(Editor’s note: Following is a comment that was submitted to the City of Redmond regarding the five-story housing project proposed for the property Al Brown’s parents donated to Nokomis.)

I am the son of the Browns, who donated the land located at 16210 N.E. 80th St. in downtown Redmond to the Nokomis Club for the first library building. I recall that we lived on the property for a while before the building was constructed. When we later moved out to Index, my mother would drive in dangerous weather and road conditions just to get to a Nokomis meeting … Nokomis and its work for the community meant so much to her.

It was in 1933 that my mother, Irene, an active and energetic member of Nokomis for more than 60 years, realized the growing need for a library and also for a community clubhouse.  My mother believed in the power of education and that a love of reading could have positive impacts on the lives of both Redmond’s children and adults. She advocated and practiced “learning a new word a day.”

My parents, in particular my mother, donated the land in perpetuity for community use.  She may be rolling over in her grave if she knew that this historic building was set for demolition and that a five-story building is proposed on this small sliver of land in downtown. This building and its land are unique for their contribution to Redmond’s history, the history of the library and especially because it tells the story of a group of women during the height of the Depression who did something amazing for the Redmond community at a time of both personal and national adversity.

Save the building and the land for a community rather than a commercial use.

Al Brown, Redmond