COUNTY: Expansion suggestion

Seems like a lot of controversy about the house at 627 Government Way. To use or not to use for expansion of courthouse facilities.

A lot of money has been spent to buy the house, and a lot more will be spent to demolish it. Further controversy about expanding at the fairgrounds, though that seems to have been put to rest only very recently. So what to do? An obvious solution seems to be nearby, namely, the half-block vacant space on Garden Avenue between First and Second streets, south side of the block (north of the Roosevelt Inn). This lot has been vacant for nearly 40 years. It’s an eyesore. It’s 75 yards from the courthouse. It’s vacant, so there’s no demolition costs. Why it hasn’t been considered is beyond me.

If the price is too high, there’s always eminent domain. And it’s a 30-second walk farther away than the 627 Government Way property.

Could we get an explanation from the powers-that-be why it wouldn’t be the perfect solution to this problem?

TIMOTHY WARD

Coeur d’Alene