Government

Spokane County preps for $19 million in Bigelow Gulch projects

Official says projects will improve, widen roadway

June 8, 2017

The Spokane County Public Works Department plans to start two projects worth a combined total of $19 million as part of its continuing work on Bigelow Gulch and Forker roads. Martha Lou Wheatley-Billeter, Spokane County's public works information and o

Work on Riverfront Park projects hits full stride

Ice ribbon, structure set for November completion

June 8, 2017

The city of Spokane parks department says it plans to open the new Riverfront Park ice rink-and ticket office for the rink and Skyride facility-in November. 'The desire is to make the ice ribbon a destination place as the holidays approach,â€ says

Spokane's road work backlog: Year of the big fix

Extreme wet winter, spring compound annual breakup

June 8, 2017

Mike McLean

Although a number of long-planned transportation system improvements are underway, it likely will take much of this road construction season-if not longer-for street crews to complete urgent repairs of winter and spring water damage. In Spokane, the

City, Brown Building Materials prepare to meet in court

Eminent domain meant to clear hurdle for MLK Way

May 25, 2017

An eminent domain case involving the city of Spokane and B-ONE LLC, which operates Brown Building Materials, and pertaining to key property next to the Spokane River near downtown, now is scheduled to go to trial on Oct. 9. The petition, filed by the cit

Exiting WSU chancellor mulls next challenge

Brown foresees health care remaining big focus for her

May 25, 2017

LeAnn Bjerken

As Washington State University Spokane Chancellor Lisa Brown enters her final months in that position, she says timing and opportunity have intersected to mold her time at the school. 'In some ways, I've just been in the right place at the right tim

Spokane Transit Authority plans $10.8 million complex

Design work under way on West Central facility

May 11, 2017

LeAnn Bjerken

Spokane Transit Authority has started planning for the construction of a $10.8 million transit vehicle storage building, parking lot, and fuel storage facility, to be located just northwest of its headquarters in west central Spokane. Brandon Rapez-Bett

City grants amnesty for unregistered businesses

About 3,000 companies said to be in delinquency

May 11, 2017

Linn Parish

The city of Spokane has launched a business registration amnesty program through which unregistered businesses that are located in the city or do business here can come into compliance without any penalties for delinquencies. Margaret Redd, taxes and li

Assessor staffing shortage to delay appraisal notices

County has had difficulty recruiting skilled applicants

May 11, 2017

Mike McLean

The Spokane County Assessor's Office is running behind schedule in 2017 property tax assessments for the 2018 tax year. Due to a shortage of appraisers, the Assessor's Office won't complete 2017 valuations in time to send notices to property owners

First Tee pulls golf project amid road flap

Nonprofit had hoped to build three-hole course

April 27, 2017

The executive director for the nonprofit Inland Northwest Golf Foundation, the parent to The First Tee of the Inland Northwest chapter here, says the organization has withdrawn a predevelopment application before the city of Spokane for a 6-acre, three-ho

Not a lotta lots in Spokane

Land shortage to hinder entry-level homebuyers, builders contend

April 27, 2017

Mike McLean

New-home construction is outpacing the supply of available land to build houses on, and that's contributing to rising home prices and the dwindling inventory of existing homes for sale, some developers here say. Jim Frank, CEO of Liberty Lake-based rea