Roy McMakin says, “The whole thing is kind of disgusting.” Donna Klemka says VAA “has thrown a stone.”

Is that the type of civil discourse that Donna appealed for in her last letter on the topic of a proposed historic district at Center? (“Behavior at meeting was inapproriate,” Oct. 3.) Not very nice, I’d say. And misleading to boot.

First, VAA has not only supported the preservation of history at Center, it has led the way. VAA landmarked the Blue Heron building way back in 1985 and has spent many thousands of dollars since then to preserve it. Roy, by contrast, has failed to follow VAA’s example. He owns the Old Fuller Store building, and at the recent hearing, the staff of the Landmarks Commission said Roy’s building is the only one at Center besides the Blue Heron that would qualify for landmark status. If Roy feels so strongly about preserving historic properties at Center, when will he do the right thing, follow VAA’s superb leadership, and apply to landmark the Fuller Store? Fair play demands it.

Second, VAA is one of the property owners in the proposed district. It’s striking that The Beachcomber described Roy and others as property owners but did not acknowledge that VAA owns more property in the proposed district than anyone.

If VAA doesn’t have a perfect right to weigh in on this topic, who does? In fact, VAA is legally obliged to steward the assets it cares for as a registered nonprofit. That’s the only responsible thing for VAA to do. And that’s what VAA has done all these years.

— Rick Wallace