Post Falls Landing gets under way

Post Falls Landing finally broke ground Thursday after years of existing only in minds and on paper.

An excavator, tractor and other heavy machinery dotted the waterfront section of the former sawmill along the Spokane River, an area Post Falls leaders hope will revitalize downtown.

“We’re very excited. The city center district is very important to both the economic and emotional part of our community,” said Pat Raffee, executive director of the Urban Renewal Agency. “Post Falls Landing will be a big part of jumpstarting development down there.”

Bob Templin, whose Red Lion Hotel is less than a mile away, said progress in that area is important because of the size of the property – 33 acres – and its location on the river. “The Landing is going to be critical to the development of the downtown area,” Templin said.

A 20-unit condominium will be the first building raised on the plot, to be followed by a second, identical building.

All 40 units have already been reserved, said Harry Green, the developer, and purchase agreements are currently being drawn up. Prices range from $370,000 to $800,000.

The master plan has a total of 450 residential units. It also includes retail and office space; a marina; a town square; a hotel and conference center; a health club and boathouse; an amphitheater; and a restaurant.

That people can access their boats, socialize on the town square and shop without having to get into their cars is an especially favorable aspect of the project, Green said, particularly with high gas prices.

Green anticipates that people can start moving into the condos by April 2006. Development of the retail and commercial portions will begin next year, he said. His goal is to have the majority of the development completed within five years.

The project took a while to start because Green and his team had to clean up the site and get all the required approvals, he said. They also wanted to focus on completing the project well, not just quickly, Green added. “It’s important for us to give a very high quality and sound identity to Post Falls.”

A community where people can live and work has been missing downtown, said Angela Alexander, president and CEO of the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s going to bring more business, people are going to want to move there,” Alexander said. “Growth begets growth.”