We recently moved to the Snoqualmie Valley from Mercer Island, partially to escape the financial irresponsibilities of that city council. We read with reoccurring frustration your July 23rd report on Snoqualmie City Council’s recent discussion of the location of a new city administration building. It seems a given that it will be moved to Snoqualmie Ridge. What a gigantic mistake.

A principal of good town planning is to use a town hall as an anchor and catalyst for commercial and civic activity, not housing. Snoqualmie Ridge is a residential subdivision, not the center of town. No matter how hard it tries, it can be no more than a really big subdivision. Only a developer making a pitch would even think of it any other way.

What would happen if someone suggested that Seattle’s administration building be moved to Laurel Hurst; or Bellevue’s to Lake Hills; or Issaquah’s to Lake Mont? Normally, common sense would squelch any of these thoughts faster than they could cross a ninny’s lips. Mr. Editor, tell me what has gone wrong in Snoqualmie?

All city governments are obligated to use whatever resources they have to stimulate the health of the community. The branding power and focal point of a new town hall should be in the traditional heart of this community – downtown – and not squandered on Snoqualmie Ridge.

To locate town hall in Snoqualmie Ridge will undermine downtown and further threaten its survival. To do so would be misguided and irresponsible, but then the city council acts that way all the time on Mercer Island. Why should we expect more here?

Tom and Liz Sroufe

Snoqualmie