Ugly, costly things block the view

Recently, in the Street Smarts column, the question was asked: What is the cost of the noise walls? The answer was $62 a square foot. Well, we live on Summit Avenue by the 23rd Street overpass, and the sound of the freeway was not bad. In fact, I voted against a sound wall. Two neighbors each side of us did not want it either, so do the math, each of our lots are 50 feet (150 feet total) times a 14-foot. noise barrier wall — a grant total of $130,200! This money could have gone elsewhere. The bad thing is, it does not stop the noise, plus it is ugly and the worse thing is, it blocks the view of Mount Pilchuck, Glacier Peak and Big Four.

We have lived here for 40 years — things have changed a little here and there, but this is about the dumbest move on the state’s part that I can think of. Then they plan on raising our property taxes. Bah!

EVELYN DAVIE

Everett