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.
First off they would have to be LEED Platinum Certified. Nothing less for the condos named after the first environmental world's exposition. Next, they'd have to be as close to Riverfront Park as is possible. We suggest the southeast corner of Spokane Falls Blvd and Washington-across from the Opera House (former WA State Pavilion) and the park. The color scheme is obvious. There are other details like incorporating the logo, the gondolas, the butterflies, but we'll leave those up to you o' faithful readers. As per usual in the comments section, describe for everyone how the promise of EXPO 74 could live on as a condo development.
I wonder how many readers of this site were actually around for Expo 74 - not I.
Posted by: Spencer Grainger | August 13, 2007 at 09:40 AM
There are actually Expo 74 Condos in Spokane already (sort of). There were several apartment complexs built in Spokane in the run up to Expo 74 that housed the various international delegations that came to work the fair. On the bluff of Five Mile, up behind the Roseaurs, is one such complex that I understand housed the Russian delegation. After the fair it was operated as the Highlands Apartments until just a few years ago when it was converted to for sale condos.
Posted by: Swifty | August 13, 2007 at 12:27 PM
Just imagine how all the Expo'74 memorabilia would shoot up in value if somebody did this. The White Elephant's inventory would double in value overnight.
Posted by: Jan | August 13, 2007 at 10:02 PM
Whether at the YWCA, the YMCA, on the former Ft. Spokane Brewery parking lot (or any abutting parking lot, for that matter), what a great way to get more "eyes" on Riverfront Park, capitalize on what the park stands for, and - potentially - dare we imagine - a way to help finance for much-needed improvements to the park itself!
Brilliant suggestion, dear Seattle reader.
Posted by: Rick | August 14, 2007 at 09:54 AM
If they were built similarly to the main attractions of EXPO '74: They would have to be designed to have a stable basic structure, but everything else on them would decay rapidly, and would need a massive infusion of cash (within 10 years) to beautify and rectify the decay...or they could just be abandoned in place and buldozed within a couple of years.
Happy trails,
Bad Ben
(Sarcastic Ex-Pat)
Posted by: Bad Ben | August 14, 2007 at 12:29 PM
Big Ben has a point. Also don't forget to block all of the remaining views of the Spokane river with your new condo. And there's the demolition of historic buildings - like the two grand railroad depots that were removed in favor of expo.
How about we complete one of the many grand buidlings that have been announced here and in other publications that have yet to become reality in our skylineless city.
Posted by: Jim | August 14, 2007 at 05:55 PM
It's cool to be negative.
Posted by: Mk | August 14, 2007 at 07:40 PM
Spenser, some of us where around and actually were big time fans of Expo '74! Sorry you young ones missed it. Spokane was a positive place back then and the residents of the region where positive....something that Spokane lacks now, but seems to be changing slowly! (Thank God!) Glad to have grown up in the 70's, not the boring decades that followed. It was a lot open minded period of time.
Sounds great to honor Expo, hate to think of Spokane without it.
Posted by: dan/Spokane | August 15, 2007 at 09:06 PM
I agree. A plethora of great high-rise proposals, some potentially could have been a landmark building for our skyline.
Designs have come and go and none became a reality. The only proposal that became a reality was the Davenport Tower. Sadly and disappointing though, not exactly a great design.
Construction costs are suddenly squashing great designs all of a sudden.
Even Coeur d'Alene has seen more high-rise construction in the last couple of years than we've seen in the past 25 years.
Where are the forward-thinking people that our city once had?
When will Spokane get a landmark building to symbolize the 21st century?
Posted by: Andrew Waddilove | August 22, 2007 at 12:41 PM