I urge you to reconsider the design of our downtown and especially the Legacy Mercer Island. The 215 units proposed are way too many units for this property. The fifth story should be denied.

The present downtown has dramatically increased our school enrollment and decreased retail and services to Mercer Island residents. In addition, the high density has clogged streets and created parking problems. Further, multifamily projects will worsen the problems.

The current apartments house a large number of school-age children, putting pressure on our schools. The voters of Mercer Island are reluctant to approve new school bonds.

The retail areas in the new apartment and condo projects have been failures. Look at the empty space. There is no front parking in the Aviara or Mercer Legacy, so these retail spaces will also fail.

We have lost Cellar 46 and now the Islander Restaurant. We need restaurants for a vibrant downtown.

No exceptions should be allowed for this project. The units should be kept to a minimum. Please work with the developers to redesign this project.

Mitchell Godfred