Hearing Examiner Approves Habitat Complex In/Around: East Central

The Spokane hearing examiner has approved a proposal by Habitat for Humanity for a 12-unit complex of homes near Liberty Park.

Until now, Habitat for Humanity has helped low-income families achieve home ownership mostly one or two units at a time.

This will be the first time Habitat for Humanity has ventured into a larger development.

“We’ll have a little community there,” said Dia Hadley, executive director of the organization.

The goal is to keep development costs low enough so the future homeowners will be able to afford monthly payments of less than $300, she said.

Much of the 1.4 acres proposed for development was purchased through tax sales and from a mortgage company that donated the property in exchange for Habitat paying off city liens.

A public hearing was held last month to consider a replat of the property on Sixth Avenue between Pittsburg and Magnolia.

The proposal would redraw the existing plat into a planned unit development and allow construction of duplexlike homes in pairs.

A shared wall in each duplex would be built on the property line dividing the lots. That would give homeowners individual possession that’s more like single-family ownership.

Duplexes normally have the same owner on a single lot.

The lots range in size from 3,200 square feet to 5,100 square feet, compared with the city’s standard minimum of 6,000 square feet for a single family home.

The concept reduces construction costs and provides larger side and rear yards on the undersize lots.

Lot sizes in a planned unit development may be reduced by the hearing examiner.

The development is installing parking, paving, lighting, landscaping and stormwater control. Habitat’s proposal provides more parking than required by city codes.

Some neighbors to the project objected to it during the hearing. They said the area near Liberty Park is economically depressed and is not a suitable environment for children and families.

Drug dealing has been a problem in the East Central Neighborhood and at Liberty Park over the years, the residents said.

In his decision, Hearing Examiner Greg Smith said the proposal is considered in-fill development that will benefit the neighborhood and that police and fire protection are adequate to serve the area.

Hadley said Habitat is committed to making the neighborhood livable. Having people occupy their own homes on a well-lighted street will become a deterrent to crime, she said.

“We intend to reclaim that neighborhood for the homeowners and the honest citizens there,” she said.

Habitat has erected 16 other homes in East Central.

The new site is adjacent to Liberty Park and the Ben Burr Trail, which will provide recreational activities, including an outdoor city swimming pool, Hadley said.