MetroSpokane

Camp Grandee - Spokane's original cottage housing

Cottage housing is cool.  There's no other way to put it.  Even Inland Business Catalyst is writing about it.  Even though it's now allowed widely throughout the city it's really nothing new.  Before the Interstate system the main highway's through Spokane lured weary travelers with mini-cabin motels where the whole family could rack for a night or two and be on their way.  While many of these have been demo-ed over the years, a few are still around.

Bike to Work closes in on 700

As of yesterday Spokane's Bike to Work Committee reported that nearly 700 people (687 total) had registered for Spokane's Bike to Work Week which takes place May 12-16.  The kick-off breakfast at Riverfront Park is expecting to see around 300 bike-riders while the closing event is nearing 300 people as well.  If you haven't registered there's still time. 

One of the coolest joint events is "Walk and Roll to School Day" with seven elementary schools promoting walking or bike riding as a good way to get to and from school. 

We are a biking city!  Don't get left...in your car.

• Bike to Work Week-registration is open [MetroSpokane]
• Bike to Work Spokane [website]
• Tips on carrying bike loads [cyclingspokane]

Public Space gets a boost...trees

Downtown public space will be getting a much needed boost from a new street tree replacement grant program.  If you're a property owner downtown and within the boundaries identified above you'll qualify for a $500 grant to replace or plant trees in sites adjacent to your property.  In return you have to commit to installing a private irrigation, remove any existing tree and care for it for the next 25 years.  The goal is to replace or plant up to 50 street trees per year in the target area. 

Now we're talking.  If this goes well, we'd like to see it expanded to target some of our first-ring neighborhoods that have a significant 'tree-deficit'.

• Guerilla gardening hits the streets [MetroSpokane]
• Street Tree Grant and program flyer - pdf [City of Spokane]

North-South Freeway gets animated

In full PR mode, the DOT has created and uploaded to YouTube a breathtaking aerial/animated video of the North/South Freeway from Francis to US 395.  Backed by an inspiring soundtrack and narrated by THE BEST RADIO VOICE ever, if you're not openly weeping with pride by the end then you have no soul.  Either that or your a cyclist or ride the bus.  One oddity of the animated portions is that they show extremely light traffic for the middle of the day. 

• Learning from I-90 - The North-South Freeway's Implications on Urban Form [pdf-Studio Cascade]

For Sale: Casa Don's Condo for $275K

We have no idea who the Don in Casa Don is, but he sure could design a helluva good looking building.  Built in 1938 this place is a charmer if your tastes are old world Spanish eclectic.  Besides all the nicely aged brick, terracotta, and views of the apartment building roof to the north it's the location that sold us.  Walking distance to Lindamen's, Bittersweet, Blockbuster, Manito, Qdoba, and hell if you feel like taking in a little Sunday service, St. John's Cathedral is across the street.  NOTE: Must like the color orange.

• Listing - Casa Don [Keller Williams]
• 1107 S Grand Blvd [GMAP]

Guess the Intersection - Winner

The winner in yesterday's Guess the Intersection absolutely nailed it, even identifying the appropriate direction of the corner.  Of course the building is long gone, but look closely at the top of the building in the background in the upper right corner...it's the current day City Hall.  The intersection is the northwest corner of Main and Post as it looked in 1953.

The image above was graciously provided by SilentBahb who just missed having the correct answer a mere 3 minutes after our winner.  There were plenty of good guesses, but a hearty congrats goes out to The Woodruff for knowing Spokane so well.  We'll contact you soon with instructions on getting your official Spokaloo T-shirt.

Guess the Intersection - May 5th

Think you know Spokane?  Prove it.  We put up a current or historic image of an intersection in Spokane and you post the correct name of the intersection in the comments section below. 

First person to correctly identify the intersection before 3pm wins a sweet T-Shirt from Spokaloo and Boo Radley's.  Be sure to use your correct email when publishing your comment.

Friday Linkfest

[Image courtesy the Rainbo Collective via the MetroSpokane photo pool]

• DeWood Tower to go head-to-head with Courthouse [Spokesman]
• Telido Station website up and running [Telido Station website]
• Spokane's best bike jump discovered [cyclingspokane]
• U-District to form organization and Exec to lead [Journal of Business]
• Proposals in for Pine Street Project in U-District [Journal of Business]
• 1984 Bloomsday Finisher T-Shirt [eBay]

Edible Estates - West Central version

Following our earlier post on the movement towards edible estates, we happened by this front yard over in the West Central neighborhood.  This has to be the premier example in Spokane of what can be done in an area many would consider a small unusable space.  They've made use of nearly ever square foot and have even spilled over into the planting strip.  Fruit trees abound, strawberry plants, and the soil is rich.  One downside for those in newer developments is that the strict covenants buyers often enter into will not allow such a use.  Too bad really.  Just another reason to luv older Spokane nabes.

• Kitchen Gardeners International - [website]

Ask MetroSpokane: Where to go for art studio space downtown?

[If you've a burning question about any of the topics we cover then send it in to metrospokan@gmail.com.  If you're lucky it may experience the therapeutic advice of our readers]

An intrepid MetroSpokane reader needs some space...art workspace that is.  The Davenport Arts District jumped out at us as a good spot, but the working artist studios down there have been slim-to-none what with the revitalization and all.  Our reader submits the following:

"Can you point me in a direction: we will be returning to Spokane and are looking for an artist loft-ish workspace downtown for about a year.  Where would you go to look for such a thing? I was kind of hoping that one of the projects might be on hold and the owner might rent out something partially finished while waiting for happier times....

Also, I want to make it clear that I am only looking for a workspace, not a live/work. My husband wants to do some painting, so we're really looking for a crummy garage or something. But it needs to be on the bus, as he doesn't drive."

Readers...have at it, and impart your wisdom in the comments section below.