MetroSpokane

A Spokane Raceway Primer...

In order to help you get acquainted with your new raceway we've scoured YouTube for some of the best racing footage from the park.  The first vid is backed by Montrose....aahhhhhwwwsome!  We say bring back the Spokane Grand Prix! 

Touching Base: NAC Expansion loses forms

Quietly on a downtown side street at the intersection of Jefferson and Sprague the ultra-sleek and luminous expansion for the NAC|Architecture office is taking shape.  It's been a bit overshadowed by the talk of this condo or that apartment, but now with the concrete forms off we're finally getting a sense for how well the building relates to the street.  When done the building will boast around 10,000 sqf of fresh space, but all we really care about is the copper-cladded wall panels on the south side...can't.wait.

• NAC Architecture grows south [metroSpokane]
• NAC Architecture-on the boards [NAC|Architecture]

Hamilton Square: A heartbreaking site plan...

Up near Gonzaga, a big flat-bed trailer is advertising the future (and slightly off-kilter) Hamilton Square development.  However on the website, we're seeing a completely different rendering than the flatbed variety on Hamilton St.  Seen above is the comparison of the two renderings sporting a two-story and three-story building.

Touching Base: Nursing Building -Bricks and Glass do mix

UNIVERSITY DISTRICT - A quick jaunt through the U-District this morning revealed the progress the new Nursing Building is making along Spokane Falls Blvd.  Lots of glass, brick, and concrete like most of the other signature buildings on campus, but this one is by far the most urban and less 'office-parky' (yes that is a word) of them all.  Close to the sidewalk, permeable facade, and loading ramp in the back is what good urban development is all about.  This one is changing the feel of the street in a great way.  Division Street doesn't seem so far away from campus now.

• Touching Base:  Fuller Building gets glassy [metrospokane]
• Touching Base:  Iron Bridge condos now with glass [metrospokane]
• For Sale:  Where in the world is Yardley Point? [metrospokane]

Quality public space leads to revitalization

[Photo by Rachel Schell via the MetroSpokane photo pool]

From the MetroSpokane tipline a reader writes:

"See the brief post here included as an addition to an article our own Mike Edwards is having published in next month’s issue of Parks & Recreation Magazine. (The full article will cover both Pittsburgh and Spokane, of course)." 

                    [Mike Edwards was the previous president of the Downtown Spokane Partnership and is now the President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.]

Check out the post.  It's a quick Q&A on the positive impact that high quality public spaces (specifically sites for parks and recreation) can have on a local economy.  We're looking forward to getting our hands on the full length article. 

While our region is blessed with a bounty of natural assets and recreation opportunities, it's often those just around the block from your house that can benefit you and your neighborhood the most.  Think Joe Albi, city pools, skateparks, bmx parks, public gardens, etc.  You're throwing down $43 million in tax dollars over the next few years on pools and play fields among other things.  Now is the time to give your opinion.

• March/April Neighborhood Meetings regarding pools [www.spokanepoolsandplay.com]
• Aquatic Facility Master Planning - July 2007 [pdf]
• Perceptions Among Spokane Residents about Aquatic Facility Options - [Graphic Summary-pdf]

Sneak Peak - YWCA Condos Revealed...

[View of the YWCA site looking south]
NORTH BANK - An old post mentioned the proposed SRM development of the YWCA condos at 829 W. Broadway on the North Bank of the Spokane River.  With the combined YMCA-YWCA building well under way just up the street, there's no time like the present to get to work on the design for YWCA site.  Upper Falls Condos meet your new neighbors, a 150' tower (not wall).  According to the SRM website the 'proposed' project is all mixed use including condos, retail, and commercial.  Phase one will focus on a residential condo tower on the eastern most portion of the site.  No start date given, but it's likely a couple years out.

• SRM Development [srmdevelopment.com]

Pacific Avenue - Another warehouse 'refurbed'

The latest Rencorp-ed warehouse conversion is on Pacific near Browne Street just across the street from their home base. The small cluster of old warehouses around there is gradually getting the once over and new businesses are breathing life, activity and (dare we say) a more positive vibe to the area.  Fast on the tail of The Edge, the latest building Rencorp has brought back online is a simple two-story jobber now housing Studio Cascade on the top floor and Purple Turtle on the street level.  Throw in a ballet studio, winery, a furniture store, a homeless shelter, and a coffee roaster and you've got as much eclectic urban edge as you'll ever find around here.  And we didn't even mention the garbage car.

• Map - 117 W. Pacific [GMAP]

Sneak Peak: Manito Park Place bringin' some townhouse flavor

[Via Steven Meek Architects]

MANITO - We're not sure what happened to the Montrose, but these renderings for the appropriately named Manito Park Place Condominiums will just have to do.  Located on 20th and Grand [GMAP] you just might confuse them with Pioneer Park Place or Manito Court for that matter...but don't.  The Manito Park Place Condos are (conceptually) sportin' 27 units across 4 floors with loads of brick and possibly a little space for retail.  These renderings are by Steven Meek architects who designed another well known corner building you might recognize.  Units range from 900sqf-1800sqf.  No word on price, or construction date.

• Montrose Manito Park Place renderings [Steven Meek Architects-site]

More renderings below-->

Ashplace Cottages: A Northside answer to innovative infill

NORTHWEST NEIGHBORHOOD - If The Abbey wasn't quite your location or your thing the Ashplace Cottages just might do the trick.  Located across the street from Drumheller Springs on the bluff overlooking the city, this is some smart infill and quite possibly the first of it's kind in Spokane. 

Ashplace Cottages (floorplans and sample house above) will sport nine units on just over an acre of land.  Each unit will have it's own private landscaped area, front on a shared open space, and will be no bigger than 1,000 sqf. per the zoning code that encourages this type of infill.  A key element is that parking is also centralized and deemphasized from the individual homes which are meant to reflect the existing neighborhood design.  The focus of the project is to offer decreased square footage for higher-quality finishes thereby keeping the costs down.  The units will go for around $169K and include two beds and two baths.  Building is expected to begin in March and three of the homes should be done by mid-to-late summer. 

Long a popular infill option in Seattle and Portland, it's nice to see some innovative (and attainable) housing starting to hit the market in Spokane.

• The Abbey: Density everyone should love [MetroSpokane]
• Ashplace Cottages [GMAP]
• Listing Agent [Windermere]

Cathedral Point bares its winter coat

Seasons come and seasons go, and with the passing of each we look forward to the progress of the Cathedral Point condos.  Our last update focused on the deconstruction that had taken the original building down to literally a nub with a wall.  Like a phoenix rising from the ashes CP has not only been reborn, but has matured and appears to have reached its final height.  The only difference we can tell is the large rectangular wall on the right.  Elevator relocated to the west?

• Cathedral Point Condos [Windermere]