Family-friendly Kendall Yards sought

Spokane residents want a 78-acre development just north of downtown to be family-friendly and preserve views of the Spokane River Gorge, and they want developers to adequately investigate traffic concerns before starting construction.

Those were among the issues raised as about 100 people filled a room at the West Central Community Center on Thursday night for a presentation on the proposed Kendall Yards development. Within two weeks, said project manager Tom Reese, developers expect to submit the final traffic data requested by the city. Once the application is complete, a 15-day public comment period will open, after which a public hearing will be held.

“We’re working hard to get that traffic study done and have it be as comprehensive as possible,” said Reese, who explained that he wants the development to be “transparent” to the public.

Kendall Yards proposes 2,600 residences and 1 million square feet of commercial space during the course of build-out, which could take until 2025. The first phase, which Reese said should last 18 to 24 months, calls for 400 residences and 400,000 square feet of commercial space. The first phase encompasses land west of the Monroe Street Bridge, on the river’s north bank. The remaining land stretches west past the Maple Street Bridge. It is bordered to the west by Summit Boulevard, to the south by Ohio Avenue and to the north by Bridge Avenue.

The development calls for several street vacations, including Ide Avenue, between Monroe and Adams streets, which would be included in the building plat, and Ohio Avenue from Cochran Street to Summit Boulevard, around a bluff that overlooks the river. The developers want to open that to pedestrians, but keep vehicles off it.

That raised mixed reactions Thursday. One woman said she likes the idea of a car-free place that encourages walking and offers river views. However, another woman feared losing a pretty drive for disabled residents.

“My idea of a lovely evening is to park and watch the city as the sun goes down,” said West Central resident Laurie Ryan.

Several concerns were raised about the prospect of 12-story high buildings jutting up above the river. Some community members recently formed the Bridge-Summit Alliance to voice concern about the prospect of high-rise buildings damaging views of the river gorge.

Reese said the development does propose buildings up to 12 stories high in places along its southern tier. He said the buildings would be designed to provide river views to the greatest number of Kendall Yards residents.

“We’re selling those views,” Reese said.

Among the goals, he said, is to rehabilitate the property and “get it back onto the tax rolls.” That prompted a question from the audience about whether some of the multi-family housing would be eligible for the city’s tax deferment incentive, which encourages downtown housing. A small portion of the property would be eligible, Reese said.

Reese said the north-south streets that run into the property from West Central, including Cochran, Nettleton and Chestnut, would be improved through the development and would lead to plazas and river views that would be open to everyone. He said the development will seek to reduce vehicle dependence, promote pedestrian activity and decrease pollution. Whereas the previous plan for this property had no connection to downtown or the Centennial Trail, this project seeks to incorporate both, he said.

“I want to emphasize this is not a gated community in any way, shape or form,” Reese said, adding that 25 of the property’s 78 acres would be green space. To that, environmental activist John Osborn asked how much sidewalk space was included in that tally.

Reese encouraged everyone with concerns to voice them to the hearing examiner. He said the developers wouldn’t rule out changes at this point.