Proposal deadline extended to April

Spokane city officials have extended a deadline for submitting proposals on the redevelopment of the Joe E. Mann Army Reserve Center in Hillyard into a community facility after the military vacates the property in a few years.

Dale Strom of the city’s Community Development Department said that the initial request for proposals did not include a 7,500-square-foot triangle of land southwest of Haven Street. A review of the title to the property uncovered the additional land in military ownership, he said.

As a result, officials in charge of the redevelopment effort decided to extend the deadline for proposals to April 13 from the initial deadline of last Friday.

Strom said that six proposals were submitted as of last Friday, and that he expects more may be submitted prior to the extended deadline. He declined to identify organizations that had submitted proposals.

A variety of prospective uses have been discussed, including an education center, social service center or housing for homeless residents. Other proposals are likely to seek a mix of uses.

A local redevelopment authority appointed by the Spokane mayor and City Council will review the proposals and make recommendations to city leaders for future use of the facility. The nine-member redevelopment group has nine months to make those recommendations.

The Defense Department has said it is planning to build a new $31 million Armed Forces Reserve Center and Organizational Maintenance Shop at Fairchild Air Force Base. The plan is to consolidate facilities and close those that are no longer needed, possibly by 2009.

In Spokane, Army reservists are currently housed at the Mann Center at 4415 N. Market St. and the Walker Army Reserve Center in Spokane Valley.

The Defense Department wants communities to plan for the transition from military to civilian use through broad community input.