At last night’s epic City Council meeting---it was 10:30pm when DTE escaped---the fate of the old YMCA building once again remained uncertain. It could be the most expensive acre in eastern Washington as the City still has a $4.3 million debt lingering on the property while dealing with a 2010 budget deficit. Spokane County agreed to assist with the tab through Conservation Futures which means demolition of the building and creating an open space, offering more Riverfront Park availability.

But after developer Ron Wells testified a viable option would be for a long term lease, hopefully creating a mixed use building with offices and apartments, the city, between a rock and a hard place, came to a tentative agreement with Council President Joe Shogan throwing in a last minute provision approved by the City Council. The agreement states renovation requires the city to begin a bidding process to ask for development ideas before accepting the county’s offer to use Conservation Futures funds for the purchase. The council voted 4 to 2 for the provision---Bob Apple, Al French, Steve Corker, and Shogan in favor, Richard Rush and Jon Snyder opposed since the latter two wanted to see development. (Where was Nancy McLaughlin for such an important vote?) By last count, the city has a year to find a developer before accessing the county dollars. Full story HERE.

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