Alison Boggs

Rifka Bullen packed up and moved to Spokane two years ago to organize the Subud congress. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

At least one detail of Spokane's River Park Square project appears to be settled: the downtown library's skywalk will reopen in exactly the same spot. The three-year-old skywalk, which closed in May because of construction on the project, will lead to the new Nordstrom building planned for the corner of Lincoln and Main. The skywalk has been a point of contention because originally, the plans for the $100 million River Park Square project showed the library's skywalk leading to the development's parking garage.

Downtown's alternative movie house is getting a new operator, but who gets the Magic Lantern name is up in the air. Photo by Liz Kishimoto/The Spokesman-Review

Silver Mountain's gondola was financed through public and private funding. Photo by Liz Kishimoto/The Spokesman-Review

The Spokane Industrial Park is about to contribute to the construction that's making the Valley's Sullivan corridor the county's hottest commercial strip. A dedication is being held today for the planned first phase of Crown Centre, a 21-acre, mixed-use commerce center under construction at the Spokane Business and Industrial Park. "We're adding the elements we feel are critical in meeting the needs of both existing and future ... tenants," said Richard Rollnick, president of Crown West Realty, LLC, owner and developer of the park.

Workers are putting finishing touches on the Spokane Valley Mall, which is scheduled to open Aug. 13. Individual anchor stores will open as early as July 25. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Spokane County home sales finally are gaining ground over last year. Home sales in June outpaced those sold last June by about 8 percent, with 465 homes changing hands this June, compared to 430 last year. Despite the strong showing in June, 1997 figures still lag behind those from last year by 128 homes, according to the Spokane Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service.

A judge Wednesday slammed the brakes on an effort by new car dealers to prevent a used car dealers' trade show. The dispute arose because of two shows scheduled at the Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds, one this weekend, the other next weekend. Three new car dealers - McCollum Ford, Dishman Dodge and George Gee - sued Spokane County, saying the fairgrounds violated a non-competing policy when it scheduled a used car show the weekend before theirs.

Paul Cole, left, and Mitchell Wood hit the streets hoping to make The Pavement a success. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

Spokane will see more Texan tourists strolling the streets if a new campaign pays off. A growing number of visitors from Texas has spurred tourism officials to plan a visit to the Lone Star state next spring. "Everybody's seeing this Texas group," said Linda Miller, communications manager for the Spokane Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Miller will go on a whirlwind trip through Texas next spring, pitching Spokane as a tourism destination.

A traffic engineering expert speaking at a public symposium Friday bashed Spokane's plan to build the Lincoln Street Bridge. "We're very interested in what is the justification for that facility," said Walter Kulash, a senior traffic engineer with an Orlando, Fla., firm that specializes in community planning. The bridge will handle only slightly more traffic than the Post Street Bridge, is a "single-minded" approach to improving the city's air quality problem and will speed people over the Spokane Falls, which instead should be shown off as an attraction, Kulash said.

The state has revoked a Colville used car dealership's license, saying the business prevented customers from receiving car titles on time. The Car Lot, owned by Linda Brown of Colville, also accepted a car on consignment without a written agreement, failed to pay the people selling the car on time, and mixed personal and business funds, according to the state Department of Licensing. "This is major. The consumer harm here is profound," said Chuck Coach, the department's license service manager.

Spokane County will likely settle a dispute by accepting a piece of land from one developer and selling it to another. At issue is the value of 12 acres that the soon-to-open Spokane Valley Mall needs for storm-water drainage. The land is worth about $2 million, now that 1 million square feet of retail space is being built nearby, according to the county assessor's office.

Al Isakson with De-Signs works on a dragon that adorns the new Mad Mary's restaurant. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

Employees of a popular down town Spokane cafe have launched a plan to buy the business from its owners, who are retiring. Espresso Delizioso has been in business for 14 years, the past six at 706 N. Monroe. The European-style cafe is known for its panino sandwiches, decadent desserts and specialty coffee drinks. A folksy cafe with live music every night, Espresso has been a hang-out for adults and youth alike. That has been the vision of Robert and Katherine Shambhalla, Espresso's owners, since opening the cafe on South Wall in 1983. Ill health has caused the Shambhallas to sell the business.

Washington state's highest court heard a case on Wednesday that could decide the future of downtown Spokane. A lawsuit filed against the city of Spokane calls into question what constitutes a public emergency, what legislative actions serve public purposes and when courts should consider overturning actions of local governments.

Robert Morris, a Wal-Mart associate, afixes prices to racks of bicycles Monday in preparation for today's opening of the retail giant's first Spokane store. One thousand bikes line aisles and the ceiling of the Spokane Valley store. Photo by Torsten Kjellstrand/The Spokesman-Review

Homeownership declined 9 percent in the city of Spokane and 4 percent in the county's unincorporated area from 1970 to 1990. That has to stop, says a group of real estate, home building, mortgage lending and government officials who have come together to tackle the problem. "Something positive is going to come out of this, but first we have to recognize that there is a problem," said Dale Strom, of the city's community development department.

Commercial real estate experts say JP Realty's purchase of the Silver Lake Mall heightens Coeur d'Alene's retail profile. File/The Spokesman-Review

Jackie Rapp is busy getting the new MarketPlace in shape. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

Spokane County home sales dropped 10 percent as compared with last year, but Realtors are seeing signs of improvement in the market. Last month, sales on 409 homes closed, compared with 457 in May 1996. The dollar volume dropped from $52.6 million to $47.2 million, according to the Spokane Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service.

The Spokane Railway Credit Union is dropping a freight load of cash to open a branch at one of the hottest retail intersections in Spokane County. SRCU, one of Spokane's three biggest credit unions, closed a deal last week to purchase 72,235 square feet of land on the southeast corner of Sullivan and Broadway in the Spokane Valley.

A roomful of business people practiced hand signals Wednesday morning that would be considered vulgar in much of the world. The circular "OK" hand sign might be harmless in the United States, but that gesture in Turkey could start a fight. Likewise with "thumbs-up." Here, it indicates success. In other countries, it denotes a sentiment that won't be printed in this newspaper.

Mapping out plans. Mina Gokee, Ann Brand and Yvonne Kinsey, from left, of the Spokane Area Convention and Visitors Bureau work on preparations for the upcoming Subud convention. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review