Islanders express their opinions about the Mercer Island Center for the Arts.

MICA would enhance park ‘jewel’

I am writing in response to Jean Majury’s letter regarding Mercer Island Center for the Arts in the last issue. I was dismayed to see my name and a quote from the Mercer Island history book that I wrote to bolster an opinion that I do not share.

Unquestionably, Mercerdale Park is a wonderful resource for our community, a true urban jewel. I don’t believe that placing a performing arts center at the edge of the park would destroy it as an urban jewel. In fact, I believe it would enhance the “jewel.”

Jane Meyer Brahm

Mercer Island

City could give MICA unfair advantage

The city is considering giving a private enterprise, the Mercer Island Center for the Arts (MICA), the ability to operate a large-scale business in Mercerdale Park that will not require them to provide on-site parking or pay market-rate rents. Also, any revenue MICA earns goes to the private organization and not to the city as many assume.

Indeed, with these advantages, a proposed café/restaurant in this complex could be able to undercut taxpaying small business owners, and potentially drive them out of business. The unintended consequences of increased traffic, greater parking congestion and possible lowered city revenues in the face of budget deficits doesn’t make a lot of sense. With a precedent like this set, one has to wonder what’s next for our fair city?

Peter Struck

Mercer Island