Big building was no April fool 35 years ago
The news of April 15, 1987, rocked Coeur d’Alene.
Thirty-five years ago, out-of-state partners announced plans to build a $25 million mall at Highway 95 and Hanley, featuring Sears and JC Penney’s as major tenants.
Developers from Salt Lake City and Sacramento, Calif., said the mall of 350,000 square feet would include about 55 stores, four major tenants, employ 600 to 800 people, and open in two years.
The business community had mixed reactions.
Sandy Emerson, then manager of the Coeur d’Alene chamber, didn’t agree with those who saw the proposed, unnamed mall as the death knell for the downtown: “The downtown can fight back and improve,” he told reporters. “It has a life of its own through tourism and proximity to the water.”
Sandi Bloem, then Downtown Association president, took a wait-and-see approach. She said downtown businesses would need to make major investments to compete. Also, she felt strip malls were doomed. But she agreed with others that the mall would help stop the “leakage” of local dollars to Spokane.
Wallace businessman Harry Magnuson announced plans to go ahead with his own mall at Highway 95 and Neider, next to Coeur d’Alene Kmart.
Well, you know how things turned out.
The Silver Lake Mall was a happening place for years, then squeaked by for years. Now, with its 2020 sale to Black Sheep Sporting Goods owner David Knoll, the mall is poised to prosper again. Downtown has undergone a major overhaul and sprouts million-dollar condo high-rises today. More strip malls than ever dot the Coeur d’Alene area. Harry never built his Coeur d’Alene mall.
And Sandi Bloem became a three-term mayor who guided the upgrades of downtown and McEuen Park, and played a major role in the development of Riverstone and the Kroc Center.
Some might grump that Coeur d’Alene became too prosperous. Most businesses won’t.
No thanks
On freezing Monday, a young couple were huddled under a blanket on the sidewalk near the Coeur d’Alene Rite Aid entrance when a Seasoned Citizen approached. He was holding a box of Merlot, cough drops, and a $20 bill. The seated duo appeared homeless. She had tangled hair as multi-colored as her blanket and a tooth missing from a cautious smile. Her boyfriend clung to her for warmth. The Rite Aid customer held out the Jackson and asked, “Do you have something to eat tonight?” Surprisingly, the woman said, “Yes.” Puzzled, the old-timer continued, “You sure you don’t need this?” She was sure. Then, she said, “I can’t believe how ridiculously generous people in this town are.” Her companion agreed. Seems others had offered to help them out, too. Believe it or not, this city still has a heart.
Chasing Nazis
You probably know that the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations came into existence in February 1981 to oppose the Aryan Nations. But did you know the task force spawned the five-state Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment? On April 3, 1987, state reps from Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Idaho gathered at North Idaho College to sign incorporation papers. Wyoming would join later. Earlier in the day, task force president Bill Wassmuth was selected to direct the new group. The coalition was formed to combat regional racism, monitor hate groups and crimes, and promote legislation that would serve its goals. It was effective while Bill was directing things. But, in 1999, poor health forced him to resign. The coalition expanded its scope to tackle other social issues and merged with a Portland organization. In 2003, it went broke and closed.
Fan Mail
Reader Kathie Fleek, 78, a lifelong resident of Coeur d’Alene, disagrees with Huckleberries’ praise for the McEuen Park makeover: “I would love to still be able to go down there and catch a ball game. But like most senior citizens, we are unable to walk the area anymore because of disabilities or drive in to watch the boats loading and unloading. American Legion (baseball) might as well forget it, now that they are stuck far away by the Kroc Center, and nobody even knows they are there! Sad. The downtown does not belong to the average locals anymore. And I am so glad to have been able to experience it when I was younger. Believe me, there are still plenty of people who don't describe it as a ‘magnificent greenspace.’ It does look nice, but as far as use, (it’s) only for the able.”
Huckleberries
• Poet’s Corner: The moisture from heaven/that will bring May’s delight/tends to freak people out/when it comes down white — The Bard of Sherman Avenue (“April Showers”).
• Noting the “Pumpkin Ridge Road” address on a package headed to North Plains, Ore., this week, a clerk at the Coeur d’Alene post office said to her customer, “That’s a nice name. It’s certainly better than some we get, like Alcohol Mary Road, Maine, and Rattlesnake Road, Ariz.”
• The city of Fernan, then with a population of 186, didn’t really need to outlaw the sex trade in mid-April 2002. Purveyors of porn and worse wouldn’t pick the sleepy village on the east of end of Sherman Avenue to ply their seedy wares. But Fernan acted any way, as a house-keeping measure, according to then mayor Pat Acuff. Better to be safe than sorry.
• After the snow accumulation on April 12, 2017, Jeanne Helstrom of Coeur d’Alene told her Facebook Friends who’d scurried to California, Arizona, and other sunny parts for the winter: “Welcome home, snowbirds.” And the same greeting works for our chilly spring today.
Parting Shot
Kris Siebers of Post Falls crossed paths briefly with comedian Gilbert Gottfried, who died at age 67 Tuesday. Kris was hosting the morning program for KXLY when he encountered Gottfried in a studio hallway. Kris came away with succinct observations about the voice actor. He spoke normally, not in his “Aflac duck voice.” He was quiet and almost shy off camera. And the actor was at least 2 inches shorter than 5-foot-6 Kris. “I was closer to 5 feet 7 when I graduated high school,” Kris quipped, “But, of course, age and hair loss will shrink a man.” Mebbe in height but not in stature.
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You can contact D.F. “Dave” Oliveria at dfo@cdapress.com.
