BUILDING: Neighbors oppose razing it

An Open Letter to our mayor, City Council and county commissioners:

It has come to our attention that the beautiful Romer Building at 627 Government Way is scheduled to be demolished and the lot razed to make room for a county building containing more courtrooms for the county. This historic building has been a beautiful part of our neighborhood for more than a century, and we are 100 percent against this action.

We understand the county acquired this property two years ago with expansion in mind, yet no neighborhood impact study was done, and there is room to build out by the jail, a much more viable option concerning proximity to the incarcerated. Building new courtrooms in our neighborhood will greatly impact parking, traffic flow, property values and our quality of life.

Though the county owns the property, they have a moral obligation to the area residents, who voted them into office, to consider the long range ramifications of this action. We understand there are fiscal considerations, however we are united in our belief that there can be a better solution to this problem. Should the county go ahead with their building plan, it sends a message to the public that anyone can build on property they own without responsible consideration of the impact their building has on the neighborhood.

Is this the message you want our city and county government to stand behind? Please reverse course on this decision, value the trust of your constituents and build elsewhere.

ZOE ANN THRUMAN

Coeur d’Alene