If you missed Ryan’s story, earlier today, about the renovation of the Coast Guard building out by the North Jetty, go check that out and then come back here.

Now do this: Look at this beautiful building. 

Christamighty, what a jewel. As someone lucky enough to have visited the inside of it, let me tell you: It is even more beautiful inside than out, if you can believe that. 

We’re amazingly lucky, here in Humboldt, to have architecture that can awe and inspire, and we’re lucky to have several layers of local, state and national historic preservation programs that at least attempt to ensure we’ll have awe-inspiring spaces like this for generations to come.

At the same time, though — there’s such a thing as too much of it. As mentioned in the story, preservation of structures like this is expensive and time-consuming, and not all building owners have the resources of the federal government to draw upon. At what point does the preservation of old beautiful spaces hinder the creation of new beautiful spaces? Could it be that nostalgia is getting in the way of us doing cool new things in the physical world? Can a structure from the early 20th century facilitate the lives we want to live now?

Sound off. How are we doing? How does the balance feel? Do we need more or less preservation, or does the balance feel about right?