def get_placename_and_unique_alt_names(place_dict):
    """given a place we retrieve altnames and location (we don't use location for the moment)"""
    
    placename = place_dict['placename']
    unique_alt_names = list(place_dict['altnames'])
    placeloc = (place_dict["lat"], place_dict["lon"])
    
    return placename, unique_alt_names, placeloc