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Guam - Should the Guam museum be placed at Skinner's plaza in Hagatna? Some think this is the worst place for it however Governor Calvo has requested that this be the site of it's construction and lawmakers will soon be considering a bill that will make this move to Skinner's Plaza possible.

"It's probably the absolutely worst space I can think of I mean Skinner's plaza is completely chalk full of memorials and monuments,” said Tanota partners General Manager Mike Ysrael adding, "We have memorials to people who have done significant contributions to Guam we have memorials to people who have died defending Guam we have memorials to people from Guam who have died defending the United States."

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Ysrael is referring to GovGuam's plans to build the Guam museum at the Skinner's plaza in Hagatna. "It's gonna ruin the skyline it's gonna ruin the view lines it's gonna ruin the open space and as you know Agana is a low lying area and Skinner plaza and other open areas are one of our protections against any severe flooding in the area,” said Ysrael.

During the Camacho administration the plans were all set to build the Guam museum in Agana heights at fort Apugan along the cliff line overlooking the island's capital. However, on May 1st Governor Eddie Calvo sent a letter to Vice-Speaker B.J. Cruz essentially requesting that the Guam museum be instead constructed on Skinner's plaza.

Guam museum foundation Chairman Monte Mesa says, "One of the things that was noted at the fort Apugan location is that there were some concerns from the historic preservation trust that was one of the concerns that were addressed secondly of course during the Camacho-Cruz administration that was what they were visualizing and envisioned for the museum to be in place well today we have a new administration and now that the money has been identified a re-evaluation of what the vision of Governor Calvo and Lt. Governor Tenorio is looking at revitalizing Hagatna and really having a catalyst and a centerpiece to jump start this revitalization.”

 However, people like Ysrael don't believe that Skinner's plaza is the right place for the Musuem. "It's one of the few areas in Agana that's actually open it's one of a few open spaces and there's a nice vista line from the Plaza De Espana across the Skinner's plaza eventually to the ocean and boat basin,” said Ysrael.

 Mesa on the other hand says the museum will be designed as a three story building which will use up less space. "We're only looking at 30 percent of the Skinner's plaza to be used for the museum itself so the green space will be there it's part of the design,” said Mesa. The plans are to place the museum on the end closest too the Hagatna cathedral. The entire plaza is used for various family friendly functions throughout the year like the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony and parade.

"And on top of everything else what caught my attention on the last go around was they're not even planning to put parking in it sounds like a typical GovGuam project where they come in and they ruin the whole area and they put a lot stress on the local community,” said Ysrael.

 Mesa says that they are looking at putting in more diagonal parking spaces which would allow them to fit up to 100 more cars than are currently allowed there today. “I think the design for the museum itself will be iconic and it'll be a centerpiece for the Hagatna capital and a catalyst for the revitalization of Hagatna itself," said Mesa.

 Vice-speaker Cruz introduced bill 454 to transfer Skinner's plaza to the governor's office allowing them to build the museum there. The measure has already had a public hearing. If everything goes as planned the new museum should be done by 2014.