Landing marina nears completion

POST FALLS – From Spokane Street it’s hard to tell what’s going on at Post Falls Landing, but down the hill from the project’s gates work has been under way on finishing up the marina and the site of a new waterfront condominium building.

The 142-slip marina is slated to open any day, said Post Falls Landing developer Harry Green. Parked on its end will be a new $75,000 Kootenai County Fire and Rescue boat paid for by the development.

The marina’s opening was delayed last summer by a stop-work order from the Idaho Department of Lands that required additional safety equipment. All that equipment has since been installed and Green said the marina will be the focal point for both Post Falls Landing residents and other boaters, especially after the retail portion of the project is completed.

“During the season people will dock their boats and come up and dine and shop. It’s going to be so much fun,” Green said.

So far just two condominium buildings have been constructed.

Green has sold 38 of the 40 existing condos and has already secured commitments for 12 of the 20 condos in the project’s third building. Construction on that building is set to begin as soon as the weather warms up, he said. Also on tap this year is a start to building a parking garage and fourth condo building behind the existing two 20-unit condo structures.

There’s no specific timeline for retail and commercial phases of the project.

That disappoints some who are counting on that portion of Post Falls Landing to build the economy and community spirit of the city.

“It’s a huge frustration for the Urban Renewal Agency,” said Luke Malek, the group’s executive director. “The developer came in and made huge promises for development that could have been a catalyst for redevelopment for downtown. It’s probably the most prime area along the river.”

Malek said the slow progress has delayed redevelopment of neighboring properties where owners are waiting to see what happens at Post Falls Landing.

Green chose not to work with the urban renewal agency, so is not getting tax credits for his project.

‘Jewel of downtown’

The former Louisiana Pacific mill site sits on prime Post Falls real estate, and Green said he kept his eye on it for years, just waiting for the opportunity to buy it.

Located on the north side of the Spokane River, the 33-acre site neighbors the falls and sits across from two key city parks.

Green said all sorts of wildlife, including deer, osprey and bald eagles, are routinely seen from Post Falls Landing.

“Post Falls is a beautiful place to come,” Green said.

Post Falls Landing’s key location makes it much more to the city than just a single development.

“That’s always been seen as the jewel of downtown,” said Post Falls City Administrator Eric Keck.

In the Post Falls City Center Plan, written in 2005 (the same year Green began developing the site), Post Falls Landing is noted as occupying most of the city center’s waterfront.

“Redevelopment of the LP mill site will have key implications for revitalization of the entire city center area,” the plan notes, adding that vacant land on the site affects the economic vitality of the entire south Spokane Street corridor. “Common sentiment is that the future of the city center depends on the mill site.”

Green said he’s unfazed by the importance others place on his project, but added he takes the responsibility seriously and is committed to building a development that serves both its residents and commercial tenants as well as becoming a Post Falls community gathering place.

“I view it as the downtown for Post Falls,” Green said. “It could have been private, but that isn’t what I believe the project is about. People have the ability to walk on multimillion dollars of waterfront.”

Prices on the condos range from abut $370,000 to almost $1 million – well out of reach of most Post Falls residents. But everyone will have access to the waterfront on the boardwalk and will be able to shop, dine and participate in other activities in Post Falls Landing’s town square when it is completed.

So far no retail or commercial tenants have been announced and construction on that phase of the project has not begun, but Green said he’s been getting interest from businesses.

A major commercial tenant could really get things rolling at the project, inspiring confidence in both Post Falls Landing and the entire Post Falls city center neighborhood, Keck said.

Green predicts complete build-out of the site might take five to seven years.

“It’s more important that it be the best it can be than the fastest it can be,” he said.

Design change dispute

Some say the quality of the project’s boardwalk isn’t meeting community expectations.

Green recently ran afoul with the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission for changing elements of the boardwalk without running those adjustments by the city.

His permit called for a concrete walkway with brick pavers, tall light poles, large planters and cantilevered seating protruding out toward the water.

“Those things weren’t put in,” said Post Falls Senior Planner Collin Coles.

Instead Green built an asphalt path and installed lights on brick posts to cut down on shadows and light pollution. The cantilevered seating had to be abandoned because the Idaho Department of Lands told Green that if it were built the walkway would have to be closed when the nearby dam spill gates were open.

“He asked forgiveness after the fact,” Coles said.

That didn’t go over too well with the Planning and Zoning Commission, which agreed to the seating and lighting changes, but still wants the concrete and brick pathway. Green will take his case to the City Council on April 15.

Green conceded he should have involved the city planners in the changes, but said each was done for a reason. The original lighting was too distracting and the planters would have obscured views of the water.

“You do your best on the drawing board, but at some point you have to build it, and there are some things that come up that cause you to have to change it,” he said.