MY TURN: It’s Preservation Month — and it couldn’t be more timely

May is National Preservation Month, a time to recognize and celebrate our heritage and the importance of preserving the historic buildings and neighborhoods that tell the story of our community.

When the Historic Preservation Commission started making plans for Preservation Month late last year, we had no idea how timely it would become. The perceived threat to downtown’s historic character, the potential demolition of the Roosevelt Inn and the abrupt razing of Dr. E.R.W “Ted” Fox’s former home on Lakeshore Drive, have suddenly galvanized public support for historic preservation in Coeur d’Alene. 

That is a very good thing.

A couple of years ago, I was sharing information about historic preservation at the Downtown Street Fair. An older man walked up and said, “You’re too late. There’s hardly anything left.” He then went on to list an array of places that no longer exist. 

He had a point, but the truth is that what has been lost makes preserving what remains all the more important. 

Our historic downtown buildings and the neighborhoods surrounding them help Coeur d’Alene maintain its “small town” feel, even as we grow into an ever-larger city. They harken back to the time of the mines and the mills, and the people who built Coeur d’Alene. They provide a sense of “place” for those of us fortunate enough to live here. 

They make our town unique.

Numerous studies have shown that the loss of older buildings has a negative impact on the mental health of local residents and to their sense of well-being. 

When we lose a historic building, we, as a community, lose part of our heritage. And when we lose that, we lose a bit of ourselves as well. 

This year, the Historic Preservation Commission is working to review and revise downtown zoning requirements to better preserve the unique character of our central core. We’re working to change a demolition policy that currently requires no review of what is being torn down or what will replace it. And, we’re keeping a very close eye on the Roosevelt Inn, whose fate, while hopeful, still remains uncertain.

Our commission doesn’t work in a vacuum. We need the help and backing of the citizens of Coeur d’Alene. A recent online petition to save the Roosevelt Inn garnered nearly 5,000 signatures in only two weeks, clearly demonstrating the public’s commitment to saving our historic buildings. 

I encourage everyone to stay engaged because other historic resources will surely be threatened in the future and will need your help to be preserved.

To learn more about what we do and the many events planned for Preservation Month, please visit cdaid.org.

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Walter Burns is Chair, Coeur d’Alene Historic Preservation Commission.