MetroSpokane

Progress is Good - Kendall Yards Takes One Huge Step Forward...

Get yer checkbooks out and yer name on the list.  Kendall Yards is moving ahead.  As reported by the Spokesman this morning, the project has been deemed 'technically complete' by the city, which is a huge step.  Simply put, Kendall Yards is going to have an impact far beyond anything else being proposed in Spokane.  We're happy to see this major step being taken.  It certainly bodes well for the project, and brings Spokane this much closer to a project that we hope will raise the bar for all future development in the Inland Northwest.

The Beauty of Connectivity...

We've been thinking lately about the issue of connectivity and how it plays out in Spokane.  Examples abound in-and-around downtown as to how the level of connectivity can dramatically affect a place (The topic can be a pretty complex one, but if you've the time, an excellent white-paper on the topic can be found here). 

An excellent example of the effect of a physical connection on a place can be observed with the Sandifur Memorial bridge near People's Park in Peaceful Valley.  For over thirty years there was no connection here between the north and south portions of the river.  Over time, as the 'activities' taking place down there became less and less attractive...so too did the park.  When the Sandifur bridge was completed, it created a connection to the north side of the Centennial Trail which in turn brought more walkers, bicyclists, and 'eyes' to the park.  As a result, the less than desireable activities appear to have decreased (at least during daytime hours).  In reality, they moved back into the less connected area known as Highbridge Park.  It's a good example of CPTED (Community Policing Through Environmental Design), and is a hell of a lot better strategy than surveilleance cameras.

Connectivity certainly impacts the vibrancy of urban spaces as well.  How many times have you heard the term 'mixed-use' used in the past month?  The recent surge interest in downtown living is really an attempt to improve connections between land uses - commercial and residential.  The effect is a livelier urban environment, and a stronger community.  During the 60s up until recently, downtown Spokane became strikingly less lively due to the fact that it became nothing more than a monoculture of commercial offerings active only from 8-5pm (The same holds true for cul-de-sacs and gated communities-see pic above).  More people living in the core means it becomes a place where strangers/pedestrians can interact or bump-into one another.  That 'chance encounter' is played out in the public space, and it is what people like about living in cities.

In our opinion, better connected environments are what Spokane needs most.

More On Garbage Cans...

Spokane's urban environment is littered with the legacy that is Expo '74...and we relish it.  A quick glance around this place and one see's EXPO everywhere - Gondolas, IMAX, Opera House, pavillion, garbage goat, the butterflies, etc. 

Out of them all, the most unnoticed has to be the antiquated concrete garbage cans that you see all over the place (we even spotted one in Hillyard two weeks ago).  They've survived thirty-two years on the tough streets of Spokane and are still in pretty good shape.  But only a few of you may remember that they served a dual purpose:  collect garbage and act as wayfinders for visitors to Expo.  You see, that flat angled portion of the container had glued to it a map directing those visitors to key locations on the Expo grounds.  Pretty progressive use of the public space in our opinion.  

We can't recall exactly when the last of the maps were removed, but we think it's high time they were brought back, or at least something took their place.  As our city experiences this newfound interest in all things urban, what could be a better use? 

Actually that's not a rhetorical question.  We'd like to hear from you.  How can this public space be best re-used to benefit Spokane's urban environment?  Post your ideas below, or send us an email.

If we get enough suggestions/interest we'll pursue it.

Riverside Centre...What if?

Be sure and GET FLASH...

The summer of 2001 had such hope and promise for downtown Spokane.  After three years of rumours it appeared that the promise of Spokane's first high rise in over two decades was going to be fulfilled.  Ironically it was going to be K. Wendell Reugh who would build it. 

The building was going to be bold:  At 18 stories, 232,000 square feet of office space above a 5-story, 529 stall parking garage, and over 23,000 square feet of street level retail.  A spire would culminate in what was to be the most modern and tallest structure in downtown.

The news release on July 18, 2001 reads quite unlike today's story.  A soon to be retired Jerry Hagood of Kiemle & Hagood Company stated that: 

"This project is the culmination of many years of hard work, and will serve as a pinnacle of my career, as well as Wendell's.  It is truly a legacy we are both proud to be associated with."

The anticipated completion date of the $50 million dollar building was to be summer of 2004.   We wish it  would have been built.  The loss of the Mohawk and Rookery would have been tough, but the addition of Riverside Centre to our skyline would have more than made up for it.  And Wendell, he would have been the guy that modernized Spokane's skyline...and his legacy would have been entirely different for it.

Calling All Hackers...

Admittedly we have never played in Hoopfest, but we have enjoyed the activity for a number of years from the sidelines as a spectator.  Over the past four years or so we've somehow managed to miss this event, and looking back, we're not sure how.  After all, it takes a bit of an effort to miss a festival that:

• Hosts over 6,200 teams
• Organizes over 13,000 games played over two days
• Sets up and tears down over 400 courts
• Is the largest 3-on-3 street basketball tourney in the world
• Has over 3,000 volunteers

Simply put, Spokane's Hoopfest is an economic juggernaut for the City, raking in over $16 million in economic impacts (according to a 1998 study) when all is said and done.  We especially like the the Center Court being located in the Pavillion.  To us it's a perfect use.  Now entering it's sixteenth year since it's maiden voyage in 1990, this baby is full grown, and it is a showcase to the dedication of our community.  Best of all...it's homegrown and pedestrian friendly.  When else are you going to get the chance to stroll along Main Street without the fear of being run-down by oncoming traffic?

Hoopfest site

Skytona 500...

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If the thought of adult males (and a few females) hopped up on Budweiser living out their dream of one day being proclaimed a champion tricycle-rider frightens you to the core, well you're not alone.  On Saturday we found ourselves with well over a hundred of our newest friends at The Big Sky's Tavern on north Market Street (in Hillyard). 

The event was the Skytona 500.  The location was the sun-baked asphalt of the adjacent parking lot, but for that afternoon it might as well have been Talladega.  The stakes were high as braggin rights for the next year were on the line, and the turnout we hear was bigger and better than ever.  Tricycles (and riders) of all shapes and sizes were present and competed in multiple races.  Colorful commentary and raffle-ticket giveaways in between the heats made for non-stop action and fun.  While it was clearly an adult-oriented function, kids were having a great time watching the action from outside the orange ski-fence surrounding the parking-lot. 

If the sheer hillarity of seeing adults on modified tricycles isn't enough to bring you up to the Big Sky Tavern next summer, then the fact that all proceeds go to Spokane Cancer Care should.  We certainly hope this event is around for a long time.

Thank you Sonora Dodd...

It's nice to see Spokane getting some front-page notoriety of the positive kind.  We spotted this link (The Origin of Father's Day...) on Yahoo!'s main page Sunday morning, and went to visit the spot in Riverfront Park where the commemorative plaque now sits, affixed to a large stone overlooking the river gorge next to the YMCA building.

Some ideas for showing your appreciation to Pops.

Happy Father's Day, Spokane

MetroSpokane

New 'Overlook' beginning to take shape...

Something great is taking shape on the banks of the Spokane Falls.  No, we're not talking about another 'exciting' condo project with secure parking.  We're talking about something that will be within the reach of everyone in our community.  Quietly and without a lot of fanfare, the extension of the Centennial Trail along the north bank of the river and under the Monroe Street bridge is currently under construction. 

We spotted the 'outlook' being built the other day and went to take a closer look this afternoon.  In the immortal words of Chris Farley - "Holy Schnikies!"  That really sums up what this portion of the trail is going to be like when complete.  At Monroe Street, the trail passes underneath and then pauses on a basalt outcropping that makes for a view/experience that is extraordinary.  The proximity to the falls, the dramatic arches of the bridge, and the view of the Spokane skyline from that angle cannot be beat.  Simply put, this is going to be just another in a string of wins for us lucky Spokane residents.

Busking is Good! June 12th-16th

Spokane has had it's fair share of buskers over the years.  There was the gentleman who for years sat on various corners downtown playing his recorder.  Never pandering for money, no cardboard sign saying he was 'stranded', 'out of work', or 'needs beer'.  Just a guy making a few bucks and making the downtown a little better in return. 

Another popular musician often set up shop near the old B. Dalton Bookstore in the pedestrian corridor.  His name was Dax Johnson, and he played some of the most wonderful music on an old upright piano.  It was something quite different and spectacular for Spokane: A person...actually...performing...outside...on...the...street?  Unfortunately Dax passed-away last November in L.A.

Well for the fourth big year Spokane's Street Music Festival is taking place.  All this week from 12pm-1pm, various local artists -known and unknown-will appear on downtown street corners, play for an hour and go home.  Little red buckets will be with each artist for collecting donations.  All money will go to the 2nd Harvest Food Bank, so bring some change.  If you're lucky, you might catch Doug Clark (...not 'Dave' as we had mistakenly listed-Thanks Discoponch) of The Trailer Park Girls singing his signature 'Spokane Song'. 

All proceeds will be donated in memory of Dax Johnson.

One-Way Couplets-Sucking the Life out of the CBD

A quick visual survey of our CBD via Google Maps yields an unsettling fact:  No less than thirteen streets (over 70%) are designed as one-way couplets. Aside from confusing the hell out of casual toursits, a traffic pattern like this is at odds with most people's vision of a vibrant downtown. 

No doubt the couplet is a wonderful tool for keeping traffic flowing at a relative constant speed.  But we question the need for such a tool in the CBD.  From what we can dig up, most of these couplets were implemented downtown in the 1960s, and to say that the economics of office, retail and residential properties downtown today demand a traffic pattern nearly forty years old sounds a bit off to us.  In vibrant urban places, congestion is the norm...and is accepted.  As it now stands, Spokane Falls Boulevard at times resembles more of an Indy 500 track than a grand boulevard.  We can't count the number of times we've been nearly leveled in the middle of that crosswalk near Nordstrom.

But couplets are even more damaging to the small ground-level commercial operation.  Take a look at the toll East Sprague businesses suffered in the wake of converting Sprague and Appleyway to one-ways. Decreased congestion at the cost of economic opportunity seems woefully short-sighted.

Our top five streets downtown to be converted back to two-way:

• Spokane Falls Blvd
• Main Street
• 1st Avenue
• Sprague Avenue
• 2nd Avenue/3rd Avenue

Can you imagine 3rd Avenue crawling with two-way traffic?  A bike lane?  (Gasp!)  If we're looking for ways to improve the economics and commercial viabilty (aside from fast-food) of areas south of the tracks, this might be one trick we could use.

The Sidewalk...

We noticed something important during the Live It Up! event put on by the City of Spokane a few weeks back.  On the second day, the organizers moved the artists who were previously confined indoors out to the sidewalk.  That simple move made a profound difference in the vibrancy of the area.  This is largely due to the fact that people enjoy public places where interaction with others is possible.  What better use for the sidewalk?  How often have you heard people speaking fondly of a place because it has, "good people watching?"  It's what people do in urban places.

With that theme in mind, we took camera in hand the other day to identify a few of the better sidewalk eating venues we like in Downtown Spokane. 

Tops on our list downtown has to be Mizuna.  Their use of the sidewalk to the front of the building and the alley to the north cannot be beat in our opinion (although O'Daughertys is a close second).  Plus they have live music during those warm summer nights. 

Outside of downtown, what would summer be without dinner on the patio of The Elk?  Even Pacific Ave. Pizza and Cabin Coffee have gotten into the act.  Cafe Marron doesn't have much room, so instead large garage doors open up to the street.  Excellent.

An incremental step to even more vibrant downtowns and neighborhood business districts would be to begin making better use of our most overabundant urban feature.

Some photos of other outdoor venues...

Hillyard 2006-Chalk Art Walk

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On a whim, MetroSpokane took a saturday drive up to Hillyard to get a gander at their annual Chalk Art Walk.  Sure we could've done ArtFest again, and contemplated buying that carved driftwood piece for $1,500, but the feisty independent spirit of Hillyard won us over.

The sidewalks of the Hillyard business district welcomed loads of local artists of all ages to take chalk to sidewalk and draw whatever inspired them.  The winning artist received $100 cash and their winning entry on next year's t-shirt.  It was a perfect day for exploring the area.  Sunny weather, street vendors, live music, artists, and hundreds of visitors navigated and viewed the work throughout the district.  We took note of some of the new shops and stores that have opened up since our last visit, overall had a great afternoon, and along the way we snapped some pics.

Yeah, it didn't have the flair or the lineup of music that ArtFest had, but we still enjoyed it.  Thanks Hillyard.  We'll see you next year.