Old Post Office must keep historic integrity

Last year's collapse of a deal to convert the historic downtown Post Office into a shopping center and galleria rescued city planners from what could have been a terrible mistake.

While the proposal for the shopping center was attractive, it opened the door for major unwelcome changes in what is a historic and architecturally protected part of downtown Honolulu.

The 79-year-old Post Office, itself a historic landmark, is a part of a "historic precinct" in the Hawai'i Capitol Special District. That district extends from the slopes of Punchbowl to the waterfront.

The first phase of the shopping complex presented little problem, because it consisted primarily of interior renovations and changes. The problem would have come with subsequent phases, which would have added additional floors for shops and parking.

In its final form, the project would not have fit in with the architectural themes of the historic precinct and Capitol district and might have paved the way toward further erosion of this most special area.

that project is gone, but we're not off the hook yet. A commercial brokerage firm has put out a request for bids in an attempt to find a buyer for the property.

This is a good time for the City Council to take another good look at this venerable and beautiful old building. It's not too late to put design restrictions in place to ensure that it graces the district for decades to come.