--- Does the library have any historical significance? ---

Frank Lloyd Wright (middle) and Aaron G. Green (right) 

The rebuttal argument states: Contrary to what the opponents claim, the antiquated library building was deemed to have no historical significance and this Council hopes to re-purpose this building.

Our library was designed by renowned American architect, Aaron Green (1917-2001), a significant protégé of iconic American architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959). Green worked with Wright on more than 40 projects. Wright has designed several buildings throughout the nation, notably the historically significant 1982 Marin Center Civic Center. He was joined by Green, and passed the reins to him once Wright died in the middle of construction and planning. Additionally, Green has designed some buildings in the area, notably the Union City Library and Civic Center.

Despite this clear pedigree and significance, the consultants claimed in their single page assessment that the library has no historical significance because

1. it is too young
2. there is not enough scholarly research that has been done on the building
3. building is not important in the history of American architecture

Seeing how the consultants have failed to be objective on multiple occasions throughout this process (read the last section on the independence by consultants), I decided to get a second opinion and I sent the single page assessment to several architects. Many confirmed my instinct to be suspicious as

1. any building that is younger than 50 years can still be eligible for historical preservation.
2. Not enough scholarly research on its own does not eliminate a building for historical preservation if the case can be established that the building is important at the local level.
3. Buildings do not always have to be important in the history of American architecture, see no. 2

Essentially, the consultants committed the fatal flaw in their analysis by failing to consider the possibility that the building had importance at the local level. It would seem possible that the building does indeed have significance, but there will not be an indisputable answer without further research. It would seem wasteful and short-sighted to the interests of Newark residents to take any further action before that could be investigated.

Take me back to the Table of Contents