Fred Meyer Planned For Third And Thor Developer Promises To Address Issues, Needs Raised By East Central Neighborhood Residents

The developer of a four-block tract at Third and Thor announced this week Fred Meyer stores wants to build a 100,000-square-foot market on the site.

Spokane’s Judy Hart, who has spent years buying up the residential properties there, said she has been working with the store’s executives for months on the project.

Her announcement came Tuesday night at a meeting of the East Central Neighborhood Council/Steering Committee.

“It is very important to us to have your involvement and to keep you informed as we move ahead with the project at Third and Thor,” Hart said.

A new store in the East Central Neighborhood would fill a long-standing need in that community, and potentially bring new jobs for this economically disadvantaged section of the city.

The $30 million store would face Thor and have two levels, including a retail mezzanine of 35,000 square feet for apparel.

The project has raised concerns among neighbors about increased traffic and greater dangers for pedestrians, especially children coming and going from Sheridan Elementary School on East Fifth Avenue.

Sheridan Principal Brian Melody said he worries about shoppers and other drivers cutting through residential streets.

“I’m concerned about the bleed-off into the residential area,” he said at the meeting.

Fred Meyer executives repeatedly told neighbors they are willing to do whatever is feasible to keep traffic manageable and promised to work with neighbors.

They offered to set aside money in an escrow account controlled by the city to build what are known as “traffic calming devices,” things such as traffic circles and speed bumps to discourage commuters from using residential streets.

Hart needs a change in the land-use designation for the two residential blocks bounded by Fourth, Fifth, Thor and Ray. She won a land-use amendment for the other two blocks several years ago.

The city placed a moratorium on land-use amendments pending completion of a Growth Management Act rewrite of the comprehensive plan.

Last month, the Spokane City Council opened the door for Hart and Fred Meyer with an ad hoc resolution.

The council ordered the Plan Commission to consider an amendment for Hart’s project and a handful of others, at the same time continuing work on a new Growth Management plan.