Neighbors Emotions Run High At Shadle Hearing
Red-faced neighbors hurled four-letter words at each other and to real estate developers last week at a hearing on Shadle Shopping Center’s redevelopment - especially the controversial construction of a 12-screen theater complex. About 100 North Side residents gathered to discuss the antiquated mall’s remodeling, which would revamp the Safeway building, add 17,000 square feet of new space for retailers and create three new anchor pads. Other scheduled renovations include a 20-foot addition on top of the anchor pads for architectural flourish, as well as greenery near Wellesley and Alberta.
Property manager Tomlinson Black also is considering a 2,100-seat cinema on the mall’s southwest corner - a plan that drew abusive language from those attending the hearing, many of whom were senior citizens.
“There are 19 screens on the North Side and only four on the South Hill. Why the hell doesn’t the South Hill get a new theater?” asked one vitriolic neighbor.
Like others, the retired North Sider said the theater would bring a late-night flood of cars and noisy teens to the now-sleepy neighborhood mall. Those favoring the theater plan retorted that the cinema would not generate traffic during the 9 a.m. or 5 p.m. rush hour, so nearby commuters weren’t likely to notice the crowds. They also argued that sending their children and grandchildren miles away to South Hill or North Division theaters was more dangerous than sending them around the block.
“Why can’t our kids have a neighborhood theater, too?” asked a gray-haired woman. When the man sitting in front of her told her that he’d prefer teenagers read books rather than watch movies, the woman spurned him and others as being “out of touch with today’s kids.”
Others were concerned that the south face of the mall would turn into the nighttime haunt of drug-dealers, gang members and pot-smoking denizens.
The south wall will be vacant except for Chuck E Cheese’s Pizza, a branch library entrance and shipping docks for Lamonts Apparel, Inc. and J.J. Newberry. Shoppers will enter stores almost exclusively from Wellesley on the mall’s north side.
Tomlinson Black chief executive officer Dave Black said he would like to fill the back of the mall with tenants, but he couldn’t find any retailers willing to locate in such a low-visibility area.
“If you know of anyone who’s willing to do that, please tell me!” Black said to the audience. He also implored residents to help his company and the mall’s owners come up with alternatives to the movie theater as anchor tenants.
, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: WHAT’S NEXT The Spokane hearing examiner will oversee a final public hearing on the proposed changes to Shadle Shopping Center on Aug. 1. The examiner, Greg Smith, is expected to make a final decision on the plan in mid-August. North Side residents may review the entire site plan by making an appointment at the Shadle Center office at 521 Shadle Center or in the Tomlinson Black Property Management Office, 107 S. Howard, Suite 418. Call Tomlinson Black at 623-1000.