POST FALLS – The landing is back on the radar.
A 34-acre multi-purpose project along the east side of the Spokane River is slowly starting to develop after nearly 20 years of talks.
Post Falls City Council members recently voted to incorporate McReynolds Drive into the public street within the development. It used to be a short stretch of private road that improves traffic flow, allows for a central parking lot to be created in another block, and potentially increases the square footage for some buildings, said urban planner Jon Manley.
“I think what it brings to the fore is the influx of people and the investment opportunities,” said Manley. “People are seeing improvements and developments all over the city. They see that there are more options in Post Falls.”
Based on a plan by Verdis, a Coeur d’Alene landscape, architecture and planning firm, The Landing will become a “thriving hub for commerce, relaxation and entertainment with a Main Street design concept”.
The plan calls for great care to be taken to integrate the design with the “natural beauty” of the surroundings and to use “local materials” where possible.
The development includes commercial, office and residential buildings as well as a “water promenade” that extends into a public space for trade fairs, markets and community events. Construction on the boardwalk is underway, Manley said.
Pocket parks and playgrounds are to be integrated, according to Verdis.
The website is owned by Liberty Bankers Life Insurance Company, based in Dallas. Developers are expected to get space around the water tower to develop into a public park, according to documentation provided by the city council. A public transport stop will be installed and marina parking spaces will be provided at certain sections of the river.
The speed of construction will depend on the individual buyer’s interests, said Manley. He confirmed that a two-story, 12,000-square-foot urological building is planned for the northwest corner of Third and Spokane Streets and an application has been filed.
A four-story, 15,000 square meter commercial building is planned on Spokane Street with an apartment complex with 110 units behind it.
There is no set time frame for completing the project.
The main corridors along Spokane Street and Idaho Street will focus on commercial development that meets urban requirements. There is some interest in residential units, however, Manley said.
The maximum height a building can reach is 85 feet, or about seven stories, under the SmartCode Master Development Agreement submitted to the council.
Unlike previous developments designed for automotive use, the Landing will be decidedly “pedestrian-friendly,” Manley said. After completion, the paths will allow pedestrians sufficient access to the commercial and residential areas.
The development will maximize views of Spokane River, Q’emiln and Falls parks under the Verdis plan included in the city council’s agenda package for October 5th.
Originally approved by the council in 2003, the project was publicly recorded and updated in 2007 to reflect the guidelines required by the Post Falls Landing SmartCode Infill Neighborhood Plan in 2014.
The city’s water and sanitation infrastructure is in place, although expansion of these services may be required while the electrical connection and internet installation are still under way, Manley said.
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