'Tear it down': Abandoned Spokane home slated to be demolished

The home is now slated for demolition, and neighbors are thrilled. The City hopes to solves a couple of problems — cleaning up the property and potentially bringing more housing to the neighborhood.

There are beautiful homes up and down the block of the home off Nevada and Liberty. For years, those homes have been overshadowed by that home.

It's boarded up, wood is rotting of the side of the house, and there is even rodent activity within the home. 

With the home being a focal point of the neighborhood for years, the City and neighbors are ready for a change.

"The only thing that has been good about it is I've been using it as a marker for giving people directions," Bambi Feehan, who lives near the home, said.

The property has been in decline for decades, even before Bill Feehan moved in back in 1991.

"It's always been that way," Bill Feehan said.

Michelle Power moved in right next door.

"Nuisance, nuisance," Power said. "And I know people kind of come and go in there, and it's not good for the neighborhood because it's really nice around here. But I know people are deterred coming around here, seeing houses like that."

Decades of neglect and deterioration is now reaching a breaking point. The City is stepping in to help.

The City met with the owner in 2016, detailing multiple issues with the property that needed to be resolved.

Nearly seven years later, little action was taken.

"Obviously the condition of the property is concerning to the city," Jason Ruffing, who does code enforcement with the City of Spokane, said. "There are a litany of violations present."

The City brought a case against this property and referred it to receivership, meaning a judge appoints a third party to be in charge of the property. That court appointed receiver listed the property for sale.

After years of waiting, change is coming to the neighborhood.

"I would like to see them," Bill Feehan said. "I mean, you can see how it is right now. Tear it down, start from scratch."

Once the property is sold, the proceeds go to the original owner. The new owner will then offer a plan to demolish the building.

As for what will come of the property, new code laws have made it easier to develop multi-family homes in neighborhoods. But that is up to the new owners.

"I think that's good," Power said. "I'm for that. I know a lot of people think that draws in a certain kind of people, but everyone needs to live somewhere. If they're going to update it and make it look better, I'm all for it."

At the very least, neighbors are excited for a fresh start on Nevada and Liberty.

There is a sale pending right now. That sale will have to be approved in Spokane Superior Court.

It is slated to take place in early April.

READ: Spokane City Council passes ordinance for developing downtown parking lots into housing

READ: Turning downtown parking space into affordable housing

READ: City of Spokane Valley creating plan to address homelessness, affordable housing

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