Along with other recent developments such as the relocation of the Women and Children’s Free Restaurant, this could help revitalize a traditionally overlooked corner of Emerson-Garfield that has begun to see renewed interest and activity.
The latest rendering of the new building is pictured below with the current view of the location (courtesy of Google Maps) provided beneath it.
West 315 redevelopmentCurrent view of the West 315 location
They anticipate breaking ground in mid-September. In the meantime, they’re looking for additional funding to pave Calispel and make related improvements.
A representative from Community Frameworks will probably be speaking at the October meeting of the Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council (EGNC) to provide an update on the construction and other topics of interest.
It’s worth noting here, too, that Community Frameworks was considerate enough to reach out to the EGNC during the preliminary planning phase to say they were trying to develop in accord with the broader ambitions of the Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Action Plan (PDF) and solicit input from the council along those lines. At each subsequent stage they checked back in and met with EGNC reps to discuss their progress and incorporate feedback. It was a show of respect that was greatly appreciated (and, we hope, fully reciprocated) by the neighborhood.
The City’s Planning Department is asking for your input on neighborhood histories and identities.
To take part, visit the interactive map at ShapingSpokane.org and use the icons to mark the things and places in your neighborhood that you consider noteworthy. By filling out the Q&A-style text fields on the My Neighborhood Story page, you can enter more in-depth information. You’re not obligated to answer every question. Just pick and choose what topics are important to you and write about them.
Your response will help build a more complete neighborhood profile that identifies what you and your neighbors value most about where you live, work, shop and play. With the community’s help and input, ShapingSpokane.org will showcase each of Spokane’s 27 neighborhoods and help establish policies for land use, transportation, parks, open spaces, shopping, dining, entertainment and employment.
The idea, or so we’ve been told, is that these profiles will be integrated into the City’s Comprehensive Plan to offer a bit of crowdsourced background and give developers a sense of the neighborhoods in which they’re building.
The more responses they get, the better and more complete the profile will be. So feel free to pass along the ShapingSpokane.org links to your neighbors and share them on social media.
And to show your true neighborhood pride, once you’re done with the virtual component, come out to support and participate in all the great neighborhood activities like the Greek Food Festival at Holy Trinity Church (September 25-27), Craftwalk (September 26), the Korean Food Sale at Spokane Hope Christian Reformed Church (September 26), and the Corbin Senior Center Auction (September 27).
What follows is a condensed version of the minutes from the short meeting of the Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council that followed the annual Summer Potluck on August 13, 2014 in Emerson Park.
The next generation of Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood planners (courtesy Bri Musser)
Prior to the meeting, during the barbeque, some neighbors brainstormed with Joe Cannon, a restoration ecologist from the Lands Council, about what trees would be ideal to plant throughout the neighborhood as part of the current Greening Neighborhoods grants.
The meeting was called to order at 7:05 pm, and a quorum of 18 voting members was present, along with 10 guests. The June minutes were approved without any changes. There were no additions or changes to the agenda, and there were no guest speakers.
The Greening Neighborhood grants were discussed first. There are three projects in the works, each of which is a volunteer project. These projects include the east side of Mansfield near Washington, Cora east of Monroe, and a continuation of the previous planting project on N. Maple.
A draft of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Project Hope Spokane and the Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council was presented in order to identify the roles and responsibilities of each party regarding the Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market. It was requested that the EGNC arrive with feedback and be prepared to vote on the MoU at the next meeting. The market saw $3,200 in total sales on Friday, August 8, and there is now a permanent street sign on Monroe.
Safe Routes to School is looking for interviewers for Garfield and Audubon Elementary who will help determine priorities for things like sidewalks and crosswalks. There is an interview outline you can follow — but keep in mind that the deadline for interviews is the end of August. Get in touch if you’re interested.
The traffic circles on Montgomery/Madison and Montgomery/Cedar are out to bid, and they will be installed by the end of autumn. The funding is done with Photo Red dollars, not tax dollars. Emerson-Garfield will also get sidewalks on Adams and Madison, filling in gaps.
For Corbin Senior Activity Center, there is still no arrival date for the van that they ordered in the spring, and they are hoping for September. The center’s biggest fundraiser, the annual auction, will be held there on Saturday, September 27. This year it’s called “Athenian Nights.” They would appreciate donations and attendance, as the fundraiser helps keep their doors open. So please donate!
Also, a mere $24 will get anyone over the age of 18 an annual membership to the Corbin Senior Activity Center. Membership entitles you to use of their facilities (like the Wii) and discounts to businesses all along N. Monroe.
The CSAC also installed cameras throughout the building in order to improve safety and discourage vandalism. The money for the cameras came from a donation by a former board member. There is still a separate cost for the installation.
If you are interested in being a board member for the CSAC, a three-year term will be starting in January, 2015. You can find out more information by calling Christa at (509) 327-1584 (x10).
Megan Kennedy led a toast (of sparkling cider) in celebration of the Neighborhood Plan, which is now complete. The City Council unanimously adopted the plan by resolution on July 28.
Eline Helm reported on Concerts in the Park. The feedback has been very positive; Sarah Brown and her husband clearly did a wonderful job. There were approximately 100 people in attendance, and $55 in donations was gathered in the collection during the event. Donors from the previous year gave larger amounts this year.
In addition to planning stakeholders and residents, representatives from the City, the STA and the neighborhood business community were in attendance.
The plan has since been presented to relevant planning and land use committees, where it has received overwhelmingly positive feedback on its scope, ambition and equity. On July 9, the Spokane Plan Commission unanimously (6-0) voted to recommend adoption of the plan by resolution to the City Council.
On July 28, the Spokane City Council voted unanimously (6-0) in favor of adopting the Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Plan by resolution. This is a big achievement, and it means the plan stands an even better chance of having its most salient points incorporated into Spokane’s long-term Comprehensive Plan.
We encourage you to read the plan, as it lays out a vision that befits Emerson-Garfield as a vibrant residential neighborhood with a strong central business corridor. Download it here as a PDF.
This is a short day-of reminder that the Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Planning Group will present its final neighborhood plan tonight (June 12) starting at 6:30 at Knox Presbyterian (806 W Knox).
The plan has been developed over the better part of two years by a group of dedicated volunteer stakeholders with the assistance of AHBL and the City Planning department. It lays the groundwork for the future of Emerson-Garfield — things like pedestrian safety, business viability, beautification, neighborhood vitality, transportation and more.
Who is this presentation for? Everyone in E-G. The issues and solutions it lays out will positively affect homeowners, renters, businesses, landlords, churches, charities, schools, realtors, developers and anyone else who has or will have a stake in our neighborhood. If that’s you, then make it a point to attend.
The completed Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Plan was unveiled to the entire neighborhood at 
