It was good to see the question cited, "Is a stadium the highest and best use of that land?" in your June 3 editorial "A pall over the hall" (regarding the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame missing the cut for state funding). Your response intrigues me - that "more high-end housing could fill the void - and get more people living downtown."

Why are people going to live downtown when there is no center or focus?

On the other hand, if you look around the country at those cities that have been successful in redeveloping vital, flourishing downtowns, in most every situation each has a vibrant center for performing arts - visited by thousands of people on a continuing basis, throughout each year. For example, annual audiences for Augusta's symphony, opera, stage plays, ballet and dance troupe exceed 130,000.

Augusta, being on the world map one week of each year because of golf, should certainly make the most of this success. Why not combine our need for both? Build a center for the performing arts celebrating the art of golf - housing the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame - and, at the same time, embrace the other arts in Augusta (most of which have been in operation for more than 50 years without an appropriate venue)?

It is unfortunate that the powers-that-be in Augusta have not yet recognized that the arts truly are economic development engines for any community. All told, performing arts events around our nation sell more tickets than sports events do - as is true in Augusta. Think about it!

Sandra S. Self, Augusta

(Editor's note: The writer is executive director of the Augusta Symphony.)