Postal worker puts stamp of approval on condo living

Last summer before she moved downtown, Saundra Rudmann did a little hands-on research into urban living.

A longtime resident of Spokane Valley, Rudmann wanted a change of scenery but was cautious about her comfort level in Spokane’s concrete jungle.

So, at the suggestion of a city-savvy friend, she took a walk downtown. Alone. At night.

“It was actually rather late, and I remember wondering if it was smart to be out by myself,” Rudmann says.

Subsequent ventures put her at ease. Last summer she purchased a one-bedroom condominium in the Cedar Street Townhouses, a renovated, turn-of-the-century apartment building on the lower South Hill.

Rudmann, a postal delivery worker and soon-to-be grandmother, said friends were surprised by her decision to go condo.

One day last spring, after viewing a sun-drenched unit in what later would become her building, a companion told her, “This isn’t you.”

At the time Rudmann wasn’t sure herself, though it didn’t take long to make up her mind.

Today Rudmann is becoming a seasoned urban dweller who often spends weekends visiting downtown restaurants, wineries and art galleries with friends. She also enjoys her convenient walk to the grocery store and the occasional Sunday breakfast at Huckleberry’s Ninth Street Bistro.

“I’m single, so I thought it might be fun to live downtown,” she said. “It’s amazing how much it has changed, even in the time that I’ve been here. There are people out all the time, even at 10 o’clock at night.”

Sipping coffee in her living room, Rudmann says she is happy with the move.

“I’d never lived in an older home,” she said, gesturing at the 10-foot ceilings and intricate woodwork in her 1911 abode. “I’m just falling in love with it more and more all the time.”

Although the apartment is period Craftsman, Rudmann’s modern appointments make it look more like a bohemian loft. The furnishings are sleek, almost spartan, but the warm glow of candles and a funky, ambient floor lamp in the corner make it cozy and inviting.

Random folk-pop from her iTunes library plays softly in the background. Rudmann herself even looks the part, with short spiky hair, black jeans and a black sweater that evoke a sort of beatnik chic.

Rudmann even makes her own wine.

“I just bottled a Cab-Syrah,” she said casually. “And I’m making a Sangiovese that should be interesting. I’ve been doing it for about three years,” she said. “It’s nice to have something to give to friends.”

On weekends, when Rudmann isn’t frequenting downtown hot spots, she likes to spend time outdoors. With no yard work to occupy her downtime, Rudmann’s new condo lifestyle lets her head to the hills on backpacking and bicycling trips with friends.

“It’s fun to be a little carefree,” she said.