Architects and others who view the world through artists’ eyes talk about buildings in terms of their “bones.” Some structures, like some people, have bone structures that add to their elegance, an elegance that lasts even as they age.

The Davenport Hotel in downtown Spokane, for instance, never lost its magnificent bone structure, even in its shabbiest years when it seemed destined for the wrecking ball.

Abandoned buildings that once housed giant stores rarely have Davenportlike elegance. Bereft of people and activity, the empty buildings stand as testament to the whims of consumers who abandon stores for many reasons, but sometimes just because a shopping trend has run its course.

Liberty Lake officials are well aware of the message empty box stores can send about a community. The past was our prime. Nothing’s happening here now. Our future is uncertain.

Neglected building sites can also become gathering spots for community-unfriendly activities, such as loitering and drug-dealing.

So Liberty Lake officials are proposing a sort of “prenuptial agreement” with companies that come courting with big box stores on their minds. The proposed standards cover such things as the store’s curb appeal – how will it look when viewed from the street? The standards would also require that companies design their buildings with adaptable uses and outline a maintenance plan in case the building and surrounding property go unoccupied.

Companies would also be required to detail their exit strategies and give officials three months’ notice to allow plenty of time to brainstorm ways to fill the empty spaces.

Doug Smith, director of planning and community development for Liberty Lake, recently told The Spokesman-Review, “Our philosophy is: If you’re going to come to Liberty Lake, you’ll need to meet our standards.”

Liberty Lake, population 5,000, is a boom town, thanks to high-tech companies, and the quality of life it offers, especially to young families. The town is close to hiking, golfing and water recreation. At Pavillion Park, free concerts, movies and other activities draw families out of their homes and into the community on warm summer evenings.

A healthy boom town needs it all to keep the boom going, including successful retail. But insisting that a big box store fit in with a town’s ideals sends the message that businesses that wish to call Liberty Lake home must be as committed to the town’s future as its residents and leaders.

Liberty Lake’s high standards are new to the Inland Northwest, but Bozeman has done well enforcing similar requirements in the past few years.

As the Inland Northwest economic boom continues, towns who think “out of the box,” as Liberty Lake is now, show the way inevitable growth can be handled both wisely and creatively.