The “box tower” built adjacent to our property (Russell’s) has been called a number of names. The “Towel of Babel,” some names not mentionable and “The Tower of Greed.” In my opinion this last name is the most accurate description. In addition to being accused of building it, I have been often asked how the village authorities permitted such a structure.
I don’t know the answer to that question. What I do know is that our city officials have the responsibility to represent the interests of all the citizens of Grand Marais, not just a few.
Mary St. John is our neighbor. She is the kind of neighbor you would like to take with you when you move. She owns the property just to the north of the “Tower of Greed.” Mary is a widow. She has a limited income working as a housekeeper to support herself.
Her late husband’s workshop could easily have been converted to a rental cottage and has a vacant area next to it and another cottage could have been built. Both would have had priceless views of the Grand Marais harbor and Lake Superior. The rental income would help supplement her meager income.
The construction of the “Tower of Greed” has taken that away from her. If approval had been given for the construction of the “Tower of Greed,” it was given to one citizen at the expense of another citizen. That is criminal.
Two things need to be done. First, the tower should be removed in order to restore what was taken from Mary. Second, to make sure this doesn’t happen to other citizens of Grand Marais, City Hall needs to be cleaned out.
Gordon E. Lindquist
Grand Marais
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