Lakewood was once a jewel — but the city’s big development plans threaten it | Opinion

Lakewood nostalgia

Although I am no longer a Lakewood resident, I lived there for many years and still go there several times a month.

I understand the fear of losing the bookstore and the development of almost 400 apartments. Lakewood was once a jewel for most residents and it was one of the nicest and safest places for kids.

The original Villa Plaza was itself a gathering place and in addition to the stores frequented by all ages, many activities were held there over the years. It is very noteworthy that after the Lakewood Mall was razed, the Towne Center concept was essentially that of Villa Plaza.

It seems that at times residents have more savvy than the visions of developers. I understand a growing population needs living space, but trying to change the shopping center environment will no doubt come at a cost to current residents.

Even now, many still cling to the name Villa Plaza, as is evident on a Lakewood nostalgia site I run on Facebook.

Change is inevitable, but not always better.

Tom Weathers, Puyallup

Both sides, please

I have been a News Tribune subscriber for over 50 years. It seems to me that in the last few years, our paper has not given us both sides of the issues that divide our nation.

News articles do not seem to reflect both of our political parties. Reports that the GOP feels are important get little attention.

On the editorial pages, mainly on Sunday, we used to have competing opinions on issues of the day, printed side by side. Pro vs Con.

Donald Enfield, Lakewood

Developments with no soul

Matt Driscoll’s recent column about the pending redevelopment of the Lakewood Towne Center property where Barnes & Noble now resides reminds me of a similar time when the Lake Hills Shopping Center in Bellevue was redeveloped in the 1990s.

The little shopping center boasted the very first QFC store, a locally-owned drug store, a ma-and-pa cafe, various small retail stores and a gas station. It was perfect for the car-centric times. But redevelopment came, as it always does.

Those of us who had lived in the community for decades were unhappy. The developer and city held many community meetings; changes to the original plans were made, and the center is vibrant. The library, which had outgrown its original building, anchors the center, along with retail, offices and apartments.

My point here is that it behooves the city and the developer to listen to the community and be open to options other than razing Barnes & Noble and building a 390-unit apartment complex with no soul — and no chance for a soul.

Lakewood, where I shopped as a teenager and now call home as a retiree, deserves better than that.

Courtnay Hartley, Lakewood

School Library Month

April is School Library Month, but continued funding cuts threaten these vital hubs for literacy and critical thinking, led by irreplaceable librarians.

There is a critical shortage of school librarians in Washington. School librarians are digital literacy champions, research mentors and curators of diverse books reflecting students’ identities. With fewer librarians, their impact weakens because of their limited outreach, which is affecting the success of our students.

Text diversity is another concern. Students need exposure to global voices. Tight budgets limit access to these resources, hindering students’ understanding of the world and their ability to think critically.

School libraries are gateways to knowledge, not relics of the past. This School Library Month, let’s fight for more librarians and diverse resources.

Every student deserves a haven for curiosity and a guide on their literacy journey.

Let’s equip libraries to inspire future generations.

Erin Cleary-Parr, Bonney Lake