Here’s the Dirt: Carnival comes and goes; wetland questions remain
Just when it appeared that all was quiet on a former wetland at 44th Avenue and Regal Street, the land sprouted a carnival.
Neighbors were surprised to see the carnival, which arrived on the heels of a city request that landowner Harlan Douglass remove fill that was illegally compacted over a possible wetland on the property, sometime while the city was doing road work on Regal Street in the summer of 2005.
The property was originally slated for a Wal-Mart Supercenter, but the company pulled out of the location after studies determined that the site was unsuitable for the store.
A Douglass representative, when contacted on Thursday, said the landowner declined to comment about the event.
A March 5 letter sent by Joseph Wizner, the city’s building official, to Whipple Consulting Engineers and copied to Douglass and Murphy Brothers Inc. of Spokane, gave the developer until April 13 to come up with a plan to remove the undocumented fill comprised of soil and construction that an investigator determined was deposited on the property.
The letter also responded to a charge by Whipple that Murphy Brothers, the city’s contractor on the road project, may have put the fill on the land. Wizner wrote that the city didn’t authorize Murphy Brothers to dump the fill, and that the construction company is liable for any such actions.
While the city said that Todd Whipple did respond to the letter, no one submitted the required plan for removing the fill.
“They at least did call us, but they didn’t provide us with a plan,” said Marlene Feist, public affairs officer for the city.
Now a notice of violation has been sent to Murphy Brothers, Douglass and Whipple. The notice calls for the developer to remove fill, restore a natural grade and restore the natural flow of the surface water. The developer has until May 9 to respond.
“We are basically saying ‘You need to act quickly” or face fines or other civil penalties, Feist said.
River Park Square lands new eatery
Taco Del Mar, a Baja-style Mexican fast casual restaurant, will open in the former location of Twigs Bistro and Martini Bar in River Park Square.
The 800-square-foot restaurant will open sometime in May, a news release said.
Taco Del Mar is headquartered in Seattle and has locations throughout the Western U.S. and Canada.
Allstate opens new office
Allstate Insurance Co. is opening a new agency in Spokane that is owned and operated by Bobie Johnson.
The office, at 411 W. Hastings Road, offers a complete line of products and services, including auto, property, commercial and life insurance.
Spokane Business and Industrial Park gets new tenants:
“ Trusted Remedy Inc., a company specializing in the e-commerce of beauty products, is leasing 5,600 square feet.
“ Forza Strength Systems USA Inc., which manufactures and distributes exercise equipment, is leasing 5,000 square feet.
“ Horizon Furniture Inc. has leased 8,000 square feet of additional space.