A Trump-like view of the Island’s Town Center

I started to read a letter in this week’s issue and my first thought was, “Why is Donald Trump writing to the Reporter?” After reading further, I decided that the letter was either a hoax or written under the influence.

Eighty-story buildings, expanding the commercial area because the center is “too small,” adding several hundred stalls to the park-and-ride lot, adding a free, nonstop buses traveling around the Island with no home more than eight blocks away from a stop. That sounds like a real winner.

The letter writer informs us that the “silent majority” wants new shops, new jobs, new restaurants, new housing and new grocery stores. The new restaurants should include waterfront locations. In order to find more livable places like Factoria and Rainier (Valley?), we must leave Mercer Island. He forgot to mention Seattle neighborhoods such as Ballard, West Seattle and Capitol Hill. He should talk to people in these areas to find out their feelings on the density and traffic explosion.

The Roanoke Inn is mentioned. This “great” business is 100 years old and somehow survived depressions and prohibition. You might ask homeowners that live close to the Roanoke if they would rather see it located somewhere else. Maybe across the street from your home.

Finally, I assume that the writer does like the free standing Starbucks and adjacent open space. The truth of the matter is that would never have been built if the adjacent apartment building owner hadn’t lost his battle to keep Starbucks out. His five-story wall on that site would have connected to five story walls on either side.

Azaria Rousso