Anonymous signs on closed businesses upset councilmen, owner

A peculiar note was posted sometime between Saturday afternoon and Monday morning at 558 Nevada Way, where Mel's Diner and Reynolds Dolls once stood.

"How Does This Feel?" was written in big bold letters on the front of the note. Then underneath that, "Share your feelings with City Councilman Cam Walker. CAM CARES!" was written, followed by the email cam@camwalker.com, and signed off at the bottom by an anonymous group called The B.C. Feelies.

Charles Lawson, the owner of the Browder Building, had plans when he purchased the historic building last year to turn it into a taqueria and art gallery. Construction was underway to renovate the building that was constructed in 1931.

Instead of completing the renovations to the building, Lawson has boarded up all the windows and has not given any kind of indication about what his plans are for the future of his downtown property.

"It's not appropriate for me to go up on someone else's property; I don't know who did it. I called Charles Lawson and he had no knowledge of it, nor does he want it to become a billboard," Walker said. "He was pretty upset, and he said he was going to go over there and take it down."

By Monday evening, the note was removed.

According to Walker, all the city can do is work with business owners in the downtown area if they want some kind of renovation made. They cannot mandate owners to make a change to their property unless there are fire or safety hazards to the building, or if they do not maintain their property.

Walker said one of the reasons Lawson felt the need to place his plans for the building on hold is because he felt the local government was not being responsive enough to downtown businesses — an issue that the councilman reassured Lawson that the city was aware of.

"We have to improve the way that we work with our business owners and we have to continue to support them and their needs as it relates to government functions," Walker said. "I just want to make sure our government is responsive and supportive and we're doing the things that we can to help him, should he want to open it up and do something."

A similar note was also posted on the Scratch House restaurant at 1300 Arizona St., another of Lawson's properties that abruptly closed and was boarded up.

The second note read, "LET'S HAVE LUNCH! City Councilman Duncan McCoy wants to buy you lunch! He wants to hear your thoughts on the future of Downtown Boulder City." That was followed by McCoy's email address, cellphone number and the same familiar sponsorship: The B.C. Feelies.

Unlike Walker, McCoy found the notes to be distasteful and more detrimental to the city.

"Frankly, I don't think it's funny. If somebody wants to talk to the property owner about why he cut his people loose and folded his business without telling anyone else, that's up to them," McCoy said. "Anybody who thinks that I can somehow magically make things happen just by virtue of the fact that I am on the council is wrong."

According to Walker, Lawson still has plans to move forward with his two properties that he has closed for business. It is just a matter of waiting for the right time and being on the same page as the city officials.

As far as anyone wanting to legitimately contact Walker on any issues regarding Boulder City, the councilman said he welcomes the opportunity. He requests that people call him at 702-942-2662 or email him at cam@camcwalker.com.

Contact reporter Juan Diego Pergentili at jpergentili@bouldercityreview.com or at 702-586-9401. Follow him on Twitter @jdpbcreview.