They’re all for Albi

Neighbors overwhelmingly want to keep Joe Albi Stadium, according to an informal survey conducted by a grassroots community group. The 95 percent pro-stadium results contradict statements from city officials that residents were tired of the noise and traffic and wanted the stadium to go.

Al and Joan Ward have lived just east of the stadium for 28 years. Joan Ward remembers going to football games at the stadium as a Rogers High School student.

“Before they had the stadium, games were played on school playfields and no one saw them,” said Ward.

She doesn’t remember seeing a questionnaire, but would have agreed with the majority of those surveyed.

“We have to keep the things that are good for Spokane, and putting in a bunch of homes in the neighborhood may raise a lot of taxes for Spokane, but it’s not the thing to do as far as what’s right for kids,” said Ward.

Ward said her family has enjoyed the concerts that were held at Albi in the past, and the traffic doesn’t bother her.

“If a sports complex goes in, I think the neighbors just have to deal with it, and the city needs to do the roads accordingly. If they can put in a little baby roundabout at Wellesley and “A” Street, they can certainly put one in down here. It would keep traffic moving, and if they have to put four lanes in, so be it,” said Ward.

Discussions about selling the stadium and surrounding property have been silenced for now.

But the stadium’s future remains uncertain as long as it continues to operate in the red.

Jim Albi and Paul Hyndman formed the Friends of Joe Albi Stadium in September. Their goal is to come up with ways to better use the stadium, making it financially self-sufficient.

They’ve developed a business plan and according to Parks Director Mike Stone, the Friends of Albi could be instrumental in helping solve the stadium’s financial issues.

In January, Hyndman and Albi conducted a survey of 229 homes south of the stadium and along the east side of Assembly Street.

“We did the survey because we heard from several sources, including Mayor West, that the neighbors to the south (of the stadium) did not want the stadium or concerts. We decided to find out for ourselves if this was true,” said Hyndman.

They went house to house and talked with 99 people. They left a questionnaire for those who weren’t home. “Almost everyone we talked to was enthusiastic about keeping and utilizing the stadium,” said Hyndman.

He reported a 43 percent participation rate with these results: 95 percent of the respondents want to keep Albi Stadium; 94 percent are in favor of a picnic-playground area along Wellesley and Assembly; 96 percent think some of the city’s lodging tax should be returned to Albi; 96 percent are interested in having one Eastern Washington University football game at the stadium each year and 96 percent are in favor of having concerts and other events at the stadium.

“The survey provides a quantitative assessment of the attitudes of the neighbors,” said Hyndman.

Lee and Jenny Malmquist have lived in their house south of the stadium for 23 years.

“I’d love to see a sports complex in there rather than a housing development. A neighborhood park and playground there would be wonderful,” said Jenny Malmquist.

Malmquist said she’s fine with football games and concerts at the stadium. “Lee and I talked about that. Concerts would be great. If that’s a way for them to keep the stadium and make some money that would be a good idea,” said Malmquist.

Paul and Barbara McNabb prefer the stadium to high density housing in the area, and agree that the stadium is underused. The couple has lived in the neighborhood for 46 years.

“It’s going to take some other uses for the property; maybe the whole property could be redeveloped into park land, walking trails and multiple uses for the land around it besides just the stadium itself,” said Paul McNabb.

As for the possible increase in traffic to the area, McNabb said that he can put up with it if it’s properly managed. And he’s not opposed to holding concerts at the stadium. He remembers the Willie Nelson concert that was held there.

“If they’re controlled well enough and reasonable, an occasional concert doesn’t hurt, especially if it brings in revenue to pay for the stadium,” said McNabb.

Knowing they have the support of the neighbors allows the Friends of Albi to move forward. The next step for the group is to continue to build support with parties interested in the stadium, the surrounding lands and the park lands to the north, in a full development plan, Hyndman said.

“Our current Board of Directors includes representatives from Spokane Youth Sports Association, North Side Little League, and America’s Kids’ Run (formerly Junior Bloomsday). We will be adding representatives from other interested parties as well. We hope to get support from various service organizations,” said Hyndman.

Albi Stadium will be the home site for football games for seven GSL schools next fall.

The Spokane Parks and Recreation Department’s 20/20 Strategic Plan draft, in part, calls for taking control of the city-owned stadium and then completing the sports complex on the stadium grounds.

This type of community support could mean the development of a regional park, fitness center and sports complex on the Albi grounds.