CDA: View from county resident

I have no horse in this race, but we in the county stand to be affected by the new urban renewal district OK’d by Coeur d’Alene City Council. I think it is time for some new blood on the council.

It seems like most of the council members just want to rubber stamp everything that comes down the pike! Instead of developing this huge project taking in homes and business that have been here for many years, there is plenty of room in the area where the old water park was and Shook parking lot, etc. Just revitalize some of the land you have in the area. The idea of an urban renewal district was to revitalize depressed areas and work over the infrastructure to bring some of these areas up to snuff. Take McEuen Park, for instance: Almost $20 million spent and it is a nice park, but if you go one block from city hall and the library, the sidewalks are cracking even around the old mayor’s home!

Many improvements were made along Sherman in the past, mainly so Mr. H could have a pleasant drive to his office on the lake, but if you go one block either side of Sherman, you will see some really run down homes and sidewalks. Who are the folks to benefit from all these urban renewal districts, other than the folks on the upper end of the food chain?

P.S. Best wishes to Ron E. on his retirement. His good work on the council will not soon be forgotten.

RON DAYTON

Kootenai County