From the Twittersphere

Twitter roundup.

Highlights from #insteadofsprawl

Pocket Park

Browne's Addition:

Because density needs green space and there is an amazing view. I wish this was a pocket park.

Browne's Addition, Riverside Ave.

Vertical Potential

City of Spokane Planning Commissioner and developer of mixed use development notices vertical potential. 

our Trader Joes building/their Trader Joe's building

Gail says:

"empty land, large surface parking lots and dilapidated buildings are one option. The other untapped area, is large, sprawling one story buildings. We could put 5 stories of residential on top of ground floor commercial!!!

Here's an example of an apartment above Trader Joes [in Minneapolis]

As long as it is cheap and easy in the short term (very expensive in long term) development will sprawl and taxpayers, businesses and low income [people] will pay, Pay, PAY." 

Play along with us on Twitter! Use the hashtag #insteadofsprawl

Thanks to Spokane Rising for joining our project! I will monitor #insteadofsprawl and feature your contributions here.

Welcome!

Welcome to Spokane Instead of Sprawl. An imaginative citizen show and tell project to promote economic vitality in the cities of Spokane County.

I invite you to join me in taking photos of vacant buildings or lots and imagining what you would rather see there to fight sprawl. For the rest of June as you go about your day if you notice an eyesore or a place with huge potential, don’t just walk by! Take a moment to re-imagine what it could be then take photo and tell us about it. You’ll be glad you did.

It’s fun and easy. So easy that all I had to do was go right next door to my office to find my first subject, the former Visit Spokane headquarters.

Why do this?

Because sprawl makes it hard for existing neighborhoods and business districts to maintain our infrastructure quality of life and our county commissioners who control where growth and infrastructure investment happens don’t get it. A few wealthy sprawl promoting land speculators are calling the shots forcing the rest of us to pay for the impacts of the sprawl they want to build.

We choose to live in the Spokane Region because we enjoy our quality of life and proximity to nature, recreation and farmland. We have worked hard to make our homes here and want to protect what we value about this community. We play by the rules and pay our fair share for infrastructure and services. It's time for Spokane County to play by the rules and focus growth inside urban areas where it is most needed and where infrastructure and urban services are already in place.

What are we trying to accomplish?

Show the Spokane County Commissioners where you think growth should go. Take a picture of your favorite vacant lot or empty building and tell what you would like to see there instead. We will compile all of your entries and present them to Spokane County at their July 9th hearing on the urban growth boundary.
Let’s help them get the message.


If you would like to use a sign like I have you can pick one up during business hours at our office at 35 W. Main Ave. Suite 350. or you can download the word file and print your own. Email me at kitty@futurewise.org if you need help.


Thanks and happy hunting!


Kitty Klitzke


P.S. This is not a unique idea. I want to acknowledge Candy Chang and other visionary people who have worked with this idea in their communities.