Recently the Rivoli Restoration Project has succeeded in making several major steps forward, and the project continues to gain momentum as it fosters excitement over the possibilities for a vibrant downtown with a restored Rivoli at its center.

The transfer of title to the Rivoli board with the assistance of the Pendleton Development Commission was a long process involving many active players and hurdles to overcome. Adding a new roof to the building was a key step to preserve the integrity of the structure, which has been inspected from top to bottom and approved by architects hired to find flaws. The board also received approval from the DEQ indicating that the structure has no significant environmental concerns.

With these major accomplishments in mind, the factual misstatements and misplaced concerns in Mr. Cronins July 25 letter to this paper merit little attention. Over the past three years, the Rivoli Coalition has worked closely with the city of Pendletons Development Commission to address any concerns that may exist regarding the use of city funds to jump start this project of economic and cultural importance to the city, and this dialogue has been analyzed in the local media; the claim that there were no questions asked is inaccurate.

The letter also claims the Rivoli will not be able to cover its expenses; this misstatement is the product of selective reading of the organizations financial plans.

As many are aware, virtually all non-profit organizations rely on external support to remain viable, and this project will be no exception. To date, the Rivoli project has benefited greatly from the assistance of the Pendleton Development Commission, the Wildhorse Foundation, the Aetna Foundation, the Pendleton Foundation Trust, The Kinsman Foundation, The Oregon Community Foundation, the Edythe Fairbanks Whitman Family Foundation, The Meyer Memorial Trust, Greg Galloway and members of our community.

The board envisions the restored Rivoli as a centerpiece of a revitalized, busy downtown Pendleton, and we will continue to defend against misinformation and to work toward our vision of urban renewal. Our next major goal is to turn back the clock on years of decline by cleaning out every nook and cranny of the structure to prepare it for renovation; this is no small task.

We extend a sincere and heart-felt “thank you” to all of you throughout our community who have been involved to this point, and we encourage everyone to get involved with this exciting project!

Andrew Picken, Will Perkinson, Justin Farley and Pete Walters

Pendleton