Letter: Demolition is not the solution

It is disappointing when the Cedar Rapids City Council does not provide an opportunity for Sun Valley homeowners to vote whether a buyout home will be saved or destroyed.

Before excluding the neighborhood from decision making, the council should review its own past neighborhood decisions. The record shows the city has hired three different storm sewer contractors for projects here and yet the forever backyard flooding problem still exists.

The last city decision, to add a 42-inch storm sewer, is like an ambulance sent to the wrong address. It might help sometime, but not at its present location.

The most important decision is who gets to participate in decisions. Property owners should not have to beg government for the opportunity to participate.

A buyout seems a right decision. A decision to demolish seems to be the wrong decision. Who benefits from demolition? Anyone local? Who is damaged? Answers to these questions are justified but none are provided.

We have a very qualified professional city staff. It should have greater participation in city decision making and its advice should be followed by the city council.

If bad decisions prevail and the area is demolished, city council members should do a walk through to verify the condition of the buildings slated for demolition. Those voting to demolish should start the process by spending 10 minutes operating a maul. I will be wearing dark glasses and staying behind closed doors. Destruction goes beyond property lines.

Marv Rops

Cedar Rapids