Letters To The Editor

Improve, not destroy, what we have

One of the reasons my wife and I decided to settle here in Coeur d’Alene was because of the attractions in the downtown area. The lake front can boast of a great park, athletic field, boat launch, lots of green grass and trees, a trail to walk or bike ride.

I keep reading about changing things so that more people will use the downtown. Good idea, but let’s not throw away the few things that bring the people there now. Let’s look at what draws or forces them away and improve on that instead.

The large Elks building is empty. The Masonic Temple has a “For Sale” sign on it. Everywhere you look you see empty buildings. Can it be greed that forces rents and taxes sky high so the businesses can’t afford to stay downtown? Do you think a covered Sherman Avenue, like downtown Las Vegas, would fill the empty buildings? Maybe an inexpensive indoor parking garage like the one at the Spokane Airport would encourge people to spend more time in town.

The athletic types who use McEuen Field and hike Tubbs Hill and the folks who enjoy a day on the lake with the boat launch availability still would be able to come downtown and just live life and enjoy the city of Coeur d’Alene. After all, isn’t that why we live here? Don Geske Coeur d’Alene

Critical questions need to be answered

I have not yet heard the complete sales pitch concerning the downtown revitalization plan, but there are many questions that come to mind:

* Will Tubbs Hill be left alone, or will it be given a concrete facelift for the convenience of The Coeur d’Alene Resort guests?

* Will there be free parking, or will the city take advantage of the situation and charge the public for access? (The Resort already charges for access if you’re there for longer than two hours.)

* Will McEuen Field remain an easily accessible, simply maintained sporting complex or will it become a commercialized carnival with barbed wire fences?

I need to head on down to City Hall and start asking these questions, because they sure haven’t asked me my opinion about the matter. Randy A. Nichol Coeur d’Alene

Changing play areas disservice to youths

I was raised in Coeur d’Alene and have seen many changes to the area. To change the ball fields and tennis courts from what we have now would be a great disservice to the future generations, as we need areas where kids can run and play.

We don’t need to create more parking. Use the current parking area, but build the area into a parking garage with multiple stories and leave an area large enough for boaters who use our lake.

I enjoyed this area with my friends while growing up. We played football in the winter on the ball fields. Roamed all over Tubbs Hill playing games like army, and cowboys and Indians. As we became older we used the tennis courts, and practiced high school football on the field. When my daughter became interested in softball, she played on the fields and then coached the little girls of the city at the same fields, even after we moved to Rathdrum.

I have very fond memories of this area as I only lived a block away. This was my back yard. To change the area and to dilute the green space from our kids would be a great disservice for them as well as us.

As far as Tubbs Hill goes, the only improvement that should be done there is to make the trails around the hill easier for all the people who visit the area and the citizens of the city. Dale R. Broadsword Rathdrum

Who will benefit from planned changes?

The city promises to maintain the same level of service with boat launch facilities. This will be a real trick, since there is so little available shore near the city center. My solution is to take land away from the Resort Golf Course, but you guess the chances of this. If the boat launch is moved too far away, the city will lose business. The optimal move is to keep the launch there.

Regarding parking, the city should build parking lots around downtown, and operate them without a care as to red or black ink. Increase green space around McEuen by taking out the ugly parking lot, except for slots necessary to accommodate vehicles with boat trailers.

McEuen Field should be reserved for activities such as skating, team sports, picnics - nothing that requires a building.

The Carrousel is a money loser for the city, yet it’s good sentiment; if plans go ahead, it should be placed far enough from shore so as not to be flooded during a torrential spring melt.

The concern that needs to be addressed before plans move ahead is to determine who benefits: the developers or the community at large? Fred Glienna Coeur d’Alene

Movers and shakers, take a breather

Downtown revitalization? Again? Maybe Coeur d’Alene needs to get out of the frenetic building mode. How many dead bagel places are enough? Vacant eyes of bankrupt storefronts haunt shoppers while particulated air hovers sullenly after mixing with noxious exhaust fumes. What is it you need? More of just anything?

Yesterday a jail; day before yesterday schools; last week a north-south highway; and now the meth lab breakup fund is toast. Diversity is righteously encouraged until pieces offend and beg removal. Maybe movers and shakers could take a nap or sit quietly until the dust settles. Sometimes that requires courage and intelligence. Chill. Sandra Turner Coeur d’Alene

Don’t replace facilities, spruce them up

The Coeur d’Alene downtown is not something that should be changed. People visit it because they like it just the way it is. Hundreds of people use the boat launch every year; dozens of families come to Tubbs Hill to picnic at the gazebo and hike the hill that is one of our city’s best places. The old saying that things that aren’t broken shouldn’t be fixed is very applicable to this situation. It would be nice to see the current facilities spruced up, but they do not need to be replaced. Erica A. Orto Coeur d’Alene

Tourism nice, but don’t forget about residents

My family and I used to live within walking distance of McEuen Field. Our children loved the playgrounds there and walking around Tubbs Hill. It’s a great place for families to go and enjoy outdoor activities. It’s also a huge gathering place on the Fourth of July to watch the fireworks.

Our feeling has always been that the owners of the resort properties by the lake only want “beautiful” people living in that area. Of course, nothing (that I know of) has ever been said to this effect, but it is our perception, having lived there.

I think tourism is a large portion of the economy for Coeur d’Alene, but we should make improvements to our town, not solely based on what tourists might enjoy, but for what the people who live here year around would want. Cindy Talley Coeur d’Alene

Third Street boat ramp poor use of space

Downtown Coeur d’Alene needs a shot of modernization and revitalization. Almost anything would be better than nothing. The one issue that has struck me is the Third Street boat ramp. Nice, but I know of no place where a boat ramp and parking are located in the heart of the downtown commercial area. I have a boat and would not mind launching at some other location. A ramp in the present spot seems a poor use of the limited area and available parking. Leave the docks for boaters to use but they can launch someplace else.

Those with a real sincere interest in the betterment of the area should have the vision to see they whole picture and not try to torpedo the project for their own parochial interests. Ralph Hallock Hayden

Happy with things the way they are

I am a 10-year resident of Coeur d’Alene. One of the reasons I moved here was the green space near downtown. I live near Tubbs Hill. If none of the proposals in the Walker/Macy plan were put in effect, I could be happy. As for the downtown merchants concerns about parking, why don’t they do what other businessmen are doing and pay for providing their own parking? Philip Waring Coeur d’Alene

Let’s keep downtown area just like it is

I am strongly in favor of keeping Tubbs Hill and McEuen Field and the boat launch as is. Keep free parking downtown (witness what is happening with parking structure at River Park Square in Spokane). Parking needs to be easy, free, and accessible in order for people to come to downtown. The events like the First Thursdays and street fairs like Art on the Green, are great to keep people coming to downtown.

I don’t have all the answers, but I love the downtown and want it to keep its friendly, center-of-town atmosphere. That’s why I choose to live here in downtown Coeur d’Alene. I hope those high-paid consultants can come up with something that is going to work for downtown, but keeping the local citizens’ desires in mind is what is going to make it successful. Nancy Prichard Coeur d’Alene

Improve city for all, not just tourists

Evidently the downtown “revitalization” entails elimination of the Third Street boat ramp and at least a portion of McEuen Field. In its place, will be “green” areas where tourists can walk idly through and marvel at how beautiful our area is. To me, these are no more than cosmetic, politically correct improvements, and come the end of tourist season, those improvements will go for naught due to sloppy winter weather. In short, these so-called “improvements” are for the tourists only, and not for the folks who call this place home.

So come on down, folks, once our town is “improved” and hang out listlessly in Coeur d’Alene’s brand-spankin’ new downtown. Because once the improvements are made, that’s about all you’ll be able to do. Dave Holmes Coeur d’Alene

Avoid development of city’s sacred areas

I would like to see transportation and housing resources for the poor, handicapped and single-parent families get first priority before developing the Coeur d’Alene downtown area.

I am against closing the Third Street boat launch, cutting down the number of tennis courts from six to two and building parking or other buildings that block the lake view.

If the businesses downtown want to attract customers they need to: Charge lower prices, stay open longer and on weekends, pay a decent wage to retain qualified sales help, sell something useful (like groceries), promote the area as a destination for working families’ vacations (as it was during the 1950s), encourage more mom-and-pop businesses like restaurants, bars and motels that would support more people than one business that mostly pays minimum wage and offer free parking.

It would also be helpful for downtown business to put a stop to the Nazi parades downtown.

There are three areas that are sacred to our Coeur d’Alene culture; Tubb’s Hill, McEuen Field and City Park. We need to do anything legal to avoid the commercialization and development of these public areas. Gary A. Edwards Coeur d’Alene

Resolve will come with leadership, not emotion

Our downtown needs to thrive, not just survive. Let’s move boat ramp(s) east along the old highway, getting truck and trailer parking out of town. The proposed plaza will beautify our town and serve more Coeur d’Alene residents at the price of a small inconvenience to Washington boaters (who don’t pay their way).

Let’s build a parking structure at Front and Fourth street - go up, not out. Keep parking close to shopping and the restaurants.

Reduce McEuen Field and put the library downtown. The field is used less than half the year by a relatively few residents whereas a library and meeting center are year-round assets.

The “highest and best” use of downtown goes to change such as those proposed, but don’t kill or move parking. That’s the kiss of death in a town where most all move by automobile.

Critical thinking and leadership, not emotions will resolve this challenge to the benefit of all. Vern Westgate Coeur d’Alene

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