Houghs:'We're extremely happy'

For John and Tina Hough, it was time to smile after Coeur d'Alene's Design Review Commission unanimously approved Blue Fern LLC's plans for the historic Roosevelt Inn property Wednesday. 

"Hallelujah,” John Hough said. “Retirement is coming, and it can’t come too soon.” 

The Houghs have owned the 1905 former Roosevelt School for about 25 years. They bought it with the intent to operate it as a bed and breakfast, develop it, build it into a profitable business and eventually sell it. 

“That was the whole plan,” John Hough said. “We cashed in everything else we owned to do that very thing.” 

Selling it proved more difficult than expected.  

Over the past few years, for various reasons, deals fell through. For some possible buyers, they couldn’t pencil out the finances. In another, the buyers turned out to be not quite trustworthy. 

John Hough said that last year, a buyer wanted to preserve the Roosevelt Inn and develop the property but couldn’t get a variance to make it work. 

“So they walked,” John Hough said. 

And most recently, there's the deal with Blue Fern Management LLC based in Redmond, Wash. When that came to light earlier this year, it fell under fire because initial plans called for demolition of the Roosevelt Inn, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. 

There was public outcry, including online petitions to save it and social media criticism of Blue Fern. 

Government got involved.

In June, the City Council passed a resolution that set a 182-day moratorium "on demolition and moving permits and building permits for significant exterior alterations, for buildings, excluding residential, located in the Downtown Core Zoning District, and Downtown Overlay, Northside and Downtown Overlay, Eastside, Districts and buildings listed on National Historic Register.”  

That covered the Roosevelt Inn.   

Blue Fern soon said it would preserve the Roosevelt, develop around it, and seek a buyer for it.

John Hough, born and raised in Coeur d'Alene, was upset that so many opposed their efforts to sell their property. 

Tina Hough said this was the seventh time trying to complete a deal with a potential buyer. 

“It's been ridiculous,” John Hough said. 

But with the DRC’s approval of the project’s design standards and guidelines, it appears the deal should close. 

“It will be nice to finally get to the finish line,” Tina Hough said. 

She said the Roosevelt Inn is preserved, the Historic Preservation Commission is happy, they get to retire and Blue Fern gets to develop the property. 

“We’re extremely happy,” Tina Hough said. “Things can now move forward for them and for us.” 

John Hough said his siblings attended the Roosevelt School, which has long been close to their hearts.

“It’s a chapter of our lives that we’re ready to close the book on, and we’re ready to move on to the next chapter," he said. "And we’re glad to see that it’s still going to be there."

Janna Rankin Scharf of Keller Williams Realty, representing the Houghs in the sale, said Blue Fern didn’t deserve the early criticism and name calling directed its way. The initial proposal for the property was allowed by the city’s guidelines. They changed it in response to community concerns.

“Blue Fern, as you can see, they’re awesome, wonderful people behind that company,” she said. 

Rankin Scharf called the DRC's decision a win for the Houghs.

“They deserve it," she said.

When the deal closes, the Houghs are planning a trip  with a granddaughter. Their destination? Disneyland.

"We already booked it,” a smiling Tina Hough said.