IT'S probably time for the Guam Museum Foundation to re-examine their plan to locate the new facility at Skinner Plaza. In what has quite possibly come as a surprise to them, and to Vice Speaker B.J. Cruz and the Guam Legislature, there seems to be growing opposition to the site they’ve selected.

In a letter to foundation chairman Monte Mesa last week, Michael Ysrael of Tanota Partners, owners of the Guam Outrigger and other Tumon hotels, said the construction of the museum in Skinner Plaza “is a terrible idea and I vehemently oppose it.”

And Ysrael’s father Alfred, longtime Guam hotelier, added his preference for “the present Agaña Police Station or the present Department of Administration building,” both of which are old and should be torn down. The senior Ysrael also suggested the old Legislature building, across from the Cathedral-Basilica, as a better location.

Michael Ysrael, chairman of the board of the A.B. Won Pat International Airport, described the proposed museum building as “a big white elephant that will block the historical view lines of Agaña.” He said Skinner Plaza is an open park, used by hundreds of tourists and local people every day. “With all the other possible locations (for the museum), this is definitely the worst,” Ysrael contended.

During the public hearing on Bill 454, authored by Cruz, he said he introduced the bill in part because Gov. Eddie Calvo wants the museum in the center of Hagåtña, as part of a renewal of the capital. “The governor wanted to restore Hagåtña, wanted to revive Hagåtña and have a thriving downtown area and historical district,” Cruz said.

Joseph Cameron of the Department of Chamorro Affairs also testified in favor of the location, and points out they will make extensive changes to the traffic patterns and parking around the plaza to accommodate the attraction.

But Ysrael said parking in the area is already quite limited, and the Museum Foundation’s plans will make parking “a nightmare for all.”

“In addition to adding to the parking issue, the plan is to make the streets one-way and add confusion to the area,” he said.

Mesa, speaking to the Rotary Club of Guam last Thursday, said time is of the essence, suggesting that a delay now would jeopardize hotel tax bonds in the amount of $27 million which have already been subscribed.

The Legislature must concur in the transfer of ownership of the Plaza, which is presently under legislative control, in order for the project to proceed. But it seems there are issues which still should be discussed. Ramming the project through, under threat of somehow losing the funding, seems unnecessary since the bonds are secured by tax money, which is not going to go away. At worst the foundation might lose a fraction of a point in interest, that’s all, by holding off on the project while they consider all the objections being raised. That seems a small price to pay.

“There are better sites for a Guam Museum,” stated Michael Ysrael in his letter to Mesa. We agree.