Your April 1 story about a developer’s conversion to apartments of a fire-damaged, 216-year-old house at 8 College Ave. raises many questions.

Presumably, the owner is in business for profit. Might not better-quality exterior trim (wood instead of vinyl siding perhaps or shutters on hinges rather than tacked on ones) attract choosier and perhaps more civilized tenants who would gladly pay a premium price? That would more than justify the expense of better materials, design and workmanship, not to mention the community goodwill merited by a design that exceeds minimum expectations.

It should be borne in mind that College Avenue is one of the most desirable of Gorham Village’s many residential side streets. It has many historic houses maintained with pride in the original condition as well as the spacious lawns of the USM campus as its front yard.

Tony Taylor
Buxton