A Changing City

Assessing the health and guessing the future of downtown Coeur d’Alene is tough.

Certainly the area isn’t as healthy as its promoters would like. Too many store spaces are empty and too many businesses come and go in just a few months.

In comparing Coeur d’Alene with other tourist-oriented towns, perhaps the answer is that this city is in its awkward adolescence.

The young developing downtown was healthier years ago when it was the center of shopping for the local residents. Everything was downtown - grocery stores, department stores, offices, even auto dealers.

However, since the downtown is near the lake, the growing residential area could not physically surround the downtown. New businesses were built and older ones relocated to be closer to customers. As the town grew, downtown no longer was the “center” of town, physically or commercially. And now downtown is hurting.

In the mid-1980s, building of the Coeur d’Alene Resort rejuvenated and pushed upscale much of the area’s tourist business.

And many downtown businesses refocused their products and services toward tourists, with an emphasis on gift shops, art galleries, restaurants, and specialty stores.

Now downtown may be too dependent upon tourist trade, which has seasonal highs and lows.

What to do? The question concerns those who look at popular public spaces, such as McEuen Field and the City Park in relation to the lake and downtown. Many residents scream in terror about “losing” these public spaces. And many hope that any changes won’t be made simply to supplement downtown businesses.

In looking at the physical setting downtown, one suggestion would be to move the city parking lots from the south of Front Street and the foot of Tubbs Hill to the other directional peripheries of the downtown. The main idea is to create an attractive, useful transition area between downtown and the lake. Parking lots defeat this because they’re ugly and they restrict pedestrian flow, both foot and visual.

My suggestion: Leave McEuen Field and City Park primarily as they are, especially near the water. Perhaps the Front Street lot could become an attraction such as a skating rink, ice in the winter, roller in the summer.

Other suggestions:

Bring theaters back downtown, both motion picture and live. Perhaps even a medium-capacity performing arts building.

The “new” parking areas could serve these during the evenings and recreational facilities during the day.

A department store could bring local shoppers back downtown. This was evidenced by the holiday success of the temporary Bon Marche fragrance counter in the Resort Plaza.

Encourage more downtown residential development. The planned lakeview condominiums, for example, will bring year-round residents downtown. Adding an athletic facility might also help.

Provide a transportation link, such as a light rail system, from Spokane’s Airport to downtown Coeur d’Alene.

Augment the North Idaho Museum near City Park, maybe adding a Native American cultural center in collaboration with the plans of North Idaho College.

Attract non-tourist dependent businesses, such as Dakota Direct, which has occupied the old First Security Bank building.

Encourage lower rents by giving landlords a tax break if their buildings are full (or taxing them higher if they’re empty).

Of course, those seeking miracles will have to be patient. None of these things could happen overnight and very few even in a decade.

Remember, downtown is still developing.

And growth doesn’t have to be the answer. Unless there are specific events or attractions or local residents are buying gifts, many don’t frequent the downtown much for shopping or other activities. Except for hiking around Tubbs Hill, few residents seem to use the downtown lakeside because of the tourists and parking problems. Most license plates downtown in the summer are from outside Kootenai County.

This column welcomes suggestions from readers on saving and improving the downtown area. Please send your thoughts to me at the numbers at the end of this column.

Ironically, businessmen at resort towns in Montana say they look to Coeur d’Alene as an example of success.

Tidbits:

Truth in advertising, cont. A freeway-view sign at Palm Dessert Homes in Liberty Lake says, “Homes from $20k and up. Mostly up.”

Michel’s Restaurant and Gift Shop near the Post Falls Outlet Mall is out of business. And Cartoon Classics in Silver Lake Mall is doing the same with a final sale this week.