Historic preservation advocates in Spokane spent most of 2004 trying to come up with a city ordinance that will give some of the community’s older buildings more protection from demolition.

The work didn’t come in time for the 114-year-old Merton Building which was leveled last year. If enacted, however, it might result in more thought being invested before more of Spokane’s historic structures being torn down to make way for parking lots. A proposed ordinance, developed by a special task force, has been sent to the City Plan Commission, which will hold a public hearing on it at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the City Council meeting chambers at City Hall.

Under terms of the proposal, the owner of a historic structure downtown or in a historic district could not obtain a demolition permit unless he demonstrated he was prepared to erect a new structure in its place. Exemptions make provision for economic hardship cases but generally impose conditions to minimize the likelihood that irreplaceable vintage structures will not be razed so surface parking facilities can replace them.

The Plan Commission will send the prospective ordinance on to the Spokane City Council. Citizens who want to influence what if any recommendation the commission makes to the council can have their say at Wednesday’s hearing.

Spokane River contamination. A panel of community members will discuss Spokane River contamination during a public meeting next Thursday. The session will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Barbieri Courtroom at Gonzaga Law School, 721 N. Cincinnati. It is scheduled by the Washington Citizens Advisory Committee, which was created by the Department of Ecology to facilitate public participation in removing heavy metals and PCBs from the Spokane River.

Panelists include Ambeer Waldref, Henry Ponnefz and Tatyana Bistrezsky of the Lands Council’s public outreach program; advisory committee board members Jerry Boyd and Jim Hollingsworth; and Spokane County Commissioner Todd Mielke. Topics will include the health, economic and environmental implications of river contamination.