I applaud you for your editorial on Sept. 12 concerning the proposed Legacy Mercer Island building. With several current apartment buildings not full, and two new ones already under construction, why do we need more apartments now? Let us all hope that the Planning and Design Commission reconsiders permitting this building to go forward as depicted in the architectural drawings. It will be on one of the highest points on the Island — thus, the first thing people see as they come on the Island, and it will dwarf the buildings near it. And do we need more ground level retail spaces when many of the new ones are still empty? Parking is already at a premium for the current businesses (probably why some have failed), and another high-rise with retail spaces will only add to the current problems.

Mercer Island has already lost some of its “small town” charm, so the City Council needs to re-evaluate the building codes and not allow any more buildings over four stories or built out to the sidewalks, especially on such a spot as the proposed new building. Let us try to retain some of the reasons our town is such an attractive place to live.

Anne Corley