SPOKANE, Wash. — People living near Drumheller Park in northwest Spokane are not happy with a property owner’s potential plans to redevelop a portion of the park.
On Wednesday night, a resolution passed to continue the process for now.
The city says a parcel of land in Drumheller Park is privately owned and those owners want to develop it and turn it into housing. To do that, they would have to vacate the street.
The city said anyone can request a street to vacate at any time, but it is a lengthy process. Right now, it is still the beginning stages of that process. Vacating the street would restrict access to a street that the city owns so they can move forward with development plans.
Drumheller Park is a historic area that served as a campsite for the Spokane Indians and other tribal nations for thousands of years. People in the area want to preserve that history. They also want to preserve the natrual wetland ecosystem.
Several people who live in the area spoke at the City Council meeting, opposing the resolution.
“This would have a lasting impact on the integrity of the park, its historical character, respect for the Spokane Tribe’s history, its sensitive terrain and the wildlife,” one person at Wednesday’s meeting said.
“It is part of a larger cultural landscape where indigenous history, the natural environment, and generations of community memory intersect,” another woman said. “Preserving this place means recognizing the significance of the entire landscape, not just the physical landmarks within it.”
One woman whose house backs up to the potential development area says she sees both sides. She wants to protect the wildlife and history but also hopes this would create more housing for people she sees living in the park.
The city said it is still early in the process and there are many steps that still need to be taken. The hearing for public testimony is scheduled for December 16.
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