposal "incredibly exciting" and Michelle Sylvester said it would "refresh" the city and benefit downtown businesses.
Opponents said the scale, massing and the potential demolition of contributing historic structures would irreversibly change the downtown character. Commenters asked the board to postpone decisions on relocation until the costs and alternatives were clarified; Alex Schultz, who said he attended a five‑hour commission meeting the night before, accused the CRA and city of allowing historic structures to fall into disrepair before using that deterioration to justify demolition. Multiple speakers requested a longer review or that relocation options be exhausted before demolition is permitted.
The public record also included emailed comments raising concerns about parking, density, and whether the museum would deliver community benefits commensurate with public concessions.
