There will never be a “Downtown Federal Way” because when Mary Gates was on the Federal Way City Council, she decided that “SeaTac Mall” wasn’t classy enough for Federal Way, and that is when the mayor and council decided to change the name to “The Commons of Federal Way.” That is when I started seeing the change from a very busy area to just restaurants along 320th between Highway 99 east to Interstate 5. That was on both sides of 320th, and as far as the eye could see there were just restaurants.

We have lived here in Federal Way for over 20 years and have seen more problems around the “mall” than any other mall —Tacoma and Southcenter mall, or whatever it is called now. If you want to see a “downtown” shopping area, go to Renton. They have one, and so does Kent. They have all sorts of shopping within walking distance of where you can park your car for free.

It’s sad to see that the mayor and City Council don’t see the forest for the trees. Thankfully, from where we live, we can go to Southcenter and even Kent or Renton to shop, less than half hour away. There are so few stores at the Commons. There are very few choices, and now I hear Sears may be leaving, and even Macy’s, but this is not for sure. What’s left? Maybe Target? One never knows what is coming next.

Patsy Gee, Federal Way