Permit To Build Teen Center Denied In/Around: West Central

Saying a teen center in the West Central neighborhood “could inadvertently become a nightmare for neighboring residents,” the city hearing examiner has denied businessman Bob Lipe a special permit to go forward with his proposal.

Lipe had hoped to build Teen Town at 2108 W. Boone, next to his Sure Save grocery store. Lipe proposed an activity center for neighborhood teenagers which would have offered dancing, pingpong, a pool table and boxing.

Such a center had long been a dream of Lipe and his late wife, advertising executive Donna Lipe, who died last year of cancer.

Lipe, 64, pledged $50,000 of his wife’s insurance money for the project. He hoped to begin work on the 4,000-square-foot building this summer.

But city hearing examiner Greg Smith said Lipe’s plans are too tentative and he could not approve the teen center without more details on parking, staffing and operations.

“This proposal provides, unfortunately, too many unknowns,” Smith wrote in his decision.

Lipe said he is “very hurt, disappointed and a little angry” at the decision and he plans to appeal to the Spokane City Council.

Among the issues of primary concern is parking. A building the same size as what Lipe is proposing would typically need 40 parking places. Lipe argued for less, saying most kids who would use the center live close by and would walk.

But Smith said evidence to support that statement was never offered. “In fact, no parking analysis was submitted under which the hearing examiner could conclude that this use has adequate parking.”

Lipe said he was unaware Smith wanted details on security, management and operations before he would approve the land-use action.

City planner Steve Haynes recommended approval of the teen center with the provision that the license be re-evaluated at the end of two years.

But in his written opinion, Smith said that such a course of action does not go far enough to protect the neighborhood.

“If the proposed teen center does not work out,” Smith wrote, “then the neighborhood would be left with one less single-family home and a large commercial-looking building with no occupant.”