Spokane/ CDA development discussions

[5zero9]

It looks like they have started 18 town houses, lofts and houses. The houses are having a harder time selling than the town houses and lofts. I personally like the town houses and lofts myself....they are a better fit for an urban setting.
http://www.kendallyards.com/index.php?/homes/home_finder/
Some positive news that the Vox tower isn't completely dead. The current economy and banks lack of lending seem to be holding up some other projects.
http://www.inlander.com/spokane/article-15120-arrested-development.html

[James Bond Agent 007]

It looks like they have started 18 town houses, lofts and houses. The houses are having a harder time selling than the town houses and lofts. I personally like the town houses and lofts myself....they are a better fit for an urban setting.
http://www.kendallyards.com/index.php?/homes/home_finder/

Wow, they got some houses for FREE there! :haha:

[grayproduct]

Did any of you catch this the other day?

Trend-setting retailer Apple Inc. is listed as the tenant on city building permits that indicate the company will move into the space vacated by Eddie Bauer in downtown Spokane.

Permits filed by contractors to remodel the two-story site, at 710 W. Main, are on file online at Spokane’s building permit site. Apple is listed as the tenant.

The Cupertino, Calif.-based company has been advertising for retail workers on job site Monster.com, but Apple has refused to say whether or when it would open a retail store in Spokane.

The Spokesman-Review (http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/may/27/permits-reveal-apples-plan-downtown-spokane-store/)

This should really liven up the area and get some more traffic flowing downtown, which is always a good thing.

[James Bond Agent 007]

Is this the building that had (has?) a neat collection of small boutique stores, or am I thinking of something else?
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2010/05/31/daily24.html

[5zero9]

The picture of Dewoods tower shown in the article looks nice. Hope it gets built there seems to be a little more action as of late.

http://www.inlander.com/spokane/article-15149-a-towering-imbroglio.html

[grayproduct]

Is this the building that had (has?) a neat collection of small boutique stores, or am I thinking of something else?
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2010/05/31/daily24.html

Bad linkage?

[James Bond Agent 007]

Bad linkage?
The link is working now. Try it again.

[Ex-Ithacan]

Hi fellas. I hope you don't mind me jumping in here. I stumbled on a video which you all have probably seen, but I kinda liked it. Thought it would be nice to post in case anyone missed it:

R4t3peMRHp0


btw, I love those aerial pics in post #1063, thanks grayproduct. Gotta admit I didn't read every post here, but I'm going to be 60 next year and I have to allocate my time left very carefully. ;)

[mike0898]

The link is working now. Try it again.

Are you thinking of the Flour Mill? If so, I'm pretty sure it's a different building...

[James Bond Agent 007]

Are you thinking of the Flour Mill? If so, I'm pretty sure it's a different building...
Yeah, I think that's the one, come to think of it.

Is the Great Northern Railway Building the one next to city hall (more like, in back of it)???

[Contrarian]

The building behind City Hall is the Washington Water Power bldg. The only one I can think of that fits the description in the article is the bldg on the NE corner of Trent and Columbus ("east of downtown, on the river, and built in 1907").

Check street view in Google Maps.

[Smentek]

Is there any scoop on what's going on in terms of development out in Spokane?

[revrw]

Not much really happening out this way of late. Seems like some of the empty lots along Division on the North side of town by Franklin Park are being filled in with something. Not sure what yet, but nice to see the empty lots filled. I have been noticing quite a bit of in-fill of late taking place which is nice, but would be nice to see a larger project come online.

The biggest project that will be starting soon will be the bio-medical sciences building on the downtown Riverpoint Campus. 100,000+ sf. Scheduled to start next year.

[Trebor of Spokane]

While no highrises are being built yet on the property it is one of the most important projects currently being worked on.

http://www.kendallyards.com

http://k1dgiq.bay.livefilestore.com/y1prYoko-WaT7FvNAKY0hxBVS1VmB_haGknCCgFKrzv9yKDcpop0GJPyJaawxZEKU7AOFnseX9DymGJHSnHSGc1ySODFd0RS_QU/IMG00430-20100902-1739.jpg?psid=1

I have bought in one of these townhomes. Supposedly by years end in this first phase of the residential area there are suppose to be 60+ units finished or under construction.

[Dazzeetrader]

1. Pay as you go....when it comes to Kendall Yards. Build the affordable things first and get some momentum. Bank holds the note and Frank builds what he thinks can sell. Will it rise? Nobody knows but it is a way of hedging bets.
2. WSU RIverpoint was rewarded by Marr. Mind you, it's all tax dollars who fund the new and each and every building on RIverpoint. Not one of those new buildings are full. More waste and spending. Might make for some jobs but not necessary.

Responsible spending isn't in the WSU vocabulary nor is in Marr's brain. Buildings look pretty though... Nothing tall...just standard fare.

[FireFighter74]

Some newer Kendall Yards pics

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/Summer2010258.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/Summer2010257.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/Summer2010256.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/Summer2010255.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/Summer2010254.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/Summer2010253.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/Summer2010252.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/Summer2010251.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/Summer2010250.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/Summer2010249.jpg

[FireFighter74]

Southhill

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/Spring2010060.jpg

[grayproduct]

Thanks for the update. Kendall Yards looks a touch suburban, but given the alternative (nothing), whatever. As long as they don't pair the retail/commercial component with massive parking lots, I'll live. The pictured portion is the lowest density area, no?

Seattle must be getting to my head, hah.

[FireFighter74]

Correct. I've heard talk about GS starting the high density commercial soon. I'm not holding my breath. I've also been told that phase 1 went so well that they are going to start phase 2 this year.

[bgriff4]

I was imagining those townhouses to have more color. Seems like different shades of gray and blue. On another subject, I read an article recently about the river clean up, and it mentioned ideas regarding river access points along the centennial trail. You could rent kayaks, and enjoy the river. I can't find the particular article right now, otherwise I would provide a link. I think it would really integrate the water into the fabric of our downtown. Kayaks out on the water around the u-district, along river front park, and it would be cool to get in the river at the valley, paddle downriver, dock the kayak, and get a beer and lunch. Drop the kayak off at an access point downtown, and take a bus (or light rail!) back to your car. Spokane has quite a lot of potential. Just need to get the economics and the vision to grow together so we can really take off.

[Trebor of Spokane]

As a soon to be Townhome owner in one of those units, so far we are pretty happy with the color choices. The first units have blue, second building is green, and speaking with the project manager for Greenstone. he tells me that the 3rd townhome unit will be a Burnt Orange.



Photos (http://mykendallyards.ning.com/photo)

There was also some news in the Spokesman Reviews yesterday (http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/sep/23/garage-planned-near-courthouse/) that commercial development for 3 building is in the "Programming Stage"

[mSeattle]

"Programming Stage" for buildings? Are they computerized? :D

Are these planned projects in the core or outskirts?

[mSeattle]

Regarding Kendall Yard:

Can't see downtown anywhere nearby in those pictures. The density in the pictures looks pretty good for a US city the size of Spokane and given where it seems to be.

[Contrarian]

mSeattle,

Plug these coords into Google Earth.

47.661492,-117.430221

[FireFighter74]

the downtown view you were asking for.

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/Summer2010262.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/Summer2010261.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/Summer2010280.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/Summer2010277.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/Summer2010276.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/Summer2010272.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/Summer2010269.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/Summer2010268.jpg

[FireFighter74]

I'll get a picture of the new apple store in the next day or two.

[ghost22]

It has been almost 3 years since my last post on here. I think that Kendall Yards while not impressive, is progress in a time where shovels in the ground at all is rare. I too have been noticing "infill" around the region. Walmart has built and opened 2 stores in CDA area employing 600 people. Some of the existing housing inventories have been dropping. Things aren't building up yet, they just seem to be waking up so to say. I think the next 2 years will be catch up for most developers. Fill in what is built now and only build what you can fill after you've filled it seems to be the way things work now. Who knows what things look like in 5 years. Maybe we can add a page a week like we used to do back in 05' and 06'.

[bgriff4]

The plans for the Kendall Yards extends out 15 years. That seems too long. Does anyone think they are being safe with that number? Will they complete it sooner than that? And I have some beef with two buildings in particular downtown. The apartment building by Chili's and the Convention Center is a concrete bunker of a high rise. Is there anything we can do to restore it? What an eyesore. The second building that really disappointed me is the Davenport Tower. I think the designers said "let's make it look like a really posh jail, but then make the windows smaller. The people will love that." What a missed opportunity to give the skyline some style. Does anyone think there is something we could do to save that one too? Your thoughts....

[FireFighter74]

unfortunately I think we're going to have to right off the two buildings for now. The davenport tower looks like a 20 story card catalog. Although the apartment building could at least be painted. This Portland condo building is similar to the one in dt Spokane and it wasn't paint until a few years ago.

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/unnamed.jpg

[Contrarian]

I agree, Firefighter. Most of downtown Spokane's latter-day major buildings have been singularly uninspired. Exceptions being the WaTrust bldg and the Farm Credit Banks (now Wells Fargo) bldg, which was designed by Kenny Brooks. Quite jarring when juxtaposed with all the fine older buildings. I think everyone expected more pizazz from Walt Worthy with the Davenport tower.

[FireFighter74]

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/Applestore001.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/Applestore003.jpg

[Hub for an Empire]

It's nice to see the Apple Store in Spokane! I hope it does well and people support it.

I'm also a bit disappointed from Kendall Yards and hope the next phases will bring more variety and an Urban feel to the area! Sad to see the old Wendall Ford site into a strip mall, when it to could have been more urban with maybe a smaller hotel to encourage regional travel to a nice shopping center. The next step could of been a Condo tower.....close to the Northtown Tower. With three highrises, it would give Spokane more of a metro feel.

The Park tower was built shortly after Expo. My Aunt lived there in '76 for a few months. Paint might make the building more acceptable. The Davenport Tower is what it is. I was a bit disappointed , especially on the south section, but I guess I'm getting used to it. I don't think many hotel towers are that impressive. I know .....I think it's the San Francisco Hilton, isn't that impressive and quite drab for a tall highrise.

True, there hasn't been many big projects in Spokane, besides the schools, but it seems the city is changing in small ways that is making it more exciting. Small projects seem to have been making an appearance.

Also, the airport seems to be one of the few in the nation adding routes.

Hope some more Condo projects appear soon and it would be nice if a signature highrise were announced in the core....maybe on the old Rockery Block. We all can hope! At least Spokane is in a better situation, than other cities in the country.

[bgriff4]

I think a good coat of paint would be nice. The picture of the Portland building gives hope that the addition of some paint could create the effect of architecture. With the U-district reinventing east downtown, and the convention center looking sharp, buildings like the Park will need to keep up with the neighborhood.

On another note here is a video from '07 about a whitewater kayak park in Peaceful Valley:

http://bardstownboaters.com/files/spokane_ww_parl_video.htm

[ghost22]

Bgriff, you know what happened with the park? It wasn't there this year during Bloomsday.

[bgriff4]

Basically just going through all the red tape still. As of 2009:

"On May 13, the City of Spokane completed its application for a Hearing Examiner Shoreline Conditional Use Permit and an Administrative Floodplain Development Permit for the Spokane Whitewater Park. This triggered the customary 30-day public comment period, which began on May 27 and closed on June 26, 2009. " - Washington Kayak Club

Might find some more info following this link:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=132109323477523&v=photos#!/group.php?gid=132109323477523&v=wall

And a video showing other parks, in other cities. It's a draw for tourists, fun for locals, and improves the neighborhoods where they're located.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCV5qnDiHOM

[Trebor of Spokane]

A quick video from a few days ago showing the progress of Kendall Yards on Bridge Ave between Oak and Elm Streets.

tW0RGs1BL7U

[whovean]

what really sad is the fact that its still in a really bad part of town, the people who move in there are going to have there cars and homes broke into by meth heads and its Spokane so the police wont lift a finger :shrug:

[ghost22]

I think if anything the police (as commanded by city council and politics in general) will give special treatment to the Kendall Yards neighborhood to promote growth and not create a dead development due to neighborhood identities.

[grayproduct]

It's kind of a crappy area, but not overly so. It seems like every time I check it out, the "nice-ness" of the western edges of west central creep further towards downtown.

[Trebor of Spokane]

During our pre-buying meeting with Greenstone, we rose our concerns about security in Kendall Yards, and we were told that there would be private security patrols.

[Trebor of Spokane]

http://api.ning.com/files/36OI7ESIFteoU9NldDAwVqq0P2U8tdkgpG-WrmqvCqDw4HbU3i1QlzuoKNkdC49dGnDDZuWdcxgPeBMt7AfG0zf1zyUyJOut/HPIM2224_07_10_10.JPG

http://api.ning.com/files/U8ZjKkexTJxF2oRSU79CCzF3Lsfyt8Vdhd4JPYiA3Nif4jgHQhwW9Z7Ba52GZZMFjaHG3rl*GugtvBM5dKmbYC6bxn46quFG/HPIM2222_07_10_10.JPG

[ghost22]

looks good Trebor. Congratulations on your purchase

[James Bond Agent 007]

They had a story on Kendall Yards on NW Cable News yesterday.

[ghost22]

Is Northern Quest still going to build that 9 story atrium with the waterfalls and river? I know it was put off for a while and hope it isn't cancelled, that was a cool idea.

[ghost22]

I went and did some digging on if anything is in the works around here and found this small project.

Proposed Spokane Tribe Cultural Center- $8M, 2 storys at Monroe and Bridge, 33K square feet (another parking lot replaced :)
http://www.inlander.com/spokane/article-15488-culture-centers-and-tax-shelters.html

[grayproduct]

Recent photo thread on Spokane:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=185620

[Contrarian]

I just posted another Spokane photo spread, here:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?p=5019616#post5019616

[ghost22]

Contrarian's is well worth the visit. Very up beat and almost of advertising quality to his photos. Perhaps I should give a CDA one for you all even if it is only 15 or so pics in size.

[Contrarian]

Do, it ghost! CDA deserves some exposure too.

[bgriff4]

I would love to see some of those great pics of the downtown skyline with renderings of the VOX, and other proposed buildings (condos, etc) placed in. Just for fun. I think seeing it would be really cool. It would be a glimpse of what the future may hold for Spokane. I've tried to find these kind of renderings and they're just not out there. Does anyone have the skill/technology to create some of these pics?

[chepe]

Article in today's paper about the "wall" Division creates between downtown and the University District. I'm glad they are moving forward with plans to lessen the impact of those streets and create more opportunities for east-west integration. I am also glad they are looking at improving the Division Street corridor from I-90 to downtown. It is not very attractive or inviting right now. Several years ago some of the design students at WSU-Spokane did a project with ideas on improving Division. I'm too lazy to try and find it but I recall some good ideas.

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/oct/28/welcoming-way/

[grayproduct]

Does anyone have a source for information/photos on the North Spokane Corridor project besides WSDOT? They don't seem to document their projects over there as much as they do for the ones here on the west side. I'm curious about the connection to 395 up in Wandermere. I may have to check it out when I'm in town this weekend.

Speaking of Wandermere, the amount of growth in that area is impressive (albeit sprawlsville), especially since I left the area in 2008.

[5zero9]

For those of you who like Trader Joes. It looks like they have decided to open a Spokane store.

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/nov/17/trader-joes-headed-south-hill/

[bgriff4]

That's great about Trader Joes. Here's a partial article about the expansion of the convention center (need to purchase the whole thing from Journal of Business). So it's a bit of a tease:

http://www.spokanejournal.com/article.php?id=6547

[ghost22]

I saw a couple articles in Spokane Business Journal this week that look promising. The breakdown is Greenstone is building in Kendall Yards even more next year including almost 60,000 square feet of commercial space in 3 buildings. This is not a ton but a start. The second thing is that the amount of space newly occupied nationwide quadrupled last quarter (6.5 million sq ft. compared to 1.7) over previous quarters. Also commercial vacancies in spokane are going down. I guess below 14 percent requires lots of building and above 16 percent halts building. Inbetween is normal growth. We are currently at 14.8 here in spokane and dropping, according to county records.

Although it seems like a pipedream, The PFD director talked about a large hotel chain looking for economic recovery hopes to make downtown spokane its next location for a large 1500+ room highrise hotel.

[ghost22]

A huge new highrise is being constructed in the CDA area...Oh wait that is just the snow burms on the side of my driveway lol. This is insane and it isn't December yet.

[5zero9]

Thanks for getting me temporarily excited ghost22. If thats the case then we have many highrises being constructed in Spokane as well.

[bgriff4]

Spokane Public Market on its way!

http://www.spokanepublicmarket.org/index.html

[James Bond Agent 007]

^
Hmm, trying to think what's there now. Looked at the google map on the link but it's hard to tell.

[James Bond Agent 007]

Nevermind, I just google street viewed it.

Hmmm, I hope they can make something nice out of it.

[Hub for an Empire]

The following is from Wikipedia:

With a population of 208,916, according to the 2010 Census, Spokane is the second largest city in Washington, and the third largest in the American portion of the Pacific Northwest, behind Seattle, and Portland, Oregon. The City Of Spokane is slightly larger than Boise, Idaho according to the Census data. Spokane is the principal city of the Spokane Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is coterminous with Spokane County. As of 2010, the county had a population of 471,221 .[8]

Directly east of Spokane County is the Coeur d'Alene Metropolitan Statistical Area, composed entirely of Kootenai County, Idaho; the combined population of the two counties was estimated at 600,152 in 2008, fourth largest in the Pacific Northwest behind Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver, British Columbia.[9] Spokane's Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is expected to be officially combined with Kootenai County by the Federal Government and the U.S. Office of Management and Budget once the 2010 Census is tallied. The new MSA is likely to be named "Spokane-Coeur d'Alene Metropolitan Area". It is expected that by that time, the area will have upwards of 650,000, and this change will occur no later than 2013.[10]

[James Bond Agent 007]

1 million here we come! :D

[grayproduct]

I always thought a Spokane-CDA MSA would be a good idea. I have no idea about the commuting patterns on an aggregate level, other that there is contiguous development from one city to the other and there are probably few in the area that consider them completely distinct entities.

[bgriff4]

light rail!

[Hub for an Empire]

Kootenai County 2010 Census information from the Spokesman Review website:

Panhandle growth

Kootenai County population: 138,494
Spokane County population: 471,221

Total population between the two counties: 609,715

In North Idaho, Post Falls was the boom town, growing 60 percent since 2000. It added 10,327 residents for a total of 27,574, and now ranks as the state’s 10th-largest city, up from 12th a decade ago.

Hayden also saw brisk growth of 45 percent. The city added 4,135 residents and now has a population of 13,294. Rathdrum grew 42 percent and Spirit Lake is 41 percent more populous.

The city of Ponderay, next door to Sandpoint, added 500 residents for an increase of 78 percent.

Coeur d’Alene grew 28 percent and Kootenai County grew 27 percent.

*****Spokane County 2010 Census information is listed a few entries above!*****

[urbanlife]

Kootenai County 2010 Census information from the Spokesman Review website:

Panhandle growth

Kootenai County population: 138,494
Spokane County population: 471,221

Total population between the two counties: 609,715

In North Idaho, Post Falls was the boom town, growing 60 percent since 2000. It added 10,327 residents for a total of 27,574, and now ranks as the state’s 10th-largest city, up from 12th a decade ago.

Hayden also saw brisk growth of 45 percent. The city added 4,135 residents and now has a population of 13,294. Rathdrum grew 42 percent and Spirit Lake is 41 percent more populous.

The city of Ponderay, next door to Sandpoint, added 500 residents for an increase of 78 percent.

Coeur d’Alene grew 28 percent and Kootenai County grew 27 percent.

*****Spokane County 2010 Census information is listed a few entries above!*****

Wow, over 27K residents in Post Falls now. It wasn't that long ago that Post Falls was barely 10K living in their town. Though I am guessing all that added growth has been in the form of generic sub-developments rather than uniformed city growth.

[bgriff4]

Cool renderings for the Pedestrian Bridge in the University District. Plus a survey to make suggestions. Exciting stuff!
http://udbridgestudy.blogspot.com/

[urbanlife]

Cool renderings for the Pedestrian Bridge in the University District. Plus a survey to make suggestions. Exciting stuff!
http://udbridgestudy.blogspot.com/

That is a very cool and needed pedestrian bridge for that area. Would be nice to see some major redevelopment happening in that eastern portion of downtown.

[Dazzeetrader]

That is a very cool and needed pedestrian bridge for that area. Would be nice to see some major redevelopment happening in that eastern portion of downtown.


VERY Expensive!! Worse if one considers the economy and who that bridge would service. :shrug:

[bgriff4]

From the u-district study page:

1. What is the purpose of this project?
a) One of the key objectives of the proposed bridge is to develop a non-motorized connection from the Sprague area and medical district south of the rail corridor to the Riverpoint Campus, Gonzaga and the north neighborhoods. This will provide a safe, convenient, enjoyable way for users to connect to other trails and bikeways for recreation and commuting purposes.

b) Another key objective is to stimulate economic development in the Sprague area. We are working closely with representatives from the East Sprague Redevelopment Study to ensure the studies compliment each other. For more information on the East Sprague Redevelopment Study, go to http://www.developingspokane.org/and click on Targeted Area Development.

c) A third objective is to create a skyline signature icon and sense of place. This is a unique location with great opportunity to create something special.

2. Is this bridge really needed?
Yes. Development of the University District and the downtown area has been a city priority for many years (see list of studies below). The Bridge is an important step toward implementation of the City’s University District Strategic Master Plan, Riverpoint Campus Master Plan, Bike Master Plan, the Downtown Plan, and support for redevelopment of the South University District.

We realize the Bridge is just one out of a handful of potential projects being studied in the area, such as the East Sprague Redevelopment Study, the Division Gateway Corridor, MLK JR Way (under construction) and STA’s work on mobility. All of these potential projects are part of the overall vision for the area and all are important.

Once the studies and planning is completed, the next step is to prioritize and seek funding for the various projects as deemed appropriate by the Mayor and city council. While these projects cannot all be funded right away, the planning process must be completed in order to accurately calculate costs and prioritize.

The following studies identified the need for the pedestrian and bicycle bridge.
· 2004: University District Strategic Master Planning process
· 2007 Policy Options for a New Urban Center – Spokane’s University District.
EPA Smart Growth Implementation Assistance
· 2008: Downtown Planning Update, Fast Forward Spokane.
· 2008: DKS Downtown and University District Transportation Improvement Study
· 2008: SRTC Smart Routes Case Statement
· 2009: The City of Spokane Comprehensive Plan / Bicycle Master Plan
· 2009: Zimmerman Volk University District Housing Study
· 2009 Riverpoint Campus Master Plan Update.

Job creation is a top priority with local and state partners building on the research facilities of the universities as well as the Sirti incubator. Planning principles include sustainable growth with infrastructure that supports car, transit, and non-motorized transportation facilities, infill development and energy efficiency strategies. The City takes a multifaceted approach to support growth and development in this target area.
The Bicycle-Pedestrian Bridge is one example of strategic public investment. The Bridge will provide a critical linkage between the research activities of the Riverpoint Campus, Gonzaga University, and Sirti and business locations, housing, goods, and services south of the rail corridor. The goal is to help spur private sector economic development and create an environment for innovation and collaboration.

[FireFighter74]

http://www.kxly.com/news/27766416/detail.html

:yuck:

[FireFighter74]

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k265/firefighter74/IMG_0188.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k265/firefighter74/IMG_0189.jpg
Taken 3 weeks ago

[James Bond Agent 007]

Lookin' good!

About what percentage of the development plot (the entire thing) actually has stuff under construction on it now?

[FireFighter74]

Maybe 5 to 7 percent. It's still in phase 1 of the residential development. I'm guessing phase 1 is around 50 percent complete.

[James Bond Agent 007]

^
Thanks.

In other news, just saw this on the Spokane Journal of Commerce. Sounds kinda disappointing, maybe. Hope someone "good" buys it:
http://www.spokanejournal.com/article.php?id=7173

[bgriff4]

Photo of the day on nationalgeographic.com!

http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-of-the-day/

[bgriff4]

Of course if you follow this link on any other day than the day I posted it, you will see a picture of Africa, or a pretty sunset in New Mexico or something. Just click "previous" to June 16.

[Hub for an Empire]

Ridpath Hotel article in the latest edition of Journal of Business. Major plans, if all goes well, of updating the hotel and adding two floors to the tower section and the entrance building. $30 million + project, making the hotel a destinaton. This project would be similar in scale in dollars to Northern Quest, I imagine? May give a boast to the Rookery Block, let's hope!

Here is a portion of the article:

Group floats plan to buy Ridpath Hotel
Vision calls for spending $30 million-plus to create entertainment destination
By Mike McLean
Of the Journal of Business


Antonietti Investment Group founder Stephen Antonietti hopes to know soon whether the U.S. Bankruptcy Court will accept his purchase offer on a large portion of the hotel tower.
—Staff photo by Mike McLean

A Spokane homebuilder-turned real estate investor says he's heading up a group that has offered to buy 11 stories in the 13-story Ridpath Hotel tower and most of an adjacent building. The group envisions buying other parts of the complex, which currently has fragmented ownership, and hopes to launch a multimillion-dollar renovation there.

Stephen Antonietti, founder of The Antonietti Group, declines to disclose the terms of the offer, but says the total project costs for the envisi...

Purchase To Read Full Article

[Contrarian]

bgriff4,

Great find on that NG photo.

All the photos in that series are excellent.

[Contrarian]

Hub,

More on the Ridpath in today's S-R:

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/jun/19/icon-in-distress/

[bgriff4]

Here's the website to Stephen Antonietti's website on restoring the Ridpath:
http://www.saveridpathhotel.com/Home.php

[bgriff4]

In the Spokesman-Review there was a small article about the guy who maintains the clock tower and he was asked if he has any ideas to improve it. He has a pretty cool idea that would turn it into more of a destination, which I think we should have done a long time ago. Of course there are no plans to do this, or money to fund it, but a cool idea nonetheless:

Q. Do you have any ideas to improve the Clocktower?

A. I’d like to have an elevator so that it was ADA accessible. I’d like to have a viewing area here (on the floor with the clock and clock faces). I’d like to have a viewing area up above (where visitors could look out the windows), where we could have private parties, photography setups, different groups. Can you imagine being up here and renting the Clocktower for the Fourth of July fireworks? But the biggest thing is money. To make money, you’ve got to spend money – and it’s a bunch. I don’t foresee it in the future unless it would be on some kind of bond.

[bgriff4]

Here's a link to a survey that asks what you think should be considered in the Riverfront Park Master Plan:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RFP_Master_Plan

[5zero9]

Heres an update of whats coming soon at Kendall Yards :notacrook: http://www.kendallyards.com/?/homes/cityview_terraces/

[FireFighter74]

http://www.spokaneplanning.org/docs/PASS/Active_Applications/Z1000033PPUD_Beacon_Hill_DBC/Z1000033-PPUD%20(Beacon%20Hill)DBC.pdf


http://beaconhillspokane.com/


http://beaconhillspokane.com/phase-i-street-plan

[James Bond Agent 007]

Wow, I lived there for almost 3 years and never knew that thing was called "Beacon Hill."

Seems like just about every city has a "Beacon Hill." ;)

[ghost22]

It may not seem like it yet with it being pretty unconnected, but that North-South Corridor is going to be huge for development in the next 10-20 years (providing our country lifts out of recession soon).

[FireFighter74]

Kendall Yards

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/P1010573.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/P1010563.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/P1010578.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/P1010564.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/P1010566.jpg

GU area

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/P1010591.jpg

[FireFighter74]

GU Area

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/P1010589.jpg

Cool remodel by GU

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/P1010585.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/P1010586.jpg

New The North Face next to the Apple Store

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/P1010583.jpg

[FireFighter74]

Kendall Yards
CityView Townhome view

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/P1010575.jpg

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/P1010574.jpg

[FireFighter74]

A crappy picture of some condos going in by Manito Park

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/searlezachary/P1010593.jpg

[FireFighter74]

http://www.spokanecity.org/services/articles/?ArticleID=2597

[FireFighter74]

http://www.spokanejournal.com/article.php?id=7488

[grayproduct]

Thanks for the images and links! Nice to see things sort-of-actually happening.

[FireFighter74]

14,000 added sq. footage and 4,000 remodeled

http://www2.providence.org/spokane/news/news-releases/PublishingImages/ed-expansion-childrens-entrance-lg.jpg

http://www2.providence.org/spokane/news/news-releases/PublishingImages/ed-expansion-lg.jpg

http://www2.providence.org/spokane/news/news-releases/Pages/sacred-heart-ed-expansion.aspx

[ghost22]

Boeing wants to build their new 737 MAX in Spokane. It could add 500-1500 jobs. This could be huge if it happens. I really hope Spokane government officials don't screw it up.

http://www.krem.com/news/local/Boeing-plant-may-come-to-Spokane-County-133400833.html

[Contrarian]

I'll be amazed if Boeing ever builds another plant in Washington State.

[James Bond Agent 007]

Boeing wants to build their new 737 MAX in Spokane. It could add 500-1500 jobs. This could be huge if it happens. I really hope Spokane government officials don't screw it up.

http://www.krem.com/news/local/Boeing-plant-may-come-to-Spokane-County-133400833.html
That doesn't say Boeing wants to build their new 737 in Spokane, it says Spokane wants Boeing to build them in Spokane. Big difference. Boeing hasn't decided anything yet.

But if they decide to bolt from Renton I would love to see it go to Spokane.

[ghost22]

Your right Bond, I had my Spokane beer goggles on when I read that, and with the South Carolina plant debacle it could be one of two situations. Either Boeing caves and won't bring jobs outside the state but does bring them to the cheaper spokane area, or Boeing decides they will never build another plant in this state. I hope it is the first scenario.

[grayproduct]

Your right Bond, I had my Spokane beer goggles on when I read that, and with the South Carolina plant debacle it could be one of two situations. Either Boeing caves and won't bring jobs outside the state but does bring them to the cheaper spokane area, or Boeing decides they will never build another plant in this state. I hope it is the first scenario.

It's hardly either of those choices. Using existing 737 infrastructure in Renton makes a lot more sense than a greenfield project in Spokane for the MAX.