McEUEN: Just make it happen

We, at Riverstone, feel compelled to make some comments on the new McEuen Field renovation concept. They are as follows:

Coeur d'Alene is, and probably always will be, a resort town. Historically, Coeur d'Alene has attracted visitors because of its natural beauty, amenities and events including the lighting ceremony, Fourth of July festivities, Art on the Green, etc., all of which have helped to draw millions of visitors a year to the North Idaho Panhandle. For those of us who live in this beautiful area, we get to enjoy the amenities that are available to us year round.

We currently have in front of us an opportunity to create another one of these special amenities that will have a dual use of being a visitor attraction as well as a venue that will serve the local population in a variety of ways. We have reviewed the plans and concept as presented by the McEuen Field backers and it seems to us that it is sound both conceptually and economically. An updated McEuen Field will give Coeur d'Alene new energy and an economic boost now, when it is needed the most.

In order to provide jobs, support businesses and to have an economically healthy town, Coeur d'Alene will always need to reinvest in public infrastructure. Without this reinvestment we will not continue to attract outside interests, which we depend upon to support our local economy and quite frankly to pay the bills.

Thanks in large part to the new $200,000 million worth of tax base, along with 900 jobs, that have been created at Riverstone over the past 10 years combined with the help from the LCDC, there should be adequate funds available through the Urban Renewal District to execute the McEuen Field final plan. From the very onset of the establishment of the Urban Renewal Agency, the tax increment that has been created at Riverstone was intended to be used primarily in the downtown core for redevelopment and we believe that the McEuen Field renovation would be an ideal use of those funds.

We do have some minor concerns, like others do, about the plans with respect to parking and some of the specific uses, but all of that can be worked out with community involvement and input.

We believe that it is time for the mayor and the City Council to take the lead and move forward with implementing the McEuen Field concept as quickly as possible.

JOHN STONE

Riverstone Development