Competition Heats Up For Tiny Plot Of Vacant Coeur D’Alene Property

It’s only a third of an acre, but what an interesting parcel it has gotten to be since someone proposed connecting it to a public rest area.

Monday morning an awkward array of people visited the site in less than 15 minutes. The timing was opportune or inopportune, depending upon whom you might be and (literally) which side of the fence you’re on.

The piece of property, owned by the Idaho Transportation Department, lies between the Rutledge Rest Stop of the lakeside Centennial Trail and the southeast curve of the loop connecting Potlatch Hill Road to Lake Coeur d’Alene Drive. It is bound on three (public) sides by a chain fence and open on the south side to a level, 3-acre parcel owned by the Hagadone Corp. The green of Hole 11 of the Coeur d’Alene Resort is on the lakeside below and connected by an access road down the west side. Hagadone’s connecting parcel has commanding views of the lake (and golf course) to the west, south and east.

A small gulley separates most of the ITD parcel from the trail’s rest area, however, some fill and a ramp would provide an expanded rest area with a wonderful picnic spot overlooking Lake Coeur d’Alene, primarily to the east. The parcel also could be accessible directly from the Centennial Trail to the north.

A letter, phone call and petition drive is under way to convince the ITD to add the parcel to the rest area, which is maintained by the Idaho Parks Department.

Although no official from the Hagadone Corp. has confirmed this, it’s common knowledge that the company plans a condominium complex for its property. The one-third acre in question probably would provide parking or maintenance room for the condo project.

Oh, yes, back to the Monday morning meeting.

Rick Cummins, regional parks manager, met with Duane Hagadone, company superchief, and John Barlow, his construction site supervisor, at the site. Although Hagadone has offered to trade possible gravel pit sites for the parcel, he wanted Cummins to tell him “what the Parks Department would like to see happen” at the existing rest area. Cummins pointed out that the parched area could use piped water for landscape beautification.

Right about then another (uninvited) person, petition drive spearheader Dick Edinger, just happened to drive by. Spying Hagadone, Barlow and Cummins, Edinger stopped to see what was going on.

Hagadone told him the meeting was over. They all went their separate ways, except for Cummins, who was waiting to show me how the properties are situated.

Cummins is in an awkward position. His Parks Department has requested that the parcel become part of the Centennial Trail amenities, and public sentiment backs this request. However, perhaps Hagadone would provide water to the existing rest area and a buffer (berm and landscaping) between the public parcel and the condo land.

Cummins said he told Hagadone that his company needs to deal with the public issues, as well as the state government entities involved.

“For one-third of an acre, he’s (Hagadone) putting a lot of himself personally into it,” Cummins said.

A decision will face the ITD board when members meet in Coeur d’Alene on Aug. 20-21. Comments may be mailed to ITD at P.O. Box 729, Boise, ID 83707-1129, or phone (208) 334-8808.

Two of Coeur d’Alene’s former favorite eateries, which floundered when they moved from long-established locations, have combined forces to provide the public with their strong lunch and dinner offerings.

Heathcliff’s, long successful on Appleway before it moved to downtown Coeur d’Alene two years ago, has joined Papino’s, an Italian restaurant in the “new” Papino’s location in Sunset Mall off Highway 95. Papino’s owners, Alex and Angelina Bedini, found they had done better when the place for many years was a dinner house (literally) in midtown Coeur d’Alene.

Fred and Barbara Harris have moved their Heathcliff’s, which specializes in sandwiches, soups and salads, in with Papino’s, for which they are the new managers. Menus for both eateries are available in the one location, which seats 70 people at tables.

The new Papino’s menu features Central Italian dishes made from recipes provided by Tony and Arlene Piscitelli, who moved to North Idaho from Chicago. With Tomlinson-Black Realty, Tony was the “business mind” for the transaction. The restaurants have 12 employees.

Hours at Heathcliff’s/Papino’s are 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 10:30 to 10 on Fridays and Saturdays. Phone 765-2348.