Call to Action

Guest Opinion

Act to preserve natural grandeur

Allison Stacey Cowles

Special to The Spokesman-Review

"I lift up my eyes to the hills."

I do it, you do it, everyone does it. From ancient times, gazing up at Earth's magnificence and the sky above has been a universal way for humankind to seek inspiration and solace.

How lucky we are in Spokane to still have beautiful mountains and some unspoiled distant vistas! That's an important part of what we call our special "quality of life." Unlike Seattle and New York, we can still see the topography and understand the land forms of our city.

Earlier generations gave us High Drive, Cliff Park, Lincoln Park, Mt. Spokane and other beautiful parks, including Riverfront Park, as a civic inheritance. Our city even has a motto: "Spokane – Near Nature, Near Perfect."

However, with each decade, the beauty of our city suffers assault. Years ago we objected, but not hard enough, to granting permits for the Sacred Heart medical towers. Construction of those tall buildings spoiled forever a beautiful view of Mt. Spokane from Grand Boulevard, and took away from thousands of citizens their daily lift of heart.

Drive north to Francis Avenue and look up at the rimrock. Yes, it's great, but how about those big houses perched on the edges looking down at us. Why didn't the permits require those houses to be set back and screened with trees so we thousands below could see the rimrock meet the sky? (This spring we are planting trees on the view side of our new-to-us house.)

Again, drive east on the freeway to Millwood, and look at the developments up to the left. Drive along High Drive, and look across Hangman Valley at the developments there. They resemble nothing so much as cancerous scabs on the hillsides.

We all take great pride in our river, and daily enjoy the many glimpses we get walking and driving along the riverbanks. Should we allow towers to block these public views forever?

If developments like these are allowed to continue, Spokane's unrestrained housing and tower constructions will quickly destroy our natural grandeur. Buildings on stilts will obscure the river, and developments on stilts will poke above the trees to spoil our hillsides. In a generation, Spokane could become one more urban landscape, pock-marked with deteriorating "developments." Not many of us want that for our grandchildren.

The terrible truth is that it's our fault. We don't protect the beauty we treasure. Phoenix years ago outlawed further construction above a certain height on its surrounding mountains. Why can't we outlaw poor practices and insist that public views be preserved for the common good? Proper density laws, height controls and landscape requirements could protect our gorgeous vistas without completely stopping all development. High-density condos and townhouses could be restricted to flat or hidden areas as they are in Arizona.

There are many solutions, including requiring developers to post bonds to protect the public against bankruptcy actions. The City Council should be cautious of selling our patrimony for a few quick tax bucks. And just because new building techniques exist, they shouldn't spoil the city for the rest of us.

We need to act. As part of the organizing effort for Expo '74, King Cole gathered all the volunteer organizations in Spokane. It was called "ABC" for "A Better Community," and it succeeded in involving large numbers of citizens in the expo activities. This model might be one way to accomplish our civic goals. Perhaps the city, the Chamber of Commerce, the Parks Commission, garden clubs, environmental groups, churches or even enlightened businesses, including The Spokesman- Review, could provide initial leadership. Old as I am, I would be willing to help.

Of course there will be objections from developers and those who work with them. But if we have the civic and political will, we can prevail. And then we could REALLY boast "Spokane – Near Nature, Near Perfect."