Marshall's down, but far from out

Two men were having lunch at a downtown Coeur d'Alene restaurant Saturday, and front-page news was the topic of their conversation.

The news: Mega-millionaire car dealer turned developer Marshall Chesrown had hit Black Rock bottom, turning over some prized assets - the Club at Black Rock golf course, 31,000-square-foot clubhouse and fitness facilities - to a major creditor.

As the two men ate and chatted, it became clear that the asset transfer was not just viewed as a big financial blow to Chesrown, but a blow that these two relished. "How the mighty have fallen," one suggested with a smile.

Why is it that little people need big people cut down to make the little ones feel bigger?

For the record, the asset transfer continues a national trend not just of economic hardships for many but of developers getting out of private golf course ownership altogether. Contrary to what the two diners believed, the Club at Black Rock is not closing; it boasts a strong membership base which will keep it going. Further, the asset transfer had nothing to do with privately owned homes or development property within the Black Rock community.

If you were one of those who cheered at the front-page news, publicly or privately, we beg you to reconsider.

Had the operation closed, about 150 jobs would instantly have been lost. Ask Steve Griffitts, the region's economic development boss, what he'd give for 150 jobs today and you'd probably see Steve looking wistfully at his right arm. The Club at Black Rock isn't just a slice of paradise for wealthy golf aficionados. It's an important piece in North Idaho's overall employment puzzle.

And for anyone who feels any measure of joy in big developments for wealthy people falling on hard times, again, we ask you to reconsider. Many of these residences serve as second or third homes for individuals and families who have a low impact on costly infrastructure, like roads, schools and law enforcement, yet contribute mightily to the property tax base of Kootenai County. In other words, they pay a disproportionately high ratio of our area's taxes while requiring a disproportionately low ratio of public services.

Many live here weeks a year. They contribute to our community charities. They add to the intellectual enrichment of our area. They tend to be staunch advocates for the same ideals that have attracted many of us to North Idaho and kept many others here when they had opportunity to go elsewhere.

These are not the best of financial times for Marshall Chesrown, but we believe the same entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen that have made him so successful in the past will serve him in the future. And that will be good news for all of North Idaho.