Regional Panel Oks Funds For Cheney’S Downtown

Thu., Dec. 7, 2000

By Mike Prager mikeprager15@gmail.com (509) 459-5454

The streets of downtown Cheney could look markedly different a year from now.

Street trees, wider sidewalks, a bicycle path and park benches are included in a proposed $900,000 upgrade of the downtown area.

It is part of a wider effort to revitalize the downtown.

Last month, the Spokane Regional Transportation Council approved a $496,000 grant to finance portions of the street and sidewalk project with federal highway money.

Eastern Washington University, downtown business owners, the city of Cheney and Spokane County have agreed to participate.

EWU’s share is expected to total more than $335,000.

A pedestrian walkway from Showalter Hall to First Street using College Avenue is at the heart of the project.

The idea is to connect the downtown business district with the campus. Signs calling attention to Cheney history also are planned.

“We’re pretty positive its moving forward,” said Todd Abelman, projects coordinator for the city.

One hurdle yet to be cleared is a commitment by a downtown citizens group to raise $70,000 in private matching funds.

The Pathways to Progress organization is sponsoring the fund drive, Abelman said. It hopes to raise the money by next spring.

Construction could begin as early as June.

Sidewalk improvements are proposed for First Street between D and G streets.

The walkways at intersections would be extended into the existing pavement to shorten the crossing distance and help slow traffic through the core. The idea is to make the retail area more attractive to pedestrians.

A similar project was approved by the regional transportation council for the South Perry business district in Spokane.

The largest share of the project comes from a federal transportation grant program intended to enhance existing roads and pathways.

The proposed Cheney project includes construction of a bicycle lane along the Cheney-Plaza Road to connect downtown with a trailhead for the Columbia Plateau Trail south of the city.

Spokane County is widening its portion of Cheney-Plaza Road next summer to accommodate the bike lane between the trailhead and the city limits.

Approval of the downtown Cheney project comes in tandem with last week’s state approval of a Central Cheney Historic District.

The historic district is expected to win approval to the National Register of Historic Places.

The national register designation would offer business tax incentives for historic rehabilitation in the downtown area.

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