Emerson Garfield

Public Transit Investment Talk (May 4)

April 28, 2016 Emerson Garfield

Public transportation expert John Robert Smith will be speaking on Wednesday, May 4 starting at 8:30am (doors 8am) on how public transit has the potential to attract and retain a talented workforce and enhance downtown vibrancy. The talk will be held at the Philanthropy Center (1020 W Riverside). A light breakfast will be served.

Public transit is one factor that the Spokane area has recognized as important to long-term economic viability. As Chairman of Transportation for America and former mayor of Meridian Mississippi, Smith will speak about what other cities across the country are doing to enhance downtown vibrancy with bus rapid transit and other strategies.

John-Robert-Smith

To RSVP, please contact Kaitlin Larson at klarson@spokanecity.org or (509) 625-6719.

This event is sponsored by Avista, McKinstry, CH2M, Downtown Spokane Partnership, WSU Spokane, City of Spokane, Transportation for America, Futurewise and Empire Health Foundation.

Smith currently serves as Chairman of Transportation for America, where he advises on strategy, capacity building, and national outreach. Prior to his role there, he served as mayor of Meridian, Mississippi for 16 years.

During his tenure as mayor, Smith received acclaim for his aggressive facilitation of the public-private partnerships that resulted in over $430m of infrastructure projects that bolstered the economy and quality of life for the people of Meridian. A recognized authority on public and private transportation and development funding, he guided the development and construction of the Southeast’s first multimodal transportation center, Meridian Union Station.

Public Comment on Building Demolitions

April 26, 2016 Emerson Garfield

Two buildings (1230 N Division St, 2015 N Elm St) are scheduled for demolition within 600 feet of the Emerson-Garfield neighborhood.

The City of Spokane is required to solicit public comments and concerns before accepting the demolition applications. Residents have 10 calendar days to submit their comments to permitmanager@spokanecity.org before demolition can begin.

Help Impove Garbage Pickup Routes

April 21, 2016 Emerson Garfield

The City of Spokane’s Solid Waste Collection Department is about to embark on a route optimization study for our garbage, recycling and clean green pickups. Direct input from neighborhood representatives like you could shape the outcome.

The purpose of the study and the ensuing route changes is to balance the routes, improve efficiency and implement cost savings without negatively affecting city customers. Some service day changes will be inevitable, therefore they will need your help determining outreach and other efforts.

Solid_Waste_pickup_map — Spokane Solid Waste “clean green” collection map

In the next two to three weeks, Solid Waste Collection would like to meet with two neighborhood council representatives from each district and one at-large neighborhood representative to work on the study. Up to three meetings are anticipated over the next couple of months, preferably during business hours, but they might be able to take place outside business hours if necessary.

If you’re interested in representing Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood and the wider district as part of this short-term study, please e-mail your name and contact information to Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council co-chairs Carlie Hoffman and Tim Musser as soon as possible. You can reach them at chair@emersongarfield.org.

Welcome to The Lilac Shop!

April 20, 2016 Emerson Garfield

There’s a new store opening along the North Monroe business corridor at 2209 N Monroe (where the dojo used to be). It’s called The Lilac Shop and it’s based on an interesting concept: pop-up retail, which is a relatively recent commercial trend that has to do with short-term storefronts.

Lilac Shop

Here’s what owner Alyssa Agee says about it:

The Lilac Shop is a POP-UP consignment shop specializing in men’s and women’s clothing, shoes, accessories and home decor items. We’re so excited to be a part of the North Monroe business community.

We’ll be opening our doors on Thursday, May 5 with a Grand Opening Party from 5–7pm. Please join us for desert, goodies, and a raffle!

The shop will feature gently used clothing but also housewares and home decor and furniture. Think boutique-chic meets thrift store pricing. We are also so proud to feature local artisans and their one-of-a-kind wares.

The shop will open May 5 and run only for the month of May. Opening days are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 12–6pm. Should the response be positive, Alyssa says she might be open to making the space an extended or even permanent home for The Lilac Shop.

In the meantime, check out the shop’s Facebook page, where you can also RSVP for the grand opening event.

If you’re interested in consigning in the shop, please call Alyssa to schedule an appointment at (509) 850-0719 or e-mail her at shopthelilac@gmail.com.

STEAM Ahead: New After-School Activities

April 18, 2016 Emerson Garfield

Starting this week, there’s a new after-school option for third and fourth graders in the neighborhood. It’s called STEAM Ahead and is hosted at a brand new facility called Discovery Junction located at 808 W Spofford. It will be open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5:30pm.

If you think the building looks like a house, well, that’s because it is. The Spokane Central Seventh Day Adventist Church here in Emerson-Garfield worked hard to renovate the historic Craftsman bungalow in order use it for outreach activities like this.

STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, art and math, which will be the key activity areas for this enrichment program. We’ve been told that some students from Garfield Elementary are already scheduled to take part in STEAM Ahead at the outset.

For more information on STEAM Ahead or Discovery Junction, e-mail steamaheadspokane@gmail.com or call (509) 328-8027.