Photo: Duane Hagadone presenting his plans for a botanical garden to The Spokesman-Review Editorial Board, including, from left: Yours Truly, Publisher Stacey Cowles and Editor Steve Smith.

I informed the Editorial Board today that I've changed my position on Hagadone Gardens -- the proposal by The Duane to take three downtown city blocks to build a botanical garden and add a second tower to The Coeur d'Alene Resort. Hagadone's announcement last week that he wanted the city to give him three city blocks instead of two was the deal breaker. I always knew he wouldn't be satisfied with the original freebie he asked for. And that the townspeople who own the streets wouldn't know his full agenda until it was too late. If he wants those three blocks, Hagadone should pay through the nose to get them -- mebbe $1 million per block to honor his father and mother with a flower garden and help build a new library. (After all, he offered $2 million when he was coveting McEuen Field for his garden seven years ago.) Also, he should grant perpetual access to his part of Sanders Beach as part of the deal. For once, Hagadone isn't bargaining from a position of strength. The city has something he wants badly. So, he needs to make an offer we can't refuse.

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