I recently read Lawrence Kreisman’s article in the Pacific Northwest section of the Sunday Times about community gathering places where he wrote: “McMenamins has built a reputation for turning surplus and abandoned schools, theaters and clubs into comfortable hotels and restaurants. The same company had less success with an exceptional proposal that would have reconfigured the enormous brick seminary at St. Edward State Park in Kenmore into a hotel, restaurants and conference center. In that case, a shortsighted community nixed the plan over concerns about traffic congestion, alcohol consumption and control of the park. It is not likely that another such knight in shining armor will come forward, given the enormous costs of repairing and restoring this building. We are more likely to watch it further decay until it is a veritable picturesque ruin.” Having previously visited one of McMenamins wonderful restorations in Oregon, I couldn’t agree more.

Rosie Schaffer