A standing-room-only crowd at today’s Public Works Committee meeting heard city-staff justifications for turning down the garden’s donation, under close questioning from city council members.

City staff turned down donation of the land in October 2005, without consulting the city council. The land has since been sold to a developer, who wants to build a 40-story residential tower, which would destroy the historic Schilling Garden, block views from two historic apartment buildings, and make a highly visible intrusion into the skyline from most of Lakeside Park. The Public Works Committee of the city council takes this up on Sept. 12. Y’all come!