The HDC and preserving architecture

I agree with writer Susan Seiden that the Hearth is wildly inappropriate for Portsmouth’s historic downtown and that its approval by the HDC shows that this commission’s members have imperfect judgment. Nevertheless, I don’t know that this or even sustainability concerns justify our City Council micromanaging the HDC and tying its members’ hands so that they cannot perform their important duty of protecting Portsmouth’s historic architecture. Our council should tread carefully before going down the path of interfering with independent boards and commissions.

Our mayor is fond of saying that Portsmouth’s people are more important than its buildings, but we cannot ignore the fact that the buildings in which we live and which surround us impact us greatly. These structures have the power to either drag us down or to make our spirits soar. Our 400-year-old city possesses architectural treasures that few other communities can match. If we diminish the ability of the HDC to preserve them, this has the potential to destroy something irreplaceable. If members of the HDC have made mistakes, perhaps the solution is to shorten their terms in the future, rather than to weaken the commission’s power.

When I lived in Manhattan, former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was successful in preventing the construction of a modern tower above the dome of the historic St. Bartholomew’s Church in mid-town. She did so citing the slogan “A landmark is forever.” It would be wise to remember this phrase when dealing with similar issues in our own city, or we risk losing a piece of our city’s soul. When future residents dig up our time capsule, I hope they won’t be able to say that 2024 was the year that Portsmouth stopped caring about its architectural heritage. Christina Lusky, Portsmouth