Re: alturas, office depot, downtown

[Ken Medlin <dev-plan@moscow.com>]

> The city would them assume ownership of the building at no cost.
But there is certainly a 'mortgaged cost' built into ownership -- 
insurance, cleaning and maintenance, and eventually retrofitting. Would 
the public be willing to bear the costs? That's why we need now a city 
policy on urban development. But do we have one? When you look at the 
official "Comprehensive Plan" there are no criteria governing what takes 
place in the city's older sections -- the orientation is toward "new 
develoment" of the sprawl kind. If that's the case, what does the future 
hold for downtown?  Take a look at Missoula. What a difference 
forward-looking-policies have made there. If you look at our city 
council's membership, who stands for what? Where's the leadership going? 
Will the mayor respond to inquires about the Alturas scenario? I doubt 
it. I wonder if even most of our 2020 list folks are that much concerned 
about the future of the Palouse communities. Who's willing to act? Amen. 

------------------------
William K. Medlin
Dev-plan associates
930 Kenneth Street
Moscow ID 83843
208/892-0148
dev-plan@moscow.com