The South Perry Business and Neighborhood Association elected a new president last week. Deb Conklin, pastor at Liberty Park United Methodist Church, is serving through this fall while former president Geoff White of the Perry Street Café is focusing his efforts completely on the upcoming fair and parade on July 17.
Conklin has lived in the South Perry neighborhood for three years, and prior to that she’s served in several smaller towns around Spokane.
“This is a unique association because it’s both a neighborhood and a business association,” said Conklin. “And it kind of ebbs and flows: sometimes we are wishing for more business people to come to our meetings, sometimes we are wishing for more neighbors.”
The SPBNA meets on the second Tuesday of every month, at 6 p.m. at the Perry  Street Café.
Conklin said right now SPBNA is working on community building in the neighborhood, which has welcomed several new businesses over the past couple of years.
“We have been working with the farmers market to find a good location,” said Conklin. “For now they are in the parking lot at The Shop, but they would like to perhaps locate around the cul-de-sac by the park.”
The farmers market opens its fifth season on June 3  from 3-7 p.m.
The Spokane Alliance has been working out of offices at Liberty Park United Methodist Church for some time and Conklin said getting involved the way she is now fits a broader movement within the protestant church.
“In mainline protestant circles there is a movement toward making the transition from church being a group that gathers for worship, to church being a group that reaches into the community,” said Conklin, so being involved with the neighborhood and business association is a natural fit for her.
The neighborhood has seen the addition of a vet clinic, a beauty salon, a yoga studio and bar over the past couple of years.
“I think the types of businesses that are coming right now are different from what they used to be,” Conklin said. “There really is a lot happening here right now.”