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Tag: revitalization

Library bond projects timeline
Libraries on the Move during Renovations

Libraries on the Move during Renovations

Last November, voters overwhelmingly approved the Spokane Public Library bond measure to remodel four existing libraries and build three new libraries.

The two libraries closest to our neighborhood, Shadle Library and Downtown Library, will be closing this winter and temporarily relocating during renovations.

Shadle Library will close on December 22, 2019. Their temporary location will be in Northtown Mall. This location will open on January 2, 2020.

Downtown Library will close on February 29, 2020. Their temporary location will be in the STA Plaza. This location will open on March 2, 2020.

Learn more about the future plans for Spokane Public Library.

Applicants Sought for WQTIF Neighborhood Committee

Applicants Sought for WQTIF Neighborhood Committee

The City of Spokane is seeking volunteers for a committee that helps to select public investments in three Spokane neighborhoods – West Central, Emerson-Garfield, and Riverside. The funding for the work comes from a special taxing district created by the City in this area in 2007.

A Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District, which includes the Kendall Yards Development, was created by the City and County of Spokane to help pay for public improvements inside the Kendall Yards area and for projects in neighboring locations.

Volunteers are needed for a citizen committee — the Neighborhood Project Advisory Committee — which considers and recommends funding for the public projects in the neighborhoods. Recent work by this committee has included consideration of funds for improvements to the North Monroe area, Dutch Jake’s Park, and the pedestrian suspension bridge in Riverfront Park. The committee gives the citizens of Spokane a key voice in the development of public improvements in these neighborhoods.

The Committee currently has three open positions. The positions include a position for a resident of the Emerson-Garfield neighborhood, one for a resident from the Riverside neighborhood, and one for an at-large position that needs expertise or experience in economic development, finance, and/or real estate.

Tax-Increment Financing is an economic development tool established by the state. It allows for a portion of newly generated property taxes within a defined district to pay for public infrastructure, including traffic calming, sidewalks, parks, and more. In this case, 75 percent of the increased property taxes are used to pay for public improvements over 25 years.

Interested individuals are asked to fill out the City’s application for committees, boards and commissions.

Please submit it to:

Mayor’s Office, fifth floor of City Hall
808 W. Spokane Falls Boulevard, Spokane, WA, 99201

or to

mayor@spokanecity.org
no later than August 30, 2019.

For more information on the West Quadrant TIF district, as well as the Neighborhood Project Advisory Committee, please see the West Quadrant TIF webpage.

Post Street Bridge Survey and City Planning Speaker Joe Minicozzi

Post Street Bridge Survey and City Planning Speaker Joe Minicozzi

The City of Spokane is seeking input from the public regarding the replacement of the Post Street Bridge. View the current construction options and take a survey on the City’s website.

The City would like public input on how to accommodate vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians on the 51 ft. wide bridge deck. This includes one vehicular travel lane northbound, pedestrian and bicycle routes as well as accommodating the Centennial Trail.

Spokane Regional Transportation Council is hosting Joe Minicozzi, a popular speaker on effective city planning.

In a free session that is open to the public, Mr. Minicozzi will talk about planning walkable urban developments, changing the perception of biking and walking as being “alternative” transportation, the value of buildings versus the value of parking lots, and growth strategies that can reduce transportation costs while boosting tax revenues.

Minicozzi’s experience in public and private sector city planning, as well as private sector real estate finance, has helped him develop award-winning analytic tools that have been nationally recognized.

When: Thursday, Sept. 13, 6 p.m.
Where: Greater Spokane Incorporated, 801 W. Riverside Ave., Suite 100, Spokane, WA 99201
Who: Everyone is welcome!
Price: FREE!
More Info: contact.srtc@srtc.org or 509-343-6370

February e-Newsletter Out Now

February e-Newsletter Out Now

The February e-newsletter for Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood was just sent out and should be arriving in inboxes shortly.

You can click here to read it — or better yet, sign up and have it conveniently delivered right to your own inbox. It comes out just once per month (at most) and is full of useful neighborhood-related events, announcements, updates, news and more.

This month’s newsletter has info on upcoming volunteering opportunities with the North Monroe Business District, Spokane COPS, the Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market and a grassroots leaflet distribution for the school levy.

There are also some updates on items like North Monroe construction and new businesses, neighborhood events and the recent COPS North Central relocation to Knox Presbyterian.

With all that’s happening and all that’s going to be happening in Emerson-Garfield in the near future, it’s an ideal time to get on the mailing list and stay up to date.

Infill Housing Online Q&A (Nov. 16)

Infill Housing Online Q&A (Nov. 16)

The City of Spokane is currently focusing on “infill housing,” which means that planners and policymakers are working on revisions to regulations that will enable additional housing development on vacant lots and parcels in already built-up areas.

Here in Emerson-Garfield, infill is the kind of development that we’re most likely to see over the next 20 years, so it’s important to see what code changes are being proposed and why. Informing yourself now and shaping policy accordingly is the best way to participate in this process, not when a project starts to break ground on the lot next door.

An in-person open house was already held at the West Central Community Center about two weeks ago. But not everyone is able to attend those meetings, and that’s why the City is holding a live online Q&A tomorrow (Thursday, Nov. 16) at 7am on the City’s Facebook page. That will be an opportunity for you to ask questions, offer feedback, or have your comments heard.

The first proposed changes to cottage housing, pocket residential and compact lot standards, as part of a larger series involving changes to other regulations, would allow additional ownership options and creative site arrangements, while updating and enhancing the design guidelines. A committee reviewing infill development on such vacant land recommended the changes. The map to the left shows where infill will likely be most heavily concentrated.

For more information about how the City is approaching infill housing or opportunities to get involved, visit the project page or contact Nathan Gwinn at 625-6893 or ngwinn@spokanecity.org.

[UPDATE Nov. 16] The video from the Q&A event has been posted. See below.