City rejects bid to save Grandview plot

The Spokane City Council on Monday uprooted an effort by Grandview Avenue-area residents to preserve approximately 23 acres of city-owned land near Interstate 90 in southwest Spokane.

The council voted 4-3 not to participate in an application by neighbors seeking to have Spokane County purchase the land under a voter-approved Conservation Futures Program.

Council President Dennis Hession, a former Park Board member, said the property does not qualify for public conservation purchase because it holds more rock than pristine beauty. He said he believes the land would be better suited for residential housing.

Hession was joined by council members Cherie Rodgers, Bob Apple and Al French in rejecting the application. Council members Brad Stark, Mary Verner and Joe Shogan voted in favor of participating in Conservation Futures. Stark and Verner represent the city’s South Side council district, which includes the Grandview section of the Thorpe/Westwood Neighborhood.

Stark said he believes the property was well suited for conservation acquisition and the application offered the “chance to protect a jewel” of land.

The city is seeking offers that could lead to development of the property, which has an appraised value of $375,000 and is at a place called Albion Heights.

Rodgers pointed out that private acquisition and development would add to the city’s property tax collections.

Residents living near the property have argued that access roads to the area are inadequate and the addition of more homes could create traffic problems. Council members in January approved a potential sale of the property for development but conditioned sale on a replat of the property to provide new street access from the west, a condition requested by area residents.

The city acquired the property in a foreclosure on a debt for a local improvement district in the 1970s. About five acres were used to create Grandview Park at 17th Avenue and D Street.

The city would use $40,000 from any potential sale for additional development of the park.

The Conservation Futures Program requires that applications include a signature of a property owner granting access to the property for program officials to assess the land. The signature is also considered an indication the owner is interested in selling to Conservation Futures.

The program works only with willing sellers.

On Monday, the council was asked to authorize the mayor or deputy mayor to sign the application and grant the access.

Council members said they were not comfortable with endorsing the Conservation Futures application at the same time the city is seeking a private sale. Monday is the deadline for purchase proposals to be submitted to City Hall.

In other business Monday:

• The council approved a $4.6 million bid by Eller Corp., of Newman Lake for installation of a water main and reconstruction of Third Avenue from Division to Maple streets.

• The council ordered paving of the alley between Adams and Jefferson streets from Heroy to Princeton avenues through establishment of a local improvement district.

• Also on the North Side, the council approved relinquishing public rights of way on the south half of Cleveland Avenue from Wolverton Court to Nevada Street and on Nevada Street from Cleveland Avenue to North Foothills Drive.