MetroSpokane

A Bikeability map for Spokane: Any takers?

To follow up last Friday's post on neighborhood walkability, we turn to the bike.  One reader last week asked about similar Google Maps mashups for cycling.  After a deep moment in thought we recalled a site discussed a few months back on Planetizen.  Originally www.therightride.org began as a site to identify dangerous areas in Boston for cyclists.  Since then it has expanded to include 'safe routes' as well as launching similar sites for a couple of other cities.  Like all sites that are dependent on reader supplied info, the site is only as good as the data that is entered.  From the looks of the opening page though, many cyclists in Boston have loads of opinion's on what routes are good and not so good.

How walkable is your Spokane nabe?

Via the Sightline Institute we learned of a great new Google Maps mashup that analyzes (albeit loosely) how walkable your neighborhood is.  Using walkscore.com, punch in an address and it calculates a score based on the services available to and within proximity of your address.

An idea to copy: Artist Relocation Program

If you're an artist, there's a chance you've heard of Paducah, Kentucky.  If not, you should.  The city of Paducah implemented a fantastic incentive program back in 2000 called the Artist Relocation Program, and placed the arts at the center of their economic development strategy.  The impact arts have on the local economy cannot be understated.  In fact EWU just completed an analysis of the fiscal impact the arts have on Spokane's economy.  But Paducah's approach is really quite unique and one we should bring to town.

METROSPOKANE DiY: MetroSpokane Photo Pool

For all the new readers, especially the locals, it's important to share a little background on some of the sweet functionality we offer you here on MetroSpokane.  Today's topic is the MetroSpokane Photo Pool.

The concept is pretty simple really.  The MetroSpokane Photo Pool resides on a photo-sharing site called Flickr.  Flickr allows you to upload photos and categorize them, tag them, make them public, receive comments on the photos, etc.  Just tag your photos with "MetroSpokane" and through the magic of the internet your pics will rotate through our front page.  All the glory and fame is yours to keep.  From time to time, we'll use pics from the pool for an article...with full credit and a link back of course.

Pacific-Pak Ice building...

One of the smartest things our city fathers did was adopt a building code that required all new buildings downtown be made of brick.  This, of course was after the city was gutted by the great fire in 1889.  Because of that code we have a good inventory of brick structures in our downtown that continue to function much as they did when first built.  First Ave. has a perfect example of such a structure in the Morris and Company building near 1st and Jefferson.

MetroSpokane Tipline: Empty shell at 14th and Wall

[Send any and all questions, answers, tips and even digital pics to metrospokan@gmail.com.]

14th and Wall:  A reader is inquiring about the brick structure at 14th and Wall that is smack-dab in the middle of colina del sur (south hill).  The former apartment building is down to nothing but bare bones, and has a fresh six-car garage being constructed out back.  Stymied due to the lack of an MLS listing, snazzy webpage, or even a for sale sign, we reach out to you dear readers to assist our tipster.  Sweetly located near Rosauers, Picabu, Huckleberry's and le Rocket.  Our take:  Six one bedroom condos for around $170K ea.  You go, in the comments section below.

Cathedral Point Condos: 1/2 the building it used to be

Last time we checked in on the Cathedral Point Condos things were pretty sleepy.  However, that was a few months, and a few sawzalls back.  As of yesterday the project appears to be somewhere between 'before' and 'after'.  Now that we think about it, it almost seems the building has regressed and is a little bit before 'before'.  The formerly pleasant foursquare now is 3/4 1/2 the building it once was.  A new foundation is in, as is some plywood sheathing.  We're looking forward to watching this one transform into the pagoda-esque foursquare the rendering promised.

On the market: A rather large chunk of the Lower South Hill

Got a spare $2.45 million?  If so, might we suggest this sweet opportunity on  Spokane's lower South Hill at 5th and Washington?  Nestled along Washington Street and just across from Lewis and Clark High School a full 1.6 acres is waiting for the discriminating buyer. 

Friday Linkfest...

[Photo thanks to hiway 2 via the MetroSpokane pool]

Steaks and cigars about to be served at the old Joel's building [SR]
Diners enjoy outside seating in pleasant weather...shocking [JOB]
Images of Spokane out of focus [Fear of Fireflies-blog]
Spokane is #2...Tacoma Lobbyist is pissed [The News Tribune-Tacoma]

Demo Alert: 5th and Monroe about gone...

As mentioned in an earlier post, South Hill commuters have been watching the gradual reduction of the multi-story apartment building at 5th and Monroe.  The demo looked a bit precarious at times, what with the steep slope and close proximity to fast moving traffic.  Now down to pretty much the bottom floor, an new unobstructed view of downtown is available for interested parties.  And they've even saved the two trees out front...so far.

Fire Season in West Central...

 

A tipster alerted us to the rash of 'suspicious' fires that seem to be occurring in ever increasing frequency in West Central.  Said tipster recently hit the streets of the WC and made notes of those places of which they were aware had been the victim of a fire.  The result is the map you see here.  Over the past two years, since this person has moved to the neighborhood, they've witnessed/heard about fifteen fires that have damaged or leveled homes in the neighborhood.  We're no Dale Cooper, but fifteen fires in two years seems a bit excessive.  While not all the fires started under 'suspicious' circumstances, it does beg the question: If this were happening elsewhere in the City, and on this scale, would it be getting more attention?  We're just askin'.

Big-Box lessons from Bozeman...

During a recent stop in Bozeman on the way to Billings, MT last week it became clear that not all big-box stores are created equal.  In Spokane and surrounding environs, the typical blah cinder-block wonder under an acre of roof is where we've set the bar.  It's no wonder that the Home Depots in North Spokane and East Sprague in the City of Spokane Valley look remarkably similar.  Set low expectations (all of North Division, the 'Y', and East Sprague), and you'll rarely exceed them. 

According to Bob Gibbs of Gibbs Planning Group, when a big-box developer comes to town they generally have four designs (A,B,C, and D) ranging from unique (or sensitive to local character) to Anywhere, USA, and they are ready to build one of those.  Which one gets built depends heavily upon how much push back the company receives from local residents and officials about design and it's importance.  Retail Consultant Bob Gibbs says as much:  “Cities need to have high design standards for signage, lighting and building design and be willing to enforce those standards,” says Gibbs."