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Help save integrity of Fort Grounds

| March 15, 2014 9:00 PM

The Fort Grounds Homeowners' association was formed, or first became very active, in response to the seizing, by NIC and its president, Barry Schuler, of Fort Grounds private property (two houses) at the corner of Hubbard and West Garden, using the powers of eminent domain. At the time, Mr. Schuler was depicted in a Cd'A Press photograph which was captioned: "It's mine."

This 1980s event galvanized the neighborhood, as did further comments by Mr. Schuler suggesting that NIC was eventually going to need to expand into all of the remaining Fort Grounds.

Marge Stoddard, who lived across the street from the seizure site (and was a significant community leader in her own right), had long been monitoring the potential property depredations of NIC. It was Marge who was the heart and soul of the association, such as it was, in its early days.

With the property seizure, Marge was able to gain the interest of my mother, Dr. Jane Gumprecht, who was a very able, forceful, persuasive individual and community leader all of her life. Dr. Jane was immediately elected association president, taking it to a new level of vigor and influence in city politics. From that point forward the Fort Grounds neighborhood association was recognized as the most active such group in Coeur d'Alene.

see MY TURN, C3

MY TURN

from C1

There were a number of other important contributors to association efforts including, prominently, Rick Guenther as well as Denny Davis, John Fullwiler, Gil and Marilyn Stinson and a large contingent that would appear at City Council, Planning and Zoning and other events. I had the honor of following my mother as president and was also quite involved in city politics at the time.

The accomplishments of the association included wording in the comprehensive plan that established the boundaries between NIC and the neighborhood at Hubbard Avenue on the west and River Avenue on the north with the inclusion of the block of Military that extended north from River. One of our unfortunate defeats was an attempt to stop the development of apartments along the south side of River between Military and Hubbard. Despite the best efforts of Dr. Jane, Marge Stoddard, Rick Guenther, myself and many other neighbors, the apartments were approved and built.

The goal of the association was, from the beginning, to maintain both the physical and social integrity of the neighborhood. The association felt, and I continue to feel, that Coeur d'Alene without the Fort Grounds neighborhood would not be Coeur d'Alene. The flavor would change unalterably.

To that end, and up to this point, the association has been largely successful. However, I do believe that, in future, the neighborhood will need the new added protection of an ordinance stipulating that the Fort Grounds be reserved for and, restricted to, single-family dwellings.

Donald G. Gumprecht is a resident of the Fort Grounds in Coeur d'Alene.

Donald Gumprecht

My Turn

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