The Commons at Federal Way is a source of endless discussion. Generally the subject is how to make it competitive with Westfield-South Center and Tacoma malls. You can remodel it all you want, but The Commons will never be competitive with neighboring malls. If you read the financial news, you’ll quickly realize that Sears will soon disappear. With the strength of online shopping, Federal Way residents will accept the reality that The Commons mall is a dysfunctional waste of prime real estate and will painfully whither away. And worse yet, it will never be our downtown. My wife and I have lived in a variety of large and small cites including Kent, Chicago and South Bend, Indiana. We’ve also visited some European cities. All cities had bona fide downtown areas where you can walk, enjoy the attractions, eat and possibly shop. Apparently our city leaders are following a poorly thought-out city plan and have never experienced the joy of “going downtown” for the day. City Hall, shopping, restaurants and parks are scattered everywhere. You currently need your car to visit “downtown.” It’s insane that we should consider a defunct mall as our downtown. Some people will hate my suggestion. Others may love it.

1. Raise my taxes if necessary

2. Bulldoze down The Commons mall.

3. Build a bona fide downtown in its place.

John Donhauser, Federal Way