Spokane retailer Martha Cummings dislikes negative talk about the central business district, which she calls "downtown bashing." The owner of Dill Pickle Maternity Fashions, N212 Howard, phoned following a recent column of mine on her next door neighbor, Vic Quarve (Kwar-vee).

Leveling conflict-of-interest charges against Mayor Jack Geraghty, Spokane city Councilman Chris Anderson refused to vote on a downtown redevelopment project because of what he calls a "tainted process." Late Monday, Anderson's colleagues approved plans, 5-0, for an $80 million project that will use both private and public money to nearly double the size of River Park Square.

The owners of River Park Square Thursday asked the city to close a block of Post Street to accommodate a massive $80 million downtown retail expansion. The project includes a new home for Nordstrom Inc., a major downtown merchant, and shopping and parking space covering two blocks.

Downtown business leaders Thursday presented a petition for a parking and improvement district to city leaders, who found themselves quickly attacked by critics of the plan.

Goodale & Barbieri Co. announced Tuesday that four new tenants will move into Crescent Court and open by summer. Kalispell, Mont.-based Moose Lake Co. will occupy 4,000 square feet on the first floor adjacent to Cucina! Cucina! The store, which is expected to open July 1, is "a specialty store featuring apparel, accessories, home furnishings and gifts that capture our Northwest life style," according to a news release.

Seattle is taking a stand against downtown parking sprawl. In downtown Spokane, on the other hand, the cry is for more and more parking.