SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — A new major housing development in Spokane Valley is in the works, but some residents aren't thrilled about the plan.
Spokane Valley city permits show developers plan to build 10 apartment buildings with 32 units in each, along with 80 luxury homes. The 400 living units are set to be built on 80 acres of vacant land, now being called the Saltese Creek development. It's the planned location that has some residents speaking out against the new housing development.
According to permits, the development is located south of I-90 on property previously owned by the non-profit, Good Samaritan Society. The precise address is listed as 17121 East 8th Avenue in Spokane Valley.
Developers Cedar and Sage Homes plan to build a road starting at 8th Avenue and Tschirley Road. The road will then travel south into the hillside, where the new houses will be built. Rusty Peterson with Cedar and Sage homes said the Spokane Valley Fire Department required the road be built as a way to provide emergency vehicles access into the area.
Permits for the development are currently under review, meaning they haven't been approved. Peterson said construction on the 320 apartment units is expected to begin as early as the end of May or early June, and the units may be ready for occupancy by spring 2025.
According to Peterson, they're still at least a year out from starting construction on the 80 houses.
For decades, this property sitting northwest of the Saltese Flats Wetland area remained vacant, except for the wildlife. It's not uncommon to see geese, deer and the occasional owl passing through.
It's an environment that drew Jennifer LaRue to the neighborhood 20 years ago, which is why she's not thrilled about the plans to tear it up for a new housing development.
"I've just been enjoying the owls up there, I love hearing the coyotes and I know deer come down," LaRue said. "I do understand that people need a place to live. But not here."
LaRue's neighbor Tom Smith lives just down the street from the property that's soon to be home to hundreds of new neighbors. The biggest reason why he's stayed is the untouched beauty and wildlife just steps from his home. Now, he worries all that will go away.
"To me, I think it's going to be chaos," Smith said. "It will take over all the beautiful land we have here. And the traffic is just going to be insurmountable."
Developers said they've heard these concerns from neighbors about the impacts. But they recognize there is a need for housing in the community and they want help.
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