MetroSpokane

Sharrow the Road...

With the recent decision to fund the addition of a bike lane on Southeast Blvd, the thought that Spokane may one day become a biking city is gaining traction.  When put in place, the Southwest Blvd. strip of bike lane will cost about $50K.  Money well spent on a critical piece of transportation infrastructure.  But even if money was not an issue, not every street needs a bike lane.  In some cases a simple visual reminder that says, "Hey there Mr./Ms. Driver, bikes use this road frequently, so be on the lookout," can be just as beneficial.  Enter the "sharrow".

STOREFRONT: Happenings at First and Wash-Tin Roof takes shape

As if dominating the East Sprague furniture scene isn't enough, Tin Roof is expanding downtown.  On the right, the entry into Tin Roof's new downtown digs is coming together.  To the left, blue plywood covers another potential retail spot.  Called Concept :: Home, the sign points to an inventory chock full of casual contemporary.  A local slugging it out with the big guns over on the west side of downtown?  We like options.  First and Washington is going to look significantly different in a few months.

Intersection Repair...

Everyone has that one intersection in their neighborhood that could just be so much better.  For whatever reason, the cars seem to drive through too fast, the crosswalks are non-existent, or there is no place to comfortably sit and wait for the bus.  We found a neighborhood-based event profiled on the most excellent Streetfilms.org called Intersection Repair.

Building Spotlight: The Boulevard

North of Downtown sits one of Spokane's most recognizable buildings - The Boulevard.  Less known by name and more known by location, anyone familiar with Spokane knows of the The Boulevard and exactly where it's located - Northwest Blvd and Monroe.

Little Yellow Postcards: Let the bottom-feeding begin...

Fast on the heels of last week's market dump correction, little yellow 3x5 postcards began showing up in the mailboxes of some Spokane residents in the 99201.  Now this could either be just the best freakin' timing ever, or a shrewd maneuver by the folks over at Northwest HomeBuyers.  We tend to think it's the prior.

Spokane housing market update: Small is the new big

Time for housing data, friends.  With the Zillow 2007 Q2 update in hand we explored a new offering:  home type.  It's a handy way to peel back the proverbial onion and see how condos are performing versus single-family homes.  No need to dirty your hands, we did the work for you.

Northbowl goes techno...color

Years ago when bowling was king and Earl Anthony absolutely dominated the PBA, Spokane had lanes-a-plenty.  In the case of Colonial Bowl and Northbowl, either Spokane was nutty for bowling or someone didn't pay for decent site location services as they were literally just a few blocks from each other.  Colonial Bowl fell to the wrecking ball and became the new Kennedy Apartments we profiled the other day.  Northbowl, on the other hand is still alive and kicking.

Kennedy Apartments-Suddenly Ruby St. looks a little better

So how do you help revitalize a tough part of town along one of the busiest arterials in the City? 

1. Drop a few million on a new residential apartment building
2. Invite 225 upperclass-men/women to live there
3. Sit back and watch it happen

What was once Colonial Bowl has been reborn as the Kennedy Apartments-after a fire setback the opening.  Slated for occupation this fall, the presence of hundreds of new students is going to give new life to a neighborhood that is home to a great collection of warehouses.  The building also boasts a Gonzaga bookstore and a cafe on the street level.

What If: The Expo74 Condos...

From a longtime reader in Seattle we received the following question over the weekend:

"I went to brunch in Belltown this 
morning and passed by the Expo 62 
condos near Seattle Center of Course.
Seattle's EXPO62 Condos 
Now why hasn't some developer in 
Spokane thought of honoring Expo 74  
with a set of condos?  Maybe whomever
buys the YWCA should name their condos
Expo 74.  Spokanites would love it."

This has to be the most brilliant idea we've heard of in a long while.  With as much veneration that people give the event that "put Spokane on the map", imagine for a moment what a condo development based on EXPO74 would be like.

STOREFRONT: Metropole Apartments getting freshened up

When you step back for a moment and look at the Metropole Building on 2nd and Howard it isn't overwhelming.  A three story brick with residential up and commercial below.  A simple formula that has worked for this building for probably the past 100 years.  On a tip from a reader, we dropped by the other evening to see what had been happening.  Apparently lots.