Summit Development May Begin In Western Part Plan Mixes Housing With Businesses

Developers described a new approach for the 88-acre Summit property in West Central to residents during a recent neighborhood council meeting.

Instead of beginning development on the east side where office buildings are planned, the company hopes to begin on the west 60 acres with a mixed-use development.

The Summit property stretches in a long, narrow swath from Summit Boulevard on the west to Monroe Street on the east. It is sandwiched between north bank of the river on the south and Bridge Avenue on the north.

The plan for the property was approved in 1994.

It includes an urban-village concept, mixing a variety of housing types with neighborhood businesses, shops and services.

“We have an opportunity to be the showcase for the mixed-use concept that was brought out in the Spokane Horizons process,” said Greg Weed, property development manager for Metropolitan Mortgage.

Weed said research shows that there seems to be a growing market and interest in housing near downtown.

He said the housing in the Summit development will probably include new urbanism features such as porches, garages tucked behind houses, and an easy stroll to transportation and shopping.

Neighbors asked about through streets, affordable housing and densities.

The current plan includes 1,200 housing units ranging from single-family homes to duplexes and apartments.

“I think the main question is maintaining the character of the existing neighborhood,” said Paul Soper, president of the neighborhood council. “It will be more in keeping with the neighborhood.”

Weed said they are anxious to start the project.

“We’ve already done all the hard work,” he said.

Erik Skaggs, Metropolitan’s manager of community and government relations, said the company long ago made a commitment to the West Central neighborhood to meld the new development with the existing community.

The development will be constructed with an eye toward CPTED principles: Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design.

Besides new housing and businesses, the company is working to bring economic benefits to the neighborhood as well, Skaggs said.

Metropolitan has a long history of support for projects in the West Central Neighborhood, said Skaggs. The company underwrote the expenses for the first COPS shop and, more recently, sponsored a fund-raiser for Cheryl Steele at Doyle’s Ice Cream Parlor during her recent race for representative from the 3rd District.

“They support a lot of fund-raising things in the neighborhood. They are quite interested and very supportive,” Soper said.

Y2K MEETING PLANNED During the recent West Central neighborhood meeting, Ingrid Carlson also gave an introduction to Y2K preparedness. Discussion included using the COPS West office as a clearinghouse for information. A future meeting will be scheduled to talk about Y2K issues in greater detail.