Merton building demolition starts

A demolition crew began tearing down the historic Merton Block building Sunday while about two dozen onlookers watched from the sidewalk across the street.

“I think they should have left it up,” said Larry Hegge, a Spokane cab driver, who had a street-level view of the demolition work from his taxi parking spot outside the Ridpath Hotel. He said the upper-story apartments should have been rehabilitated.

With its arched upper windows, the four-story 1890 Merton building, at the northeast corner of Sprague and Howard, was the oldest intact structure in downtown Spokane, and one of three historically significant buildings facing demolition on the block bounded by Riverside, Howard, Sprague and Stevens.

The 1934 Rookery Building at three stories and the 1915 Mohawk Building at seven stories face Howard and Riverside as adjacent structures on the same block.

Property owner Wendell Reugh has been seeking to tear down the buildings while preservationists are pleading for him to save the properties. Potential buyers reportedly have not been able to meet Reugh’s price and terms. He was seeking $4.5 million. Several years ago, he sought to tear down the buildings and erect a new 19-story office tower on the land, but the project was scrapped.

“Oh, it just makes my heart ache,” said Joanne Moyer of the Spokane Preservation Advocates after learning that wrecking had started on the Merton. “What a shame.”

Moyer was among a group of preservationists who picketed outside the Rookery Building last week, carrying signs with inscriptions such as “Don’t Reugh’n Downtown.”

Moyer said she has met with Reugh and he told her that the deadline for demolition of the other buildings is next Monday. She said the Merton building would probably have been the costliest to rehabilitate of the three larger buildings slated for demolition on the block. Several smaller buildings along Sprague Avenue were recently torn down by Reugh.

“What do they do in Europe?” Moyer asked. “They don’t tear down their buildings.”

Moyer said there are still talks going with Reugh in an attempt to reach a deal. “There is still a small glimmer of hope,” she said.

However, Reugh reportedly wants the cost of demolition added to the previous asking price, Moyer said.

Downtown developers Ron Wells and Rob Brewster, along with out-of-town investors, have looked into buying the properties. Wells has said that he offered $4.37 million in 2003, but the offer was contingent on not having to pay interest on part of the properties for a period of time after the sale.

Spokane City Council members earlier this year extended time limits on existing demolition permits to allow more time to find a buyer for the properties. The council also put a moratorium on demolitions that would leave an empty lot, but not if the demolition were being done to erect a new building. Reugh already had a demolition permit when the council enacted the moratorium.