Tip wasn't warranted

I write in response to the Eagle's bestowing upon The Milhous Group the weekly congratulatory "Tip of the Hat." The column indicates that it was granted because Milhous "opted" to suspend their construction project on Electric Avenue until after Labor Day and to sod their new empty lot (where the Painted Horse previously existed) and provide three parking spaces during the Summer.

I see these actions as divisible.

First, appreciation where it is due. Milhous' choice to sod the area, and to provide the parking spaces is a plus for the downtown area, it's visitors, and retailers. It was not required and is a nice gesture.

However, Milhous' decision to suspend construction until the fall was not necessarily so beneficent. It appears that they, in fact, initially intended to proceed with construction throughout the Summer. This would have resulted in the streets being clogged with heavy construction vehicles, cranes and dumpsters during the few months essential to the retailers' survival. In fact, it was not until their agents were confronted with a thoughtful and well-reasoned petition from local retailers and business persons to delay the project, that they relented.

While the ultimate decision is appreciated, the fact that it took a concerted community effort to bring it about is concerning. Okay, so this may sound picky, however, I have spent the last several months, joined by hundreds of other Bigfork residents, in their battle against "the Hummer of all developments" i.e., the Milhous Group's development at the Kootenai Lodge.

Also, curious is the letter sent to Electric Avenue merchants dated June 15, 2005. It claims that Milhous believes that "good communication and working together is always the best solution."

Milhous and his agents seem to apply this platitude selectively. You need only ask the unanimously opposed community of 300-plus Swan Lakers if Milhous has engaged in good communication and working together as he has attempted to push through his 57-condominium project on the historic Kootenai Lodge property.

I certainly do not want to discourage even small steps that benefit the village. Those are the backbone of our unincorporated, volunteer-based village. And while Milhous' effort to lay sod on a lot approximately 30x90 feet for a period of two months is nice, there are those in the Bigfork community who have a bitter taste of fleeting gratitude when, at the same time, Milhous intends to develop 42 acres of the Kootenai Lodge Property in a way that will forever degrade the character and quality of community on Swan Lake.

We look forward to the time that the Milhous Group may earn a full-fledged, grander, Tip of the Hat, and a full bow from the community by choosing to develop both the Kootenai Lodge and their other land holdings with a density and in a manner consistent with the surrounding community and not simply with an eye towards maximizing profit. It takes so much work to save a great place, and so little effort to ruin it.

Sincerely,

Peter Leander

Bigfork