Planned demolitions protested

Spray-painted in blue and green, the capital letters on the third-floor windows spelled out a cry for help: “It’s never too late.”

Down below, on the sidewalk in front of the Rookery and Mohawk buildings, at least 100 people echoed that plea as they protested the demolition of two of downtown Spokane’s historic and beloved buildings.

Their signs clearly explained the cause: “Tourists Don’t Visit Parking Lots,” “Preservation = Good Economics” and “Revitalization, not Demolition.”

Despite several offers to buy these buildings, owner Wendell Reugh has hired a demolition company to tear them down and build a parking lot. Neither Reugh nor his property manager, Steve Gill, returned phone calls seeking comment Saturday.

Reugh had been trying to sell the buildings for several years, asking $4.5 million for the block bounded by Riverside and Sprague avenues and Howard and Stevens streets. In 2003, he obtained a permit to tear them down. Last fall, he demolished downtown Spokane’s oldest intact building – the Merton, a Romanesque Revival-style structure built in 1890.

Earlier this summer, Spokane developer Ron Wells proposed a deal to buy the Rookery and Mohawk, along with the majority of the city block they stand on, but Reugh raised the price at the last minute, Wells said. This angered one of Wells’ major investors, who backed out as a result.

Even though time’s running out, Wells continues to scramble to find interested investors. His hope is to restore the buildings for commercial and residential use. But the asking price is now $5.6 million.

Is there hope? “Always,” replied Wells, as he and others walked up and down Riverside Avenue. “I will continue to work on this until the wrecking ball comes.”

Many others in Spokane also remain determined to save the buildings. “Wendell Reugh! Shame on you!” they chanted Saturday as they waved signs, including some that read, “Don’t Reugh-N Downtown.”

If demolished, Spokane will never again see the likes of these rare, historic buildings, said Matt Cohen, who teaches architecture at Washington State University-Spokane. The Rookery, for instance, is a 1934 Art Deco building with its granite walls, terra cotta details and many intricate designs including golden panels featuring a sunburst motif. It was designed by Leno Prestini, an Italian immigrant who moved to the area, he said.

“These were built by Old World craftsmen,” said Jaqui Halvorson, president of Spokane Preservation Advocates, a group made up of about 600 people whose goal is to maintain and restore the city’s historic buildings. “They’re irreplaceable. Every time we tear one down, we destroy our community’s legacy.”

The thought of losing the Mohawk and Rookery, along with other old structures in Spokane, is just “heartbreaking,” she said. “It makes you sick to your stomach.”

Many in the area also have fond memories attached to the buildings. Nancy Compau, a Spokane native and longtime resident, used to go to her dentist’s office on the third floor of the Rookery. On the street level, she would spend hours shopping and admiring the fine jewelry sold at Dodson’s, which has since moved across the street.

In addition to their architectural significance, the buildings play a role in ensuring a healthy and vital downtown, many said. Preservation of the Mohawk and Rookery inevitably has an impact on the local economy, they say.

“Parking lots are dead zones,” said Cohen, pointing out how the Rookery and Mohawk are located in a key downtown location. If demolished, their loss would hinder the structural development that has taken place on the west end of Riverside Avenue from continuing to the east side, he said. The Rookery is on the corner of Riverside and Howard Street, which is the gateway to Riverfront Park.

“I’m in favor of property rights, but I’m also in favor of civic responsibilities,” said Cohen, describing his frustration with Reugh’s decision.

Others were even more critical of the property owner. “He hasn’t contributed anything to the community,” said Jim Kolva, a longtime community planner and consultant on issues pertaining to the environment, land use and historic preservation. “If Wendell Reugh builds a parking lot, it’ll be the best-looking project that he has done in Spokane. That will be part of his legacy.”

Rob’s Demolition, the Spokane company that has been hired to tear down the buildings, will start working as soon as it receives permits from the city.