Teen Center, Street Top Council Agenda

Two controversial North Side issues top tonight’s Spokane City Council agenda.

Council members will decide whether to allow businessman Bob Lipe to open a teen center in the West Central neighborhood.

The city’s hearing examiner in March denied Lipe’s request for a special permit, saying the center “could inadvertently become a nightmare for neighboring residents.”

Lipe appealed the decision to the council, which had a hearing on the proposal last week.

Building the center was a lifelong dream of Lipe and his wife, advertising executive Donna Lipe, who died last year of cancer.

He plans to use $50,000 of his wife’s insurance money to build “Teen Town” at 2101 W. Boone.

Also tonight, the council will decide whether to condemn 17 properties along Indiana Avenue for widening of the street between Standard and Columbus.

Several neighbors have fought the project, saying it only would increase traffic problems in their neighborhood.

Others say they aren’t being offered fair value for their property.

City real estate staff say they’ve tried repeatedly to negotiate with residents but had little success.

The council briefing begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Fifth Floor conference room, 808 W. Spokane Falls Boulevard. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. in council chambers.