Preserving Millwood’s history while looking to the future

Showcasing a mix of red, white and blue petunias, coral bells and yellow daylilies, the three new concrete planters at the entrance of Millwood’s Historic District symbolize a revitalization movement in this small community.

This revitalization, some residents believe, is a key to the town’s survival.

“This town needs a reason to be here,” said Pam Kester, co-founder of the Millwood Historical Society and a planning commissioner. “We’re surrounded by Spokane Valley, and unless we take an active stand and let people know who we are, we’ll eventually die out.”

Efforts are under way by numerous groups to refresh the town’s distinct character.

“It’s all about developing a sense of community,” said Kester. “If we pull together, we can have a strong identity.”

The primary concern is traffic along the Argonne Road corridor. The Town Council hired W&H Pacific to find ways to increase traffic efficiency and improve pedestrian safety.

A public meeting is planned this month to discuss its suggested alternatives.

“Argonne disrupted Millwood,” said Kester. “It cut the town in half.”

The newly formed Historical Society and the Millwood Planning Commission are working to preserve the town’s historic buildings and its heritage.

Meanwhile, Millwood Mayor Daniel Mork is promoting adoption of the Tree City USA program to help preserve Millwood’s urban forestry.

The Historical Society, formed in April, is adopting the Spokane Preservation Advocates’ model of assigning subcommittees to champion different projects throughout town. The society held two meetings in early spring to begin work on beautification, an upcoming historical tour and renovation of window transoms in a historic building along the Argonne corridor.

“People don’t recognize Millwood as a town,” said Historical Society member Greg Mott. “One way to get people to slow down on Argonne is to make it something worth looking at. We want to make it a pretty corridor.”

Earlier this year, one subcommittee marked the west entrance of the Historic District by clearing a field of debris and planting a triangular-shaped perennial garden of lilacs, daylilies, lavender, sedum and phlox on the west side of Argonne at Euclid. On the east side, the three new planters, weighing 250 pounds each, were filled with a mix of perennials and annuals.

“It’s a start,” said Kester. “We eventually would like to add planters all along the west side of Argonne, but we are waiting to see what the city does next year along the corridor.”

The nonprofit Historical Society plans to coordinate other beautification projects, including conducting fundraisers to purchase items such as banners, benches and more planters.

In October, the group plans to conduct a free tour through Millwood’s Historic District to help commemorate the 80th anniversary of the town.

In the fall, the Millwood Planning Commission plans to present the Town Council with a petition to form a Certified Local Government program.

It would help protect the town’s historical heritage at the local level. The town of Millwood, with its Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001, has no authority now to provide protection of its historic architecture and personality.

Participation in the Certified Local Government program requires a local government to establish and maintain a historic preservation commission, survey local historic buildings, enforce preservation laws and provide a way for the public to participate.

The Planning Commission recently began drafting a historic preservation ordinance that would offer the local level of protection the Certified Local Government program requires.

The town would receive many benefits by participating in the program, such as tax incentives, special grants and technical assistance.

“The Historic District is one jewel in the necklace,” said Kester. “The trees are another.”

Millwood’s mayor plans to present a petition to the Town Council later this year to adopt the Tree City USA program. The program is seen as an effective way to promote tree care and urban forestry.

To obtain Tree City USA status, Millwood is required to set up a tree board, adopt a tree ordinance, observe Arbor Day and allocate an estimated budget of $3,500, based on $2 per capita of the town’s population.

“Adopting the Tree City USA program is smart planning,” said Garth Davis, forestry program manager for the Spokane County Conservation District.

“In the long run, you’ll either have trees that provide benefits or trees that pose problems. With a management plan and an inventory, you can be proactive and make trees a benefit to the community,” he said.

Millwood held a pruning workshop last Saturday conducted by Davis. After the workshop, the mayor held a luncheon to discuss the benefits of the Tree City USA program.

“We hope to turn the application in by the end of the year,” said Mork. “We should receive approval in early 2008.”

“I think Tree City USA is going to be good,” said resident Debbie Lehinger. “It’s a positive approach.”