Streetscaping

Are the changes proposed and accepted for Central Avenue by three members of the city council, the mayor, the city manager and the 100 members of the Heart of Whitefish contrary to the architectural standards of Whitefish?

These changes proposed for Central Avenue will definitely change its unique historic character and does not preserve the diversity and the heritage of Whitefish.

Now all four corners of each of the intersections of Railway Street, First Street, Second Street and Third Street will all be exactly alike. Each will have a tree, a green steel bench and a green trash can.

These items are not unique. No old Western town had bulbouts with a tree and a bench on every corner. Whitefish has never had bulbouts.

Most of our merchants have done a good job of keeping the unique character of our downtown. A few have a bench and they are all differenent. The uniqueness of Central Avenue is that everything is a little different.

It also has been a somewhat safe street to drive down, but by narrowing it, will it still be safe? The design did not take the long-bed trucks and the snow into consideration.

The city also ignored all of the people of Whitefish who wrote letters, called the cty, spoke at many city council meetings, and the 634 people who signed a petition. Businesses and people who took part in several surveys — even the survey the city itself, requested during the 18-inch asphalt curb test — all indicated that the majority of the people of Whitefish did not and do not want these changes.

And have they considered the additional cost incurred with these changes? The Heart of Whitefish is having a big "kick-off celebration" today, March 25. If people go, will it be for a celebration or a very sad good-bye to one of the oldest historic landmarks of Whitefish.

Mary Jo Look

Whitefish