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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control

Spokane City Council to consider moratoriums targeting Browne’s Addition, Hillyard

After an old home was demolished to be replaced by a 15-unit apartment building, neighbors are looking into forming a historic district to have some control on the appearance of new buildings in one of Spokane's oldest neighborhoods. Although there are many apartment buidlings, both old and new, large and small, in Browne's Addition, but neighbors feel that some newer buildings can ruin the historic appearance of the neighborhood. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
After an old home was demolished to be replaced by a 15-unit apartment building, neighbors are looking into forming a historic district to have some control on the appearance of new buildings in one of Spokane's oldest neighborhoods. Although there are many apartment buidlings, both old and new, large and small, in Browne's Addition, but neighbors feel that some newer buildings can ruin the historic appearance of the neighborhood. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)

The Spokane City Council added two emergency moratoriums to their agenda Monday night, with the goal of stopping the relocation of billboard signs into the historic Hillyard neighborhood and halting demolition of homes in Browne's Addition.

City Councilwoman Amber Waldref proposed a six-month stoppage of permits move existing signs into areas designated as neighborhood cores in the city's planning documents. That would prevent further encroachment of signs onto Market Street, where Waldref told her colleagues at least one permit had been filed. The measure would affect a 10-block stretch in Hillyard neighborhood, Waldref said.

The second request came from City Councilwoman Lori Kinnear, who asked for a moratorium on demolition in the Browne's Addition neighborhood until property owners can be surveyed in advance of zoning protections for historic properties

"One house has come down already," Kinnear said. "So in order to give them time to complete their survey, I'm asking that we impose this moratorium for six months, to give them that little bit of time."

The council approved placing both items on their 6 p.m. legislative agenda. The meeting will take place at City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Boulevard, and public testimony will be accepted. 



Kip Hill
Kip Hill joined The Spokesman-Review in 2013. He currently is a reporter for the City Desk, covering the marijuana industry, local politics and breaking news. He previously hosted the newspaper's podcast.

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