Library District Buys Site For Branch S. Regal Location Purchased For $200,000 In/Around: Moran Prairie

Thu., Sept. 21, 2000

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

The Spokane County Library District board this week approved a purchase agreement to buy a site for a future branch on Moran Prairie.

The board has agreed to buy 2.1 acres at 6004 S. Regal in two adjoining parcels for $200,000.

Library directors aren’t planning construction of a new branch for at least five years, but they wanted to make a purchase now to avoid escalating property costs on Moran Prairie.

The neighborhood currently has a temporary branch library in leased space near the Albertson’s store at 57th and Regal.

The district is buying land for a permanent branch from homeowner Bonnie Dashiell, who wanted to see her property used for public benefit, library officials said.

The property currently includes her home and outbuildings.

County Library Director Michael Wirt said an appraiser valued the property at $295,000 based on its potential use for professional offices.

In exchange for a favorable sale price, the library board approved a lease to Dashiell so she would continue to live on the property without charge for at least three years.

“We try to be creative to get the deal done,” Wirt said. “We know we would not be able to use the site any sooner than three years.”

Dashiell could stay in the home for as long as five years under options included in the lease.

Wirt said the lease allows the library board to buy the land and not become a landlord.

Money for the property purchase came from interest earnings off an $8 million county library bond issue approved by voters in 1996.

The Moran Prairie branch was not included in the bond issue. Wirt said the neighborhood may be asked to form a special taxing district to pay for construction of the branch.

A new state law allows for smaller library improvement areas.

The library board envisions construction of a 10,000-square-foot branch compared with the temporary leased branch of 2,800 square feet.

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