April Meeting Cancelled
The April Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council meeting has been cancelled. We are looking into online options for a May meeting.
Neighborhood Tree Care Workshop – April 18, 2020
This event has been cancelled. We hope to reschedule.
The Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood in conjunction with Spokane Urban Forestry will be holding a 3-hour workshop on a variety of topics related to neighborhood trees and care.
WHEN: Saturday, April 18, 2020 from 11am-2pm
WHERE: Alter Church, 2803 N Lincoln St (map)
Workshop Agenda
- Intro to Spokane Urban Forestry (15 mins)
- City Tree Permit Processes (15 mins)
- Homeowner Assisted Street Tree Planting Information (15 mins)
- Recommended Tree Species + Importance of Species Diversity (15 mins)
- Break + Prize Drawings (15 mins)
- Pollinators – WSU Master Gardener, Eva Lusk (1 hr)
- Proper Tree Planting and Tree Care Tips (30 mins)
- Prize Drawings + Questions (15 mins)
Short Land Use Study on North Monroe – Volunteers needed
The City of Spokane is initiating a short land-use study process regarding the North Monroe Corridor and the residential uses around it which is being led by Kara Mowery and Kevin Freibott at the City Neighborhood and Planning Services Department.
At this point, the North Monroe Corridor has been designated and planned, and the City has updated its Comprehensive Plan and Municipal Code policies accordingly. However, when the City considers the transition between the Corridor and the surrounding Emerson-Garfield neighborhood, as well as the current extreme need for housing in the City and the opportunities presented by unique centers like North Monroe, the City Council and the planning staff feel it might be worthwhile to explore changing some of the land uses and zoning around the corridor. That might mean more medium-density residential zones in the immediate vicinity of the Corridor or it might mean another more specialized solution.
The City of Spokane looking to convene a stakeholder committee, a small group (~10) of dedicated individuals willing to meet three or four times to discuss the issues and develop possible solutions. The City of Spokane is in a bit of a bind because the timeline for this study is rather short. The City would like to have a proposal identified by the end of the year, so the meetings will be taking place between October 28 and November 15. Dates and times TBD. Interested parties may also attend these initial stakeholder meetings to observe the process; the City of Spokane will have a window at the end of each meeting to hear comments from any members of the public who would like to speak.
The stakeholder group will be focused on developing a proposed plan of action that would achieve the following:
- Consider land use changes by engaging neighborhood stakeholders and exploring alternatives.
- Focus on providing a transition between CC and residential zoning in appropriate locations to reduce land use conflicts between neighbors.
- Consider allowing mixed-use and multifamily uses where not currently allowed (rezone?).
- Support recent investments in transit and infrastructure on North Monroe with additional nearby housing opportunities.
- Support walkable and cohesive public realm on cross and parallel streets to Monroe.
This is a map the City of Spokane has made showing the zoning around the corridor as well as the bus stops, one of the many factors the City is look at when considering these kinds of projects. The City of Spokane working on some background research and information and will shortly have a webpage and informational materials for everyone to read and engage with.
In the meantime, all are welcome to provide input in a variety of ways during this process, including by calling (509.625.6146), emailing (kmowery@spokanecity.org), filling out the online survey (to be posted shortly), or by attending a City of Spokane public workshop at the end of the year.
The City of Spokane will be posting all of this information to the webpage: https://my.spokanecity.org/projects/transitional-residential-uses-on-north-monroe-corridor-project/.
Interested parties may also attend these initial stakeholder meetings to observe the process; the City of Spokane will have a window at the end of each meeting to hear comments from any members of the public who would like to speak.
A Fond Farewell to Jeff Edwards of Corbin Senior Activity Center
We learned that Jeff Edwards, Executive Director at Corbin Senior Activity Center, has taken a new position with Greater Spokane County Meals on Wheels. While we are sad to see him go, we are excited to see him off to his new venture. They are lucky to have him!
Jeff is unable to attend the next Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council meeting so he asked us to share the following note with the neighborhood:
I just wanted to take a quick minute and thank the Emerson Garfield Neighborhood Association for all the support over the past three years. As of September 6th, I will be leaving Corbin as I’ve accepted an offer to become the Executive Director for Greater Spokane County Meals on Wheels. I’m excited about this new change, but sad to leave Corbin. The Corbin Board of Directors has named Heide Wehr, our current Assistant Director, as the next Executive Director. Thank you all for what you have done for Corbin and I hope that you will continue to champion the great mission here. I hope to see some of you around in other settings and it was a pleasure to sit in on the best Neighborhood Association in Spokane. Thank you Emerson Garfield!
– Jeff Edwards
Concert in the Park – Saturday, Sept 14
The Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council is pleased to present our Annual Concert in the Park, featuring music by Blue Canoe and Starlight Motel.
When: Saturday, September 14 from 5-7 pm
Where: Corbin Park (map)
This free concert is sponsored by these local businesses and organizations: City of Spokane Water Department, Spokane City Credit Union (SCCU), Gene Brake – Realtor, Meet on Monroe aka North Monroe Business District and the Corbin Park Homeowners Association.
If you are interested in signing on as a sponsor of the event, please email the Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council Treasurer at genebrake01@gmail.com.