MetroSpokane

As good as it looks? Free Rent on South Hill...

We spotted an outstanding rental listing on Craigslist this evening.

It starts out a little odd, but innocent enough:  "Females only.  I have a new house I am moving into next week. It is rather big. I am offering the downstairs and the use of a car. You also do not need to pay any untilities or groceries."

Let the nausea begin:  "I am really not into all the drama of a relationship right now, but I do have needs if you know what I mean. So I figured what the hell, if a female out there who has needs she wants met as well, them we can make arrangements. Works out grreat for both of us.  Please send a pic and your number.  Dog or car and a small child are okay as you have the entire bottom of the house." 

Excuse us while we go shower off the filth.

• Free rent and utilities use of car. Roomy with benefits [Craigslist]

See a special listing that you'd like to nominate?  Send it to metrospokan@gmail.com

Spokane's least known park?

You've all heard of Manito, Corbin, Comstock, Lincoln, Liberty, etc.  The names represent some of Spokane's most sizable park lands.  At the other end of the spectrum is Spokane's oft overlooked .28 acres (12k sqf) Skeet-so-mish Park.  If you've ever visited (not sure why you would) Skeet-so-mish park it's easy to understand why nobody pays any attention to it.  It amounts to two city parcels 1/2 block east of Maple St. on Maxwell Avenue and other than the 10' of basalt that fronts Maxwell, the park has little apparent significance. 

Based on our extensive research on Google over the past 10 minutes, Skeet-so-mish is the name used in the journals of Lewis & Clark to refer to the tribe of the Coeur d'Alenes whom they encountered in 1805.  Regardless, the question still is why does a nub of a park exist in this location?  Especially one that is absolutely inaccessible to everyone, and why use Skeet-so-mish?  Check out the park sometime.  It's an odd and overlooked public place - and as a citizen feel free to use at your leisure.

Sneak Peek: D&B Trading Company Interior

Following up on Friday's post, Quizno's is certainly down for the count as figured.  A quick glance inside by a MetroSpokane operative spotted multiple mirrors, soothing red walls and loads of oak barrels strewn about.  Just what the 'and more' in the 'wine tasting and more' tag line refers to, we're not sure, but at the rate they're moving on the interior, a day-after-Thanksgiving opening has to be the plan.

• STOREFRONT: Quizno's, no?  D & B Trading Company, yes?

Bucky Fuller STILL owns the friggin' lower South Hill

LOWER SOUTH HILL - The Buckminster Fuller saga continues.  Not content with a mere 8.5"x11" sheet of paper, the wheatpaster has gone big this time on the Bernard St. Wall.  A full 5'x8' layout of an elder Bucky casting a spell on the evening commuters as they wind their way up the South Hill.  The meaning?  We're not sure.  Perhaps Spokane is part of a global movement to spread Bucky's philosophies on architecture, or simply a cry out for better design.
 

STOREFRONT: Quizno's, no? D & B Trading Company, yes?

DOWNTOWN - Above the papered front of what used to be a Quizno's on Wall St.  The sign on the door says Quizno's is "closing for remodel."  However the sign sitting on the sidewalk says otherwise - "D & B Trading Company, Inc.-Wine Tastings and More."  A quick peak inside saw multiple oak barrels and a work crew.  Either Quizno's is expanding their product line, Pita Pit ground them out, or they're subletting their space.  Converting the space to a wine purveyor could mean another shot in the arm for life after 5PM downtown. 

Better informed people encouraged to leave your knowledge in the comments section below.

Do you GoLoco?

Combine ridesharing with social networking on Facebook and you get one pretty cool way to reduce your transportation costs.  The site is called GoLoco and it leverages Facebook by turning your social network into a transit network.

According to their site, here's how it works:    

1. Post some trips -- want to go to the game? shopping? daily commute? out of town?
2. Invite your your friends, colleagues, and classmates to join GoLoco.
3. View profiles of people whose trips match your own. Decide if you'd like to travel with them.
4. Accept a trip as is, or negotiate changes online.
5. Meet up at a specific location and time.

You can use GoLoco to share rides for free. Or you can choose to share trip costs quickly and easily online before the trip without the awkward money discussion or exchange in the car. GoLoco collects each passenger's share of the total trip costs before the trip begins and transfers it to the driver using online accounts. We charge a 10 percent transaction fee.

Anyone out there used it yet?  Would you?

The Grizzly Condos roar onto the MLS - Browne's Addition trembles

The 1960s and 70s weren't kind decades to Browne's Addition.  One glimpse at the Broadmoor apartments is evidence enough.  Today the tradition continues.  The people who brought you this down in Peaceful Valley have unleashed their designers on Browne's Addition-The Grizzly Condos

Looking more like an extended-stay Howard Johnson, they're asking $598K for 1,900 sqf.  The description boasts, "Single floor construction with impeccable upgrades of the highest quality!"  We're going out on a limb here but when do vinyl siding and sheet metal roofing reflect "impeccable upgrades" (and yes vinyl siding has its place)?  Especially at an astonishing $315/sqf?  We're fairly certain the local chapter of AIA wasn't on a retainer.  Grizzly not included.

Lights Out Spokane...

When was the last time you even considered looking up at night and viewing the stars while in the city?  Could you even see them or was the neighbor's mercury-vapor light buzzing away and flooding your backyard? 

Last Saturday (10/20) San Francisco held its first ever Lights Out event.  From 8pm-9pm people across the city were encouraged to turn out all their lights, and while they're at it, replace an incandescent bulb with a compact-fluorescent.  The event gained some significant press worldwide and now is now planning a national lights out event next Spring cleverly titled:  Lights Out America.  They even received the backing of the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), but that was to be expected.

Looking at the list of participating cities, we're saddened by the lack of mid-city involvement.  Sure there's Boulder, but is that much of a surprise?  This got us thinking that this would be a fantastic opportunity to really test our community's belief in the "Near Nature, Near Perfect" motto.  Anyone game for organizing the first ever Lights Out Spokane?  If not for us, if not for the night sky, do it for Jack Horkheimer. 

• Remember this date:  3/29/2008 8pm-9pm
• They're even on Facebook...
• ...so are we

STOREFRONT: Cafe Dolce servin' up coffee after dark

EAST END - As if having the greenest commercial building in Spokane wasn't enough, securing that late night coffee fix will get a little easier down on the East End.  The remodeling is done, the menu is up, and if all goes well, Cafe Dolce will be opening it's doors this week.  South of Fast Eddies in the Bell Franklin Building, the cafe   will be open until 2AM Wed-Sat; a full 8 hours later than The Rocket on Main.  Late hours are a bold move, but if it works it could mean a shift in the evening scene down there and an effort to tap into the students/employees over at the Riverpoint Campus [they even have a couple meeting rooms].  As it stands now, options for after 6 activity is confined to one of four bars/lounges.  Coffee before a movie at the Magic Lantern?  Why yes!  We like options.

Cafe Dolce
221 N Division St. [GMAP]
747-5364

On the Market: Trying the Big Flip on Cliff Drive

Cliff Park - In Spokane, appending the words 'Cliff' and 'Drive' to your real estate listing can set you apart from the rest of the chaff in a hurry.  If you thought things had settled down, take a look at 743 W Cliff Drive.  The new listing is testing the theory of whether or not you can sell a property at an 82% price increase less than one year after purchase.  According to Trulia, the 2 bedroom 1 bath home built in 1947 sold last year for $412K.  Now it's rocketed to $750K.  Granted it's on a big corner lot that could be subdivided, but the house looks like something Bear Grylls cobbled together with a stone and a pocket-knife.

Spokane & Coeur d'Alene's GDP up over past few years

Last month the Bureau of Economic Analysis released prototype estimates of Gross Domestic Product by metropolitan area.  Today, we break it down for you and compare Spokane and Coeur d'Alene to the rest of the Northwest.

2007 Spokane's Best Vacant Lots - Got Dirt?

[Image courtesy of mrpain via Flickr ]

Once again it's time for our annual Best Vacant Lots edition of Metro(Spokane) where we highlight the best vacant lots our CBD has to offer.  We're happy to report that on two of the lots we profiled over the last two years there has been some activity.  First, Kendall Yards, profiled in 2005's edition is finally turning basalt dirt-a no brainer there.  However, last year's edition had us looking at vacant corner lots, and while not much has happened on any of them at least one is for sale - NE corner of Division and Riverside!

This year though we look at that rarest of vacant lots in the CBD - the vacant dirt lot.  What?  Dirt lots in the CBD?  You had better believe it, and they are beauties.  Here is the criteria we used in our flawless analysis:

• The lot(s) must have been vacant for at least 5 years
• The lot(s) must exist in Spokane's CBD
• Can't have been nominated previously
• The lot(s) must be less than 1 acre
• The lot(s) must be dirt

We've identified our top three collections of parcels in no particular order, so let's go!  Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

STOREFRONT: The Scoop alive and well

SOUTH HILL - With autumn upon us like a full-frontal assault, you might think a place like The Scoop has all but closed up shop for the year.  Not so.  That's the beauty of diversification; coffee, sandwiches, and salads offset any drop in sales from their mainstay - ice cream via the local Brain Freeze Creamery.  And it appears to be working.  After their sad departure from South Perry, The Scoop found a new home smack dab at 25th and Monroe.  Like other fine neighborhood establishments around town (Rockwood Bakery, the Rocket, City Yoga) this place too is embedded in the neighborhood, and imagine our surprise to discover that the surrounding residential doesn't appear any worse off. Given the size of the crowd there on a fantastic fall afternoon, things look to be going well.  [1001 W. 25th Ave.]

STOREFRONT: Dryfly's 1st run

Be sure and GET FLASH...

Even though you've probably heard about Dryfly Distillery setting up shop recently in the University District, are you aware of the significance of this?  Operating out of the former Craven's Coffee spot in the old Bayou Building, the still has been functioning for sometime now.  This weekend they started bottling their first run of Vodka, with Gin soon to follow, and according to the owners, they expect an annual output of about 3,500 cases.

Since prohibition ended in 1933 there has not been a micro distillery in the State of Washington - Dryfly is at the front of what we hope is the birth of a new distilling culture here in Spokane.  One that is heavily niched, uses local ingredients, and set's Spokane apart.  In about two weeks, start harping your nearest liquor stores for the Dryfly Vodka.  "Drinking Local" has a whole new meaning.

Friday Linkfest

[Photo courtesy of Craftymoni from the MetroSpokane photo pool]

• Spokanites discover eating out-Restaurants prosper [Spokane Journal of Business]
• Condo Homeowner wants out! [Craigslist]
  
• Lincoln Building Sold...[Spokane Journal of Business]
• Oh, and the Grant Building too [Spokane Journal of Business]

Mastering Density - Do you know what density looks like?

The topic of development density is a hot one in our region right now and will continue to be well into the foreseeable future.  Just look east towards the Spokane Valley where the gloves are off and where the topic looks to be a deciding factor in the November elections.  There's no doubt that higher densities can provide a whole slew of benefits to urban centers like our own (diffusing infrastructure costs, improved returns on transit, etc.).  However providing a mix of densities can serve to provide residents a balance in housing options, while at the same time meeting affordability needs.  In our opinion it makes for a more interesting city as well.

NOMO First Look: YMCA/YWCA Central

NORTH MONROE - Though it isn't available on their website, ALSC does have floorplans and a video playing at YMCA's downtown location showing what the new combined Central YMCA/YWCA will look like.  Located on the site of the former Big Bros Bingo Building (how's that for alliteration?) at 930 N. Monroe, the two story complex will be...large...consuming much of the 3.5 acres between Monroe and Lincoln.  Video renderings reveal a rooftop event garden, a large glass entry, and what appears to be a better street-side than the current building.  Can't say we'll miss the big baby-blue bingo hall.

Best Performing Cities - How Does Spokane Stack Up?

Most 'Best of' lists tend to be based on input data that can be subjective and highly variable from year to year (e.g. crime stats, commute time, cost of living, etc.).  The Miliken Institute offers an alternative.  They've just released their 2007 Best Performing Cities list (pdf) which is based on outputs such as job growth, wage salary growth, and high-tech GDP growth, providing a more meaningful measure of how a city's economy is demonstrating economic performance.  According to the Institute, "...it measures where jobs are being created and maintained; where wages and salaries are increasing; and where economies and businesses are growing and thriving."

DEMO ALERT -West End losing one

WEST END - South of the viaduct is a tough place to be an old building, and even tougher if you're west of Monroe Street.  While the East Side of downtown is hitting its stride as old buildings are restored and new ones built, the West End plods along with little action aside from the occasional renovation of a car dealership. 

This weekend we spotted another building getting 'Wendell-ed' at the corner of 2nd and Adams Cedar.  The usual indicators were there - fenced-off sidewalk, windows out, and the sky visible through the top floor.  The area was never a prime area for apartment-seekers.  The same could be said for West Main 5 years ago.  With the Borning Building renovation and West First Ave. exploding a scant two blocks away, the remaining multi-story structures could have a new lease on life if they can hang on.  Until then, swing by and get your last looks.

American Solar Tour-Spokane Edition

This Saturday is chock-full-o-fun if sustainability and the environment are the thing for you.  Not only is the 5th annual River Cleanup happening in and around Peaceful Valley, but there's also the Spokane edition of the American Solar Tour.  The tour consists of two sites where you can chat directly with the owners and designers of their projects.  It's a good chance to get some first hand information to this growing field.  Solar's a no brainer for a city like ours that gets around 260 days of sunshine a year, and with the passing of the Washington Solar Bill that's performance-based, it pays to play, friends. 

So here's your Saturday checklist: 1) Morning-Clean up Spokane River 2) Afternoon-Visit two solar buildings.

Details

• Greenleaf Professional Building - 3157 East 17th Avenue [GMAP]
• Patience II - 12620 S. Harvard Road, Rockford, WA [GMAP]
• Hours - 10AM-4PM

Gasoline Alley Country Club...wha?

All sorts of interesting projects are popping up in the West Plains.  Take the Gasoline Alley Country Club for example.  Starting at a mere $80K you can buy a deeded non-residential car-condo to store your vintage auto.  According to the website, the club will be:

"an immediate time travel to those fabulous 50's in America-the days of cool rides, rock n' roll, malt shops, and a true sense of community...The community will be developed in the 'town square' design, with a community center replicating the 50's malt shop at the center with each condo garage facing the malt shop."

Located out near the airport, units begin at 24'x28'.  Why stay in the city when you can pretend? 
[Poodle skirt not included]

Spokane River Clean up - This Saturday 10/6

[Spokane River pic courtesy of bridgepix via Flickr]
Your river needs you this Saturday, fellow Spokanites.  The 5th Annual Spokane River Clean Up event is set for October 6, 2007, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at High Bridge Park.  If you've never participated in this event this is your year.  Every year this thing grows by leaps and bounds and so does the amazing pile of trash pulled from the banks of the river (Last year over 600 people removed over 4 tons).  Cleanup areas span west from the Maple Street Bridge and include parts of Latah Creek in Highbridge Park as well as areas around Downriver and TJ Meenach Bridge thanks to STA.

Signup can be done online in advance.  Just look for the large crowd of people at Highbridge Park near Peaceful Valley.  More info at the Friends of the Falls site after the jump.

If you don't do it for the river, do it for the commemorative grocery tote.  And while you're at it, take the STA #20, ride a bike or walk if you can.

Got a rotten neighbor? Let the world know

After finding that sweet apartment/house/condo and you settle in to your new life, you start to notice things.  The honeymoon is over when you realize you've that 'one guy' for a neighbor and the ink's still wet on the contract you just signed.  Worry no more.  Simply visit rottenneighbor.com, type in your zipcode and read the tortured tales of neighbors feed up with each other.  Launched on July 29th it'll hopefully be a great resource to learn something about a neighborhood before you move-in.  They're all here:  Too many cars-in-the-yard guy, the cat lady, the pit-bull breeder, and even the inflatable holiday-lawn-ornament-family.  Collect them all!

This is hands down the most interesting take on a google-maps real estate mashups we've seen in quite awhile, and the Spokane entries are lacking.  So far we're up to only six entries (plus one in Medical Lake labled "neighborhood terror"), and the south side neighborhoods are woefully under represented.