IGNITE: Focus on renewal, please

During the last two board meetings, ignite cda received reports from local architecture firms regarding development options for two of its properties.

Oddly enough the two parcels most recently discussed for development were a primely located 1 acre parcel immediately south of City Hall parking lot and another large parcel on Park Drive near the skate park. An average resident would consider the first property part of Tubbs Hill. The next parcel is currently vacant land and includes a group of single family homes on Park Drive adjacent to the current skate park and the Ft. Grounds neighborhood.

I am unsure how much ignite cda paid for these properties but I am certain that if they were put back on the market there would not be much delay in selling the properties. In my opinion, they are premier locations and could fetch a great asking price.

Rather than developing areas private citizens would develop, I would love to see some of the empty buildings downtown improved for safety and updated for current technologies. Perhaps these would draw the tech start-ups, and gizmo manufacturers to come and create jobs in Coeur d’Alene.

Ignite cda, please consider using our tax dollars for the old Elks building on Fifth and Lakeside. It has been vacant for 15 years (http://www.cdapress.com/news/local_news/article_4fbd1c38-8308-11df-b6a2-001cc4c03286.html). Several other downtown buildings are in dire need of Urban Renewal dollars.

JOHN PULSIFER

Coeur d’Alene