Spokane & her Northern Idaho Neighbors (Vancouver: new home, school, subdivisions)

[Sandpointian]

A casual drive though from Western Spokane to Eastern reaches of Coeur d'Alene & Hayden, suggests that in the not-too-distant future, the area will become its own Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (or it is Micropolitican Statistical Area???...Go to the Census website and get just as confused!).

While I tend to think of Spokane in terms of impact on Idaho, I have little info on how Idaho may or may not enter the consciousness of Spokanites. So I am asking: how do residents of Spokane view Northern Idaho and her various cities?

I am looking for a wide range of responses from cultural perceptions, business opportunities & markets, tourism, schooling, jobs/commuting, etc.

A secondary line of questioning takes this a step further. If the trends hold (and they appear unmistakable), what will the greater Spokane-CDA MSA look like? What will be its demographic distributions? Character? Synergies? Challenges?

I will appreciate your candor and hope that the dignity of your responses can lead to a healthy discussion.

Best, S

[Sandpointian]

Hi, in re-reading what I posted, I wonder if I cam across as someone looking for market research. Not the case. I am simply wondering about how Spokanites intereact and perceive with their NID neighbors. Thx.

[vette-dude]

After reading your "post", one would think this situation would be somewhat similar to a Tricities in relation to SE Oregon, or Vancouver in relation to Oregon so on and so forth....

[SeaDreams]

Just to throw a humble opinion in, and nothing more... and not even a Spokane opinion...

I find it sad that Post Falls is going to "merge". We moved here from Spokane for many reasons, and I fear that those those reasons will start to be a part of Post Falls before too many years. People in this community hate it to be called a "bedroom community", but unfortunately it appears to be. Not much real infrastructure to support itself, and with Spokane and Coeur d'Alene on either side the town will eventually lose it's own personality.

The residential growth in this area is amazing (and I don't know what supports it!) and with all the new subdivisions, furniture stores, DIY stores, etc. it will become Spoeur d'Alene.

Go Post Falls Trojans!! (No kids, but gotta love HS football in a small town!)

[Sandpointian]

SeaDreams,
It will take pride, especially from those with $$, to ensure that PF maintains a sense of identity. Although the residential growth has been rather insane, it does offer the opportunity of both a large tax base and a ready set of consumers.

If PFers, especially the leadership, do nothing, then it seems likely that PF will become a rather anonymous "pass through" community. But if they can work on a few good public space projects and developing shopping-public space areas that are quaint and inviting then why couldn't PF and the prominence of the Spokane River brand its own distinct personality?

But it will take vision...

I worry about CDA in the same way. CDA has great built-in advanatges, but has underperformed in a big way. The Sherman area East of 11th should be redeveloped into as much of a draw as the "downtown." The downtown homes are a mixture of beautifully restored older homes and eyesores. Although the performance of the LCDC is admittedly mixed, I am impressed that they seem to be fully cognizant of the need to stake a claim for CDA as a vibrant city. But there is lot of work to be done. Sitting idle is nopt a great option.

And Hayden? Interestingly enough, for years it had a separate identity with its own lake and village. But more recently, the center of Hayden has moved west into the prairie in a big way and together with NW CDA, Rathreum, and North PF, is a completely new zone (or sea) of new homes. Then there are the plans for Hayden Canyon which will add 1800 homes on 618 acres north of present Hayden Lake. There are strong merits regarding the project, but also valid concerns. Finally there is the new downtown of Hayden on Gov't Way...So the issue of identity and carving out a stake is key in Hayden as well.

Up north, there is Sandpoint. Clearly, it is out of "Spoeur d'Alene" (cute--I'll borrow that!) proper. The challenges we face will be lessened by the expected future growth of Ponderay, where most of the LPO business community in the future will likely reside. If growth happens in this way, it will increase the gentrification of SP, which is good and bad. But in the meantime, those local business are so, very important, as there is no practical commuter option that one has in Hayden-CDA-PF-Spokane. SP requires a different development model and one that must be nurtured more carefully. I am not as convinced that we have either as good a plan or thought process as the other communities. Why? I think there is more emotional attachment in a small town with great ties to the land and landscape. Cold economic logic does not come off as well as it should or could. So stasis is often the more acceptable pathway for governance...something that worries me. We lost four businesses recently, big news in a town the size of ours. Both Dover and SP have to work together with Ponderay. If not, we will let regional economics define its identity rather than define it on our own terms.

Finally, there is the inevitable discussion of the area between Hayden and Sagle, including Athol. acres of open land. What will happen? The fight for the soul of the lower Pandhandle will be fought there.

Whoops! I meant a quick note! But I guess I 'd like to see this development process in NID handled with purpose and vision rather than through desperate or uncontrolled decisions.

S