MetroSpokane

Get yer sustainability on

[Image by CraftiMoni via the MetroSpokane photopool]
Today and tomorrow the City of Spokane's Sustainability Office will be putting on the first Spokane Sustainability Symposium.  Broken out into two sections, This afternoon's events will discuss the potential impacts of current energy and climate issues as they relate to Spokane.  Friday will be reserved for a sustainability roundtable where you can join a discussion on what the City of Spokane government is and should be doing with regards to the topic of energy security and climate change.

STOREFRONT: The Porch

Through the grainy viewfinder of camera phone West Cent's latest specialty retail offering is The Porch.  Formerly the site of the Overcomer Outreach Thrift Store, The Porch is rumored to be bringing fresh cups of coffee, food, and a meeting room to the location at 1804 West Broadway.  In what one MetroSpokane reader describes as post-apocalyptic craftsman styled architecture, the old run down exterior has been retrofitted with wooden beams, brackets and lots o' glass...what you'd expect to see in a neighborhood setting.  It's looking nice...congratulations.

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Bikes and sidewalks...

[Image courtesy of jennconspiracy via Flickr]
With more people riding bikes around town than ever before a tipster points to recent discussion on the Spokane Bike-to-work Group on Google.  The discussion centers around the issue of people riding their bikes on sidewalks and the 'legalities' of the practice.

Friday Linkfest

[Photo by VOIR-66 via the MetroSpokane photo pool]

• Whole Foods/Trader Joe's - "It's not you, Spokane, it's us" [JOB]
• Joel Building - RIP? [Spokesman]
• Dolce on the market - $65K [craigslist]
• Cabin Coffee cozies up to Tully's [From The Back Kitchen]

Bay Market makes the Big Move

After three years of renovation to one of Spokane's last existing original Safeway buildings, East Sprague's finest Asian grocery store has now moved three blocks east to a new location on Sprague and Crestline. The new digs in the classic art-deco building are nice and spacious, complete with surplus fixtures from a defunct Tidyman's.

Getting there on a Bike: Help us Google!

MetroSpokane has reported in the past on the WalkScore mashup that measures how walkable your neighborhood is. Turns out Google partnered on this initiative. Just imagine the power if Google signed onto an initiative to make bike route information available.

Well, here’s your chance. See googlemapsbikethere.org for information on a petition asking Google to add a “Bike There” function to their mapping capabilities. It appears they may even be partnering with the city of Austin for a test run. (Note to transportation planners: Very important to have all our bike route info available in a digital format.)

For Sale: Cutter's, er, Brett's Sumner Masterpiece

Ok, so it wasn't owned by Kirtland Cutter, but it was designed by the well known Spokane architect.  This gem is pretty much as far from average as you can get.  The place has only had three owners since it was originally built in 1917 for TJ Humbird who was the president of Weyerhaueser Lumber Company.  Now owned by the Brett family it's on the market for a reasonable $3,250,000.  To say "Downsizing" would be a serious understatement.

By the numbers:

• 20,000 square feet of living space
• 7 beds, 8 baths
• 3 floor elevator
• 2 acre parcel
• 6 marble fireplaces
• ...and a bowling alley
• sheeeesh!

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Planters adding more green to downtown sidewalks

New greenspaces are often hard to come by in dense urban centers and the only alternative is to make use of above ground planters.  They're an excellent amenity to add, especially in those areas where ample outdoor seating is provided by street-level restaurants and cafes.  Sidewalk dining downtown has seen a boom over the past few years, and these new planters we spotted being installed yesterday can only enhance the experience.  Urban sidewalks should be lively places where people can sit, hang out, catch a bite and enjoy the fantastic weather we've been enjoying.  Just another step towards making our city a more comfortable place.

• New Street Furniture Downtown? [MetroSpokane]
• The Sidewalk...  [MetroSpokane]

Shuttered: Starbucks on Market not so lucky

[Image via starbuckseverywhere.net]

Starbucks released their official list of 616 stores that will be closed in response to slowing sales and rising costs. While original predictions made by the Seattle Times and others seemed to indicate that Spokane would be spared this round of closures, sadly it was not to be. Among the 19 stores to be closed in Washington is the relatively new store on the northwest corner of Garland and Market.

Weigh In - U-District/Downtown Transpo Improvement Study

[Image by Peter Boden via the MetroSpokane photo pool]
If you've the time before the August 8th deadline for public input, take a gander at the University District/Downtown Transportation Improvement Study.  It's chock full o' interesting recommendations on how to improve ALL MODES of transportation in and around downtown. 

These include:

• Bike network and connectivity
• Pedestrian facilities and enhancements
• Transit
• Downtown Circulation - INTERESTING
• Parking