Berm’s Removal Discloses Potential Metropolitan Making Site Attractive To Developers

A Spokane company has a deal for anyone with really big holes to fill.

Metropolitan Mortgage and Securities Co. is offering 200,000 cubic yards of free dirt - enough to fill 20,000 dump trucks - from a mile-long berm on the north bank of the Spokane River.

So far, the offer has gone to construction companies and state road-builders - anyone with the heavy equipment to scoop up and haul away large quantities of the dirt.

The 40-foot-tall berm, which once supported railroad tracks, blocks the view of the river from the north and the castle-like Spokane County courthouse from the south. Its gradual removal west of Monroe Street is part of Metropolitan’s efforts to make its 88 acres of vacant land more attractive to developers.

“It’s much easier to bring someone out here and discuss potential projects when they can envision the beauty of the falls and the river,” said Metropolitan spokesman Erik Skaggs.

Since late fall, Metropolitan has removed a row of warehouses, two abandoned taverns and three World War II-era industrial buildings. The company removed the “people’s wall,” an old railroad bridge footing where Spokane residents painted marriage proposals, birthday greetings and other messages.

Plans call for more demolition and burying unsightly power lines.

Those who work around the neighborhood say the work is reducing vandalism, as well as improving views.

“I’m glad to see it come down,” said Elizabeth Garras, owner of the Monroe Street Bridge Antique Market, who used to look out from her business at the J.S. Pumps tavern on the opposite side of Monroe.

The abandoned brick tavern, which stunk like a broken sewer pipe, drew nighttime trespassers who sometimes tossed rocks through her store windows, said Garras. That hasn’t happened since it met the wrecking ball in November.

“We’re looking forward to seeing something new come in,” Garras said.

In 1994, Metropolitan announced plans for the Summit, a development that would mix houses, apartments, shops, offices and other commercial uses as a self-contained “urban village.” The Centennial Trail would skirt the development.

So far, the plans haven’t materialized. Metropolitan is looking for a major commercial development to kick off the project.

The company hoped the city would put a convention center on the southeast corner of the land, where there’s a birds-eye view of the Spokane River falls and possible access to the Riverfront Park gondola. But a city-funded study in 1997 determined it’d be far less expensive to expand the existing convention center instead.

Skaggs said he hopes to have “an exciting announcement” involving the development this summer.

Pressed for more details, Skaggs said Metropolitan has learned not to reveal too much too soon.

“We don’t want to get the public’s hopes up about anything until it’s solid,” he said.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo; Map of proposed site of Metropolitan Mortgage’s Summit project