As concerned citizens crowd into meeting rooms to debate whether the Sprague-Appleway couplet should be converted to two-way streets, buildings are being restored along those avenues.

As concerned citizens crowd into meeting rooms to debate whether the Sprague-Appleway couplet should be converted to two-way streets, buildings are being restored along those avenues. While developers cry foul over proposed zoning changes in the city of Spokane Valley and question the re-electability of council members who back such changes, new projects are coming off the drawing boards.

While the city of  is taking hits on a couple of fronts, the very thing that the plan is trying to spur—development activity—is already occurring.

Not all of the activity is like that seen in conceptual drawings of an urban future for the 5-year-old city such as the renderings that accompany the revitalization plan. But vacant lots that for years have had nothing but for-sale signs on them have been bought recently with plans for development. And a couple of buildings that have been empty for years are being remodeled and will house new users come 2009.

Meanwhile, the city of Spokane Valley’s vision of creating a city center at the old U-City Mall is slowly moving forward. In late October, Spokane Valley’s Public Works Department presented to the City Council a proposal for a new City Hall building at the old retail center, says Scott Kuhta, Spokane Valley’s senior planner. The council hasn’t committed to moving forward with such a project yet and hasn’t secured land at the proposed site, but it has directed city staff to move forward with site planning. As envisioned, the City Hall building would be located between Sprague and Appleway avenues and just east of the former Crescent department store building. A building on that site would need to be demolished to accommodate the project.

As Spokane Valley works through issues with its revitalization plan and explores the idea of building a City Hall, a handful of additional projects either are planned or under way:

• Rockwood Retirement Communities has bought 3 acres at the southeast corner of Appleway Avenue and Farr Road with hopes of building a 50-unit apartment complex there for low-income seniors. Rockwood President and CEO Alan Curryer says the organization has partnered with nonprofit developer Community Frameworks, and together they are working to secure funding for the project. If successful, construction of the $5-million complex likely would start next August or September.
  
  The project is Rockwood’s first foray into low-income housing. It also is the company’s first project in Spokane Valley; the organization currently operates retirement complexes on Spokane’s South Hill and on the North Side.

• Dennis Crapo, president of Spokane Valley-based Diamond Rock Construction Inc., has proposed construction of a four-building, 66-unit apartment complex at 10108 E. Appleway, across the street from the U-City Mall. Spokane Valley Building Official Mary Kate McGee says Crapo applied for a building permit for the project, called Appleway Apartments, last month.
  
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