The city of Spokane has recently approved construction of 100 condominiums on 25 acres south and west of Hatch Road, one of the steepest, most dangerous sites in the city. There is evidence on all sides of the instability of this property and some of the homes below are in danger of drifting off into the creek.

This property is just below Quail Ridge, and the proposed access road is only five feet from our property line. The fear of a landslide is not only the destruction of homes, but the very possible loss of the lives of 150 to 200 people who live beside, above and below the hill is not only tragic but will be horrible to observe.

Not long ago, a slide was reported just outside Seattle by the Weyerhaeuser Land Co. They lost an entire hillside after having thoroughly checked the stability of the land with geotechnical engineers, and they are at a loss as to how this could occur. This hillside was at a slope of 50 degrees.

The slope of the Spokane hillside on which the condos are contemplated is 50 degrees as well.

On Bear Tooth Highway Pass, going from Montana to Wyoming, the hillside is inspected frequently by geotechnical engineers. After a severe weather event, heavy snow followed by rain (an event which is not uncommon to Spokane) caused the hillside in several areas to slide. This event took out 12 sections of the highway, costing the state of Montana more than $16 million to replace. Fortunately, no lives were lost.

I have been a highway contractor for 50 years. I’ve owned two asphalt plants and one concrete plant for construction of asphalt and concrete highways. I’ve owned three gravel pits used for crushing materials and base for highway construction. I’ve worked on highways in Washington, Idaho and Montana.

I have become quite knowledgeable about the stability of soils. I can assure you that this contemplated project is on a soil base of sand and clay, and the minimal stability that exists there now will be reduced substantially by the planned removal of trees and brush.

Death is tragic, but death with the type of mutilation and carnage that could happen with a landslide will be a horrific experience that is sure to haunt you for the rest of your life.

I for one cannot stand by and allow the city of Spokane to place so many lives in danger.

For a small amount of tax revenue, the city is wagering that the hillside will stay up. For the little bit of taxes that the city receives for 25 acres, I don’t see how any of us could consider this a reasonable wager.

I implore you to contact your city representative and point out the danger in this proposed structure. And point out the possibility of the tragedy that could occur. It will go down in Spokane’s history for years and years to come as the gamble of the century.