South Hill residents lament loss of three old homes on West Ninth Avenue

Three vintage homes are slated for demolition on West Ninth Avenue right behind Huckleberry’s Natural Market.

The owners of the property allowed the three homes to become dilapidated over the years, residents said.

Now, the city has ordered demolition because the homes are a neighborhood hazard, said Megan Duvall, city-county historic preservation officer.

“They are in such bad shape,” she said.

Duvall and residents of the area said the situation is another example of the need for a stronger demolition ordinance to protect neighborhood character.

The latest plan calls for replacing the homes with new houses, Duvall said.

Residents are concerned that the neighborhood is losing part of its vintage look along the street in exchange for blocky, new houses.

A stronger demolition ordinance could require that any new structures undergo design review with the Spokane City/County Landmarks Commission to ensure compatible looks.

Also, a proposed strengthening of the ordinance could prohibit demolition without a plan for new structures in historic districts.

The houses are within the Ninth Avenue National Historic District, which was created in 1994.

One of the three homes, at 1025 W. Ninth Ave., is listed as a contributing property in the district.

In addition, the houses are just one block east of the Comstock-Shadle Spokane Register Historic District.

The three lots are owned by the 10th & Monroe LLC. The governor of the investment group is Robin Rosauer, of Issaquah, Washington.

A complaint to City Hall by one of the neighbors about the conditions of the houses led to an order for demolition in July. Water service had been turned off and the properties had been boarded up.

Patricia Hansen, chair of the Cliff/Cannon Neighborhood Council, said parking has long been a problem in the neighborhood, especially with the popularity of Huckleberry’s and other stores in the adjacent shopping center.

The houses and shopping center are all on the same block.

The houses were acquired to create additional parking, but the city’s zoning code will not allow parking on those lots.

“Parking has been an issue,” Hansen said.

Also, truck deliveries to the stores cause other traffic problems, Hansen said.

Stormwater from the shopping center pools up at the northwest corner of the block.

Residents have had differing opinions about the demolitions and parking over the years, she said.

Hansen said she hopes the pending demolitions of the three houses will lead to a stronger demolition ordinance.

“If there is a better ordinance out of it, wonderful,” she said.

“We need to have something that is updated and works.”