A recent Inlander article ("The Spoiler," 6/28/18) about Pullman's deteriorating Mimosa building addressed a topic of widespread conversation among the city's citizens, but did not provide an answer to the question: Why hasn't the building been fixed up?
The closest thing to an answer was Mrs. Swanger's statement: "Over time ... other opportunities probably came up that sort of took precedence, and it's just sort of sat there."
Why have the owners chosen to let it sit there for over 15 years now, steadily deteriorating, without lifting a finger?
Frankly, I don't care what price they're hoping to get for the property. That's their business. They can hold out for $2 million, or $5 million, or $10 million. That's solely between buyer and seller to negotiate. But in the meantime, is it unreasonable for the community to expect the property owner to invest in a few exterior repairs, a few gallons of paint and a few hours of time and labor to spruce up the exterior so that it doesn't remain a visual blight on our downtown?
I honestly suspect that if the owners were to make a good-faith effort, they'd find a number of folks in Pullman, myself included, willing to help out, to give them a few hours of free labor to freshen the appearance of the exterior.
It might just be putting makeup on a pig, but at least it would make for a more attractive pig.
Rod Schwartz Pullman, Wash.
Ben Stuckart "the urbanist" can escape to his cabin at Twin Lakes ("The Urbanist," 7/5/18). That will not be an option for low-to-moderate income folks stuffed into boring towers to make room for more units for more people and more taxes. Except Ben forgot to mention the tax abatement developers get for low and mixed income "multi-residential" units.
I live in a historic neighborhood in a very small old house near downtown, on a small lot, not far from the river. Deer and racoons pay visits. In the evenings I chat with my neighbors. The "developers" and "urban planners" of Spokane with their fondness for New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle and Las Vegas should try their luck there, instead of destroying what Spokane has to offer to those who can't afford lake cabins, or who don't want to live in the shadows of 40-story towers. Architects can design more human scale multi-unit buildings with height limits on those parking lots next to Riverfront Park.
Barbara Morrissey, Spokane, Wash.
