A14 | Thursday, February 2, 2017 | Houston Chronicle | HoustonChronicle.com and chron.com xx John C. McKeon Nancy C. Barnes Jeff Cohen Publisher and President Executive VP / Editor Executive VP / Executive Editor Editorial pages Jack Sweeney Vernon F. Loeb Veronica Flores-Paniagua Founded 1901 • A Hearst Newspaper Chairman Managing Editor Outlook Editor Dome-tastic future The historic structure, now with a landmark designation, could become a must-see site. An Austin radio talk-show host spent County’s $105 million plan to renovate about an hour last Friday ridiculing the the facility. recent decision by the Texas Historical The plan involves raising the floor to Commission to designate the Astro- ground level, thereby opening up more dome as a State Antiquities Landmark. than 550,000 square feet to festivals and The designation bestows on the world’s conferences, and adding two floors of first multi-purpose domed stadium the parking underneath with slots for 1,400 same distinction as the state Capitol, the vehicles. Plans also are being considered Alamo and the Cotton Bowl. for developing seven floors ofve co red KLBJ-AM’s Jeff Ward recalled the space with concentric walkways. sorry state of the “Eighth Wonder of Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and the World!” as far back as the 1980s, the Harris County Commissioners Court when he was a placekicker for the Texas deserve credit for sticking with the Longhorns. He recalled the dingy dressy Dome, even after voters rejected a $217 rooms and the threadbare Astroturf million bond package designed to save playing field and questioned who would it. Of course, as Emmett reminded the want to slog through a tour of the down- Chronicle recently, a bit of practicality at-the-heels Dome in the literal shad- buttressed the decision. ows of a modern, much-larger domed “It still is very structurally sound and stadium. It’s not as if it’s the only domed it is historic. … It also turns out it is fully LETTERS stadium in existence, he pointed out to paid for,” he said. “A nd then the fourth a succession of callers. Few came to the piece that comes in is, it would cost in Astrodome pride aging Dome’s defense. excess of $30 million to tear it down, A little knowledge may be a danger- after which you have nothing.” Preservation Astrodome as a central identify, ascribe and ous thing for talk-show hosts — they So, we have something, and some- point of location and equate to Houston. And need straw men to whack between thing’s better than nothing, but we still Regarding “A strodome distance when relating the preservation of this commercial breaks — but a mere Google don’t know exactly what that some- joins Alamo as state the positioning of nearly great structure will send search would have provided the old thing’s going to be. Only $10.5 million of antiquities landmark” every other major point a message within our city kicker the information he needed to the initial $105 million project has been (Page A1, Saturday), the in this city. And if you are and beyond that sig- perhaps understand why the landmark fully approved. The remaining $94.5 mil- naming of the Astrodome still not convinced of the nificant structures merit designation makes sense and why the lion likely will require another vote by as a State Antiquities feelings that Houstonians preservation for their his- historic structure, opened to great ac- county commissioners. That’s one of Landmark by the Texas and those beyond have toric and intrinsic value claim in 1965 and shuttered since 2008, several challenges. Historical Commission is for the Astrodome, how and for the new potential actually has a bright future. Emmett and county officials also truly a monumental and do you explain the crowd life that great visionaries Maybe. need to make sure a renovated and momentous occasion. of more than 40,000 that may give them. A bright and prosperous future re-purposed Astrodome complements Ye s, the Astrodome has turned out to celebrate For all of us who trea- depends on whether we Houstonians its larger neighbors, the Texans and the finally received the formal its 50th birthday, waiting sure the Astrodome, how exercise a little historic-preservation Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. historical recognition that in line for hours hoping wonderful that Houston imagination, an attribute that has rarely They’re the economic engines that drive it merits acknowledg- to get a glimpse inside, will not be remembered been part of the Bayou City ethos. the facilities that now engulf the Dome. ment as an iconic and take a stroll around the for the “Eighth Wonder of First, to clear up a few misconcep- With Bob McNair’s football team mak- historic structure. It is a behemoth structure and the World” that it neglect- tions on the part of talk-show hosts and ing noises about NRG Stadium needing true architectural marvel cast their eyes upon its ed to save — but rather Dome skeptics, the commission granted major upgrades, the county must make and engineering feat. breathtaking ceiling. — as a city that fought antiquities status primarily to honor sure the Astrodome isn’t a stumbling And for those fortunate The Astrodome is, and relentlessly to preserve its the structure’s architectural distinction. block. (We also need to figure out who’s enough to have actually thankfully will continue grand, magnificent, and “A rchitecturally, it is one of the most going to pay for those upgrades, but “experienced” the Astro- to be, the structure by historic stadium. significant sports and entertainment that’s another editorial.) dome, this recognition which the residents of Regina Pappas Seale, venues in history, setting the standard Finally, we need to make sure that a carries with it a deeply Houston and the world Houston for modern facilities around the world,” new and improved Astrodome carves personal celebration of its Mark Wolfe, executive director of the out a reason for being, something far significant past and the Texas Historical Commission, told the beyond serving as a venerable geodesic treasured memories held Chronicle. host for tractor pulls and flea markets. of Astros baseball games, The landmark designation will That’s where imagination comes into Oilers football games, serve as a bulwark against demolition, play — imagination to match the vi- historic events, and out- preventing the structure from being sion of flamboyant former Mayor Fred standing performances “removed, altered, damaged, salvaged Hofheinz, the man who dreamed up the that shaped Houston and or excavated” without permission from Dome more than a half century ago and often rocked the world. the commission. It won’t hinder Harris saw it though to fruition. Indeed, the Astrodome is to Houston what the Alamo is to San Antonio and the state Capitol is Hunger games to Austin. And should you question this, please explain how, after all of Economic engines fight for scraps in Austin these years, even with the Astrodome padlocked Houston Chronicle file while fearmongering grows fat. and darkened, most in Fans walk past the Astrodome before the start of last this city still refer to the year’s Final Four championship game. Howdy, y’all. Welcome to your dys- the United States. Consider this priority topian future. This week’s theme: The a bizarre fantasy that should never go Hunger Games. anywhere. At least that’s what Texas political ob- Texas faces serious policy challenges, servers are calling the fight for funding from the special education caP to mater- Scouting makes strides but that doesn’t mean that I am going to in higher education. nal mortality, and Abbott is acting like a vote more than once in an election. State colleges and universities have role-play revolutionary for the entertain- Regarding “Boy Scouts will ac- When I die, there is no requirement about $1 billion worth of needs that they ment of a radical wing of the Republican cept transgender children” (Page A1, that anyone inform the election officials want Austin to fund in the state budget Party. Tuesday), as an Eagle Scout, I wish to in the county where I am currently being debated right now. These are listed To his credit, Abbott did put Child congratulate the Boy Scouts of America registered. My name may remain on the as “special items,” a purposefully vague Protective Services and pre-K education for their decision to begin accepting voting rolls, but I guarantee you that label that only legislative experts seem on the emergency action agenda. transgender youths. doesn’t mean that I will be voting in the to understand. Right now it looks like However, the audience reserved I stepped away from scouting 20 years next election. the schools will be shorted $700 mil- its real applause for Abbott elevating ago after having attained the rank of And just because the name of a person lion. As in any dystopia, this suffering “sanctuary cities” to the emergency list. Eagle Scout. Over the years, I started who voted is the same as the name is absolutely avoidable. There’s more So far Abbott has only taken aim at to question whether BSA had the best of someone registered in the same or than enough money in Travis County Sheriff interests of children, families and com- another county or state or a deceased the rainy day fund to Texas faces serious Sally Hernandez, who munities at heart. person doesn’t prove that voter fraud leave our schools satiated. policy challenges, runs the single true A decade ago, I would not have occurred. Politics, not finances, “sanctuary city” in Texas from the special recommended that youths join Scouts.