University Village -- Gall Of People Who Assume No Financial Risk, But Feel They May Castigate Others Who Have

Editor, The Times:

Seldom has the nonsense appearing in the Letters to the Editor offended me quite so much as that presented by Wendy Condiotty on Feb. 7 as she bemoaned the inconveniences deliberately heaped upon her by the successful revival of University Village.

Such egocentric narrow-mindedness deserves to be ignored, but since it has been memorialized by The Times and enshrined in print, a reply in kind seems only fair.

I know the nooks and crannies of "The Village" well, frequent them often and recall the days when the entire site was a smelly bog covered with debris blown from the garbage dump to the south. The location was best known as a major breeding ground that sent hordes of mosquitoes for miles around, accompanied by clouds of smoke and foul odors from burning garbage.

Many thought it the ultimate folly when "a developer" put time and money at risk to clean up this public mess, but over time the property became a major contributor to Seattle's tax base and numerous neighborhood jobs were created.

Time also diminished the ability of many small-merchant tenants to continue to compete with burgeoning malls and the future of the complex was in doubt. It could have become one more example of urban decay and an invitation to pawn shops, adult book stores and similar enterprises that flock to the low-rent district.

Instead, wise planning and prudent re-investment produced an appealing center that attracts well-behaved crowds.

I don't happen to enjoy crowds, but that is not the issue. One's personal views about Stuart Sloan are not the issue.

What is at issue is the gall of some people when they assume no financial risk whatsoever, but feel entitled to publicly castigate others who have.

If Condiotty wants to use her own resources to restore the old bog, I will apologize and she can have my share of the smoke and mosquitoes. I urge you to put your imagination to work and your own money at risk.

Charles E. Robinson Camano Island