Kathy Mulady

Harlan Douglass said last week he's not to blame for the city deciding not to widen Indian Trail Road to five lanes as originally planned. City officials recently announced, that in view of growth management, the city has determined that three lanes would be enough for build-out of the Indian Trail area. However, Gale Olrich said the city still wants to offer developers the option of pre-building road improvements they may need if they develop their properties along Indian Trail Road in the future.

Representatives of Spokane's neighborhood councils voted last week to develop and uphold a code of ethics for the fledgling organization. The action came after the Emerson-Garfield neighborhood group agreed to take money from a businessman looking to vacate a street in the area. Beacon Dry Cleaner owner, Hi Bum Kim, trying to rally support for a street vacation, offered $10,500 to the Emerson-Garfield neighborhood council, which was opposing the request.

Government, businesses and community organizations have long heard about providing access to their services and building consensus in their decision-making. But bringing a true representation of the community to the table is the challenge. "Exclusive groups can't expect consensus from those not involved," said Derek Okubo, director of the community assistance team for the National Civic League.

Indian Trail area developers must decide by next Thursday whether they want to donate land and money to help the city widen Indian Trail Road to five lanes, or let the city to go ahead with its three-lane plan. "It now appears to us that a three lane design will adequately accommodate the transportation needs of that area," wrote Gale Olrich, acting director of city planning and engineering services, in a letter to the developers.

Karen Barniol speaks for Citizens for Neighborhood Preservation. Photo by Roger Ames/The Spokesman-Review

The former JB's Foods in the West Central neighborhood has a new owner. Joga Singh Johal, who has been in the grocery business in Spokane for almost four years, bought the store at 2501 W. Boone in late December. "It's a world of difference," said Diana Nelson who launched a neighborhood crusade against JB's in October.

Developers of a proposed 40-acre shopping center that will include Wal-Mart and five other stores west of the Newport Highway will face angry neighbors today before the county hearing examiner. It's the first hearing on the shopping center, known as Pine Water Plaza, since it was proposed two years ago.

Imagine the worst: a firestorm sweeping across the landscape, charring every tree and home in its path. Or a leak at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, an earthquake, floods or ... an ice storm. Who will check on your grandma to make sure she's OK? Who will help your uncle if he starts having chest pains when all the emergency teams are busy? Whom do you turn to if your son stops breathing? The answer might be "your neighbor."

Honolulu Marathon finishers Melissa Pittz, top, Robin Bangs, bottom, and Patti Griggs, right, recently completed the race in Hawaii to raise money to fight leukemia. Not pictured is Kim Lynch. who also ran the marathon. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

I magine the worst: a firestorm sweeping across the landscape, charring every tree and home in its path. Or a leak at Hanford Nuclear Reservation, an earthquake, floods or... an ice storm. Who will check on your grandma to make sure she's OK? Who will help your uncle if he starts having chest pains if all the emergency teams are busy? Whom do you turn to if your son stops breathing?

Rhonda Berg and her children, Sasha, 1, Josh, 10, Aaron, 7, and their puppy Taz gather around the Christmas tree at their new home near Audubon Elementary School. The land on which the house is built was donated by Washington Water Power in memory of Jimmie Dean, the 32-year-old lineman who died during last year's ice storm. Photo by Kristy MacDonald/The Spokesman-Review

There might be an alternative to the dense Summerhill development proposed on Five Mile Prairie by Seattle developer Barry Margolese. Five Mile resident Scott Brett is negotiating with Margolese to buy the 51 acres. Margolese recently was given approval by the city to move ahead with plans to subdivide his land for 180 homes with about eight acres of open space.

1. The Mount St. Michael seminary has kept watch over Spokane for about 83 years. Today it's a school for kindergartners through high school. Photos by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review 2. Traditional Latin Mass is celebrated at Mount St. Michael.

City of Spokane plan commissioners quickly squelched a request from the assembly of neighborhood councils to hold meetings at night so working community members could attend more easily. The plan commission is an all-volunteer board. Many take time away from their own jobs to attend the afternoon meetings.

Jo Deeter, left, owner of Mead Pawn, and Cory Knapp, her assistant, opened shop this week at 12112 N. Market. Photo by Kristy MacDonald/The Spokesman-Review

Traffic, air quality and the Spokane County Comprehensive Plan are some of the issues that will be brought before county hearing examiner Michael Dempsey on Jan. 7 when he considers a zone change for the North Side Wal-Mart project. "Wal-Mart is being built on the edge of the community, encouraging people to drive farther and farther, exactly what discussions on the new comprehensive plan are trying to discourage," said Karen Barniol, co-founder of Citizens For Neighborhood Preservation.

Business On a gray, wintry morning, Fugazzi Bakery on Monroe casts a cozy, golden glow, like a steaming mug of apple cider, on the world outside. Long before morning commute traffic streams past the storefront bakery, loaves of bread and pastries fill the shelves. The new cafe and bakery is the offspring of the more sophisticated Fugazzi lunch and dinner restaurant on Sprague Avenue.

1. Green Bluff residents fear a proposed expansion of a Spokane County gravel mine could have devestating impacts on their water supply. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review 2. Green Bluff resident John Charleston videotapes the site of a proposed gravel mine. Charleston and other residents oppose the mine for a variety of reasons, among them fears that it could harm their water supply. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review 3. Green Bluff resident Dennis Duerr, left, opposes the county's proposed gravel mine. Resident Byron Siemers, right, offers tenative support for the measure. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

An estimated 400 cars and trucks are expected to arrive at and depart the city's proposed fleet maintenance complex in the Garry Park neighborhood each morning, around the same time students are on their way to school. Neighbors voiced concerns about the traffic and potential danger to school-children during a community meeting with city officials Tuesday.

The Knight House, a Kirtland Cutter-designed home, overlooks the Spokane River from Westpoint Drive. Photo by Kristy MacDonald/The Spokesman-Review

Garland Avenue Alliance Church is buying the 10-acre lot that was formerly the site of the North Cedar Drive-In movie theater. "We had been looking for property for more than a year," said Rich Paulson, church administrator. "It's an exciting time; the Lord has led us to the land."

Representatives of developer Buster Heitman detailed new plans Monday for developing 52 acres of land east of Nine Mile Road, near Rifle Club Road. About two dozen neighbors attended a community meeting, some expressing concerns about traffic, schools, the height of an apartment building and a proposed Alzheimer's patient care facility. An earlier version of the Riverside Village project was approved by the city two years ago. The revised plan includes 102 houses, five six-plexes, a 12-unit apartment building and the 52-Alzheimer's patient facility.

After years of searching for increasingly scarce North Side park land, county Parks Director Wyn Birkenthal is recommending the county buy 6.5 acres near the Little Spokane River. The county has offered $225,000, but developer Jim Markley is asking $250,000, the appraised value of the land. Other North Side properties recently considered by county officials have slipped through their fingers for various reasons: Owners were unwilling to sell, cost was too high, or the properties are already being developed.

Developer Harley Douglass is moving ahead with efforts to halt construction of Home Depot at the Division Street Y until traffic and other issues are resolved. A hearing or trial date is expected to be set later this month to decide a slew of complaints Douglass has filed against Country Homes Building Supply, Home Depot and the city of Spokane. Douglass claims construction of the 129,000-square-foot Home Depot and the anticipated traffic it will bring to the area will destroy the value and usefulness of his nearby undeveloped property.