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Editorial: Downtown auto dealer compromise benefits Third Avenue
The compromise that will keep the Larry H. Miller auto dealerships in Spokane prevented what could have been a disaster for the city.
The dealership, one of 54 the Salt Lake City-based company operates in seven states, had threatened to uproot the Honda, Toyota and Lexus facilities along Second and Third avenues if the city and the City-County Landmarks Commission insisted on the preservation of three auto showrooms that date to the early 20th century. None are historically significant as individual buildings, but together encapsulate a chapter of automotive history.
Much as Spokane treasures its older buildings, it is time to move on to the next chapter. Today’s mega-dealerships move more vehicles, and their customers want more amenities, than was the case a century ago.
Insisting on the protection of the three buildings would have scotched Miller’s plans for a $35 million overhaul of its complex. And, because car dealers like to cluster together to build traffic, the nearby Subaru and Volvo/Jaguar/Land Rover dealerships might also have pulled out.
Spokane Valley, home of Auto Row, or Liberty Lake and its vehicle sales hub, would have been glad to have a neighbor named Miller.
Third Avenue from Lincoln Street to Adams Street would have become a near wasteland, alleviated only by the fading Brother of Friends building.
That’s not the panorama the city wants to present to the thousands who drive by on Interstate 90 every day.
Megan Duvall, the city’s new historic preservation officer, hit on an excellent solution, identifying a provision in the 2005 demolition ordinance that allows the razing of structures if doing so preserves others. In this case, the building at 1030 W. Third Ave. will become the new Lexus showroom.
Miller representatives say the new complex’s appearance will be enhanced by tree plantings and lighting, perhaps even a bike/pedestrian path on Madison Street from Second Avenue to Freeway Avenue if the City Council consents.
The result should be an asset that helps attract more investment to that area.
Yet the city came distressingly close to losing this opportunity. Communication between the city, the property owners and Miller was clearly lacking. The Landmarks Commission voted to make the garage structures eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places just last month, well into the planning for the new auto complex, and over the objections of the owners.
Spokane is blessed with many old buildings that perceptive developers have converted to new uses. Not all can be saved, and there have been some regrettable losses.
The old dealerships were not the place to make a stand. One will survive, and the city of Spokane will be better for it and the development that the compromise will allow to go forward – in all-wheel drive.