Urban renewal and you

Urban renewal has a potentially positive impact on the communities that employ it. The concept of turning ugly, under-used or even unsafe chunks of property into productive, attractive, tax-generating engines has merit. Then again, potential and reality aren't always aligned.

Urban renewal statewide is under scrutiny from a legislative committee. A fifth of that committee - Rep. Kathy Sims and Sen. Mary Souza - is from Coeur d'Alene, which suggests the Lake City's urban renewal agency might be front and center in the debate.

The committee will meet next Monday but Souza wants more information from the public she serves. That's why she's hosting a town hall tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. in the Coeur d'Alene Public Library's Community Room.

Souza says the format is going to be wide open, intentionally not rigidly structured because she wants to hear as many viewpoints and ideas from as many people as possible. While the town hall will be her show, we have a few suggestions.

Many citizens are still miffed about urban renewal dollars being used for McEuen Park and other questionable investment targets. While some review of perceived mistakes may prove helpful, a 90-minute lamentation of alleged missteps will not necessarily move the discussion forward.

Constructive criticism coupled with specific suggestions should help Souza, the rest of her committee and, next year, the entire Legislature determine the best course for urban renewal as an economic development and community improvement tool. For example, some citizens think the length of time Coeur d'Alene's two urban renewal districts remain open, keeping the increased generation of tax dollars in some cases for more than two decades, is too long. Others would prefer to see the volunteer board of directors disbanded completely and let the publicly elected City Council run urban renewal or at least have the Council oversee the appointed board.

Because even one community's urban renewal efforts impact the entire county, this is not a Coeur d'Alene-only issue. We encourage you to bring your ideas to the town hall tomorrow evening and see how you can help improve this important economic development tool.