Council endorses condemning downtown block

A downtown block appears headed for condemnation after a Spokane City Council decision Monday night.

The council voted 6-1 to give the Spokane Public Facilities District the authority to condemn most of a downtown city block so that it can take over private parking lots.

The city has made periodic efforts to get the property for about 25 years.

The largest property owner on the block, Glen Cloninger, says he’s willing to sell the land but that the district hasn’t offered a fair price. Kevin Twohig, the district’s executive director, said Cloninger was offered a fair amount based on appraisals.

“We have been at a stalemate for some time,” Twohig said. “We’ve just been miles apart on the property value.”

Councilman Al French said he supported the decision only because Cloninger has expressed a desire to resolve the dispute through condemnation.

He noted that condemnation would take the land off tax rolls and suggested that if the PFD takes control of the land, public improvements should be made soon.

“I personally believe it is an inappropriate use,” French said. “To me it smacks of land speculation.”

Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin said she supported the action because Cloninger preferred condemnation to a binding arbitration process.

The City Council’s vote gives the decision to condemn properties owned by Cloninger and Diamond Parking to the PFD’s board. The earliest that could happen is January. If the land is condemned, the matter would move to Spokane Superior Court.

With the exception of the Boulevard restaurant and bar, all of the land, which is just south of the INBD Performing Arts Center, is parking. The Public Facilities District, which owns some of the parcels in the block, wants to repave the block as one lot. In the long-run, the PFD may use it to build a parking garage and to expand the convention center.

Twohig said a new lot would have fewer spaces than currently exist, but it would meet current design guidelines. Since the district would own the lot it would be easier to attract events because they could guarantee parking and set prices, he said.

The district already owns 37,000 square feet of property on the block. Diamond Parking owns about 20,000 square feet. Cloninger or partnerships that include him own 63,000 square feet.

The district asked the council to condemn the land in February, but the council asked the district to give negotiations another try.

Cloninger said earlier this year that his land is worth $9.5 million. The PFD has not released how much their appraisals say the property is worth.

Councilman Bob Apple cast the lone vote against the action.