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Status of N. Monroe Revitalization

Status of N. Monroe Revitalization

About two weeks ago, we made a request to have a written status update on North Monroe Revitalization, which, according to previous reports, was scheduled to break ground shortly.

On September 7, we received (via our appointed city rep, Tirrell Black) the following statement from Andrew Worlock, who is helping to oversee the N. Monroe revitalization project at the city level:

We are working on finalizing the contract with Studio Cascade. We have re-scoped the consultant’s work plan to provide a greater emphasis on economic development and identifying the public actions (infrastructure, etc) that are needed to stimulate private investment within and along the corridor. The approach uses a more refined focus given to three nodes along the corridor: a northern node, a “mid” node and a southern or “Northbank” node. We think this will mesh well with the neighborhood planning efforts of the EG Neighborhood as well as the other planning efforts (Kendall Yards, Spokane County) ongoing along the corridor. We hope to have the consultant under contract early this fall.

We’ll present this statement and discuss its impact at the neighborhood council meeting this week, which takes place on Wednesday, 7pm at the Corbin Senior Center.

Area 58 Closing

Area 58 Closing

We’re saddened to share the news that Area 58 [map], one of Spokane’s most colorful secondhand and vintage stores, is closing.

As part of their pre-closure inventory liquidation, everything is 50% off. Their impressive selection of secondhand books is priced at $1 per hardback and 50¢ per paperback.

Their last day of operation is this Saturday, June 30.

In a brief conversation with the owner, the reason for the closure comes down to flatlining (as opposed to falling) profits over the past three years. She said that more competing secondhand shops have opened on account of the poor economy, and the improvements in parking and pedestrian traffic that N. Monroe Revitalization might have brought are still some years off.

But the case of Area 58 highlights how vital it is to our neighborhood economy that the revitalization be carried out in an intelligent, holistic way — not one that just benefits vehicles. Faster-flowing traffic would not have helped Area 58 or any of the dozen other N. Monroe business that have closed in the past year. More pleasant and convenient pedestrian access would have.

It also highlights how important it is that N. Monroe business owners band together and engage in cross-promotional activities like sales and special events. Organizations like the North Monroe Business Association are eager to get things like that off the ground, but the level of participation seems to suggest that N. Monroe business owners would rather close their doors than collaborate.

Several Headlines of Note

Several Headlines of Note

The city just issued several press releases that are of particular interest to Emerson-Garfield residents and businesses:

Spokane City Council Unanimously Approves Coal Train Resolution

This was a significant topic of discussion when councilman Steve Salvatori spoke at the June 13 EGNC meeting. Spokane could see up to 50 additional open-topped coal trains per day, creating dust, exhaust, noise, and halting traffic.

Traffic Calming Projects to Be Built Using Red Light Camera Dollars

Some of this money is funding new sidewalks on Post Street in Emerson-Garfield. The use of Photo Red money exclusively for traffic-calming measures was also a topic of discussion at the June 13 EGNC meeting; councilman Salvatori had proposed an exception to this rule in order to establish a COPS Shop in northern Spokane.

Cantwell, Murray, McMorris Rodgers Announce $10 million USDOT Grant for North Spokane Corridor

The North Spokane Corridor (or: WSDOT site) will be well east of Division but could potentially lead to less traffic on N. Monroe. Only after completion will we truly be able to gauge how it affects drivers’ habits and freight routes — but the possibility of fewer vehicles ought to have an impact on North Monroe Revitalization.

Hillyard Revitalization on “Council Connection”

Hillyard Revitalization on “Council Connection”

If you’re interested in what North Monroe Revitalization might hold in store for you as well as the wider neighborhood, tune in to Council Connection tonight (June 6) at 6pm on CityCable 5.

Council Member Mike Fagan of District 1 will host the program. He’s going to be joined by several members of the Historic Hillyard Merchants Committee (representing Outlaw Café, Market Street Antiques & Collectibles, Tread Tech, and more) for a discussion of the Hillyard Downtown Revitalization Project in terms of both the challenges of execution and its success after completion.

The group won’t just be talking among themselves, either. They’ll be fielding calls from viewers during the hour-long program.

The business owners will also take time to discuss the Hillyard Mobile Network, a grassroots marketing effort that entices shoppers to their area with special deals and discounts. Now that it’s been pioneered elsewhere in Spokane, it’s something that N. Monroe business owners might like to consider.

More info about tonight’s Council Connection program is available here.

And remember that you don’t have to content yourself with watching local cable programs — you personally can help shape the course of the North Monroe Revitalization Project. Get in touch by filling out the contact form on this page (select “Other” as the subject).