I applaud Mayor John Hieftje and the City Council members who voted against the proposal to build a hotel/conference center on the South 5th Avenue library lot.

Initially, I was "on the fence" regarding the plan, but I changed my "position" after reading in AnnArbor.com (March 27 edition) that Chuck Skelton, a nationally recognized "hotel industry expert" made a case against the project in his lengthy (51-page) report. That was good enough for me, because I know nothing about the economic feasibility of a hotel/conference center in downtown Ann Arbor.

Therefore, Mr. Skelton's study opposing it seemed to me to be a valid reason to hope and expect that the mayor and council would vote against it. Which they did. Thank you.

Fredda C. Clisham Ann Arbor