Don't throw away old to make room for the new

It has recently come to light that in the process of revising the city's Comprehensive Plan, there is a proposed plan to change the zoning and reclassify the uses of several neighborhoods — several of them historic in nature — from residential to mixed use of greater density and commercial use.

Seven years ago, we witnessed the destruction of the Whitaker and the Coon houses across Sand Creek — the last remains of the original Sandpoint town site. They are all gone now as is Sandpoint's first schoolhouse on Church. Change is inevitable but why destroy "old" Sandpoint in the process and turn it into some antiseptic new town where everything looks the same? Some of the houses in the Sixth Avenue, the hospital and the Lake Street neighborhoods may not be fancy mansions but most of them were built in the early part of the last century and sit on tree-lined streets that add to the charm and ambiance of Sandpoint and that is one of the reasons we live here.

These homes and neighborhoods mean a lot to the people who live there and for those of us who care about historical preservation. There is still land available to develop for commercial and increased density purposes — such as the L.P. mill site as well as other spaces. Keep the charm of Sandpoint's historical neighborhoods and heritage alive. Once you lose these historic neighborhoods they will be gone forever.

If these proposed changes concern you, attend the meeting on Sunday, Dec. 16, at 1 p.m. in the Panhandle Health District conference room at 322 Marion St.

ERIK DAARSTAD

Sandpoint