A recent letter politely questioned the architecture of the new houses on West Fourth Avenue. The writer’s concern was that the design reflects negatively on the town’s character. I respectively disagree. Since beauty is in the eye of the beholder, people differ in their tastes. There is no point in debating that, so respecting that opinion is prudent.
The topic segues to discussion of a larger issue. One that our community has dealt with in the past, and most certainly will continue to play a role in future discussions.
What gives a community its character? Is it the buildings, homes and general appearance you see as you drive through? I believe it is much more than that.
Our community character is built upon many foundations. Behind each foundation stand the people who drive everything – the events and activities, both summer and winter, that we all enjoy, our lodging and dining industry, our iconic and unique businesses serving both local and tourist clients, our schools and places of worship, our strong art, music and literary communities, our businesses who reinvest and support their community.
We have vibrant organizations with hundreds of volunteers serving us all, including this community newspaper and to list just a few – Art Colony, Boreal, Chamber of Commerce, Cook County Higher Education, library, Lions Club, North House, North Shore Music Association, the Playhouse, Ruby’s Pantry, WTIP, the YMCA, and many, many more.
We should salute the bold entrepreneurial spirit of Todd and Susan, who risked their own money, banking on the continued strong tourism industry in Cook County, based in part on their faith in the character of our community. They hired a world-renowned, award-winning architect, David Salmela—www.SalmelaArchitect.com. When I look at his portfolio, I think of Frank Lloyd Wright and Edwin Lundie, whose creations are celebrated today.
The project is built to the highest standards with the best finishes. Virtually all the contractors and materials were sourced locally. The project was vetted properly, through open, transparent and public meetings where neighbors were able to comment. And it complies with all city requirements and processes.
Although this is not on the scale of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, I wager that tourists will come to Cook County, with this property on their list of things to see. Some will lodge there because of the design uniqueness. Others will drive past, jaws agape, mouthing “Wow, that is really cool.”
As a final comment, I return to the aesthetic discussion. Before writing this letter I walked to Artist Point and turned back to look at Grand Marais. All the charm and warmth is still there. In harmony with that view, is a welcome newcomer, the homes at the heart of this discussion, heralding the continued growth and diversity in our community. Judge for yourself.
Gary R. Latz
Lutsen
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