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Excerpts from the 9/24/2005 article by Craig Howard
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Shortly before the noontime dedication of CenterPlace, Spokane
Valley city engineer Steve Worley greeted visitors in one of the
building's meeting rooms. The space had been converted into a display
area featuring information on city government and ongoing projects
like the comprehensive plan.
"The first thing people say is 'This building is beautiful,'"
Worley said.
 At
the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Pat Moses, a member of the Spokane
Tribe, offered a dedicatory prayer and noted how his predecessors
- members of the Upper Spokane Band - had once lived and fished
in this area.
Spokane Valley Deputy Mayor Rich Munson gave credit to CenterPlace
visionaries like Denny Ashlock and Greg Bever who, years ago, had
imagined developing a multipurpose community venue. Inland Empire
Paper Co. gave the project a significant boost when the company
donated land for the project.
Other key ingredients, like a bond issue that raised $7 million
for construction, ultimately made CenterPlace - and its 54,000 square
feet of space - a reality.
"This is an example of how government can work together to
get good things done," Munson said.
The Spokane Valley Senior Center, which occupies the west wing of
CenterPlace from 8 a.m to 4 p.m. on weekdays, welcomed visitors
on Saturday with a variety of activities including line dancing,
arts and crafts, and blood pressure checks at a wellness center.
Mike Jackson, Spokane Valley's parks and recreation director, said
the new building will bring an added dimension to the area.
"It's certainly a privilege to have this beautiful facility
added to the city of Spokane Valley Parks Department to operate."
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From the 8/12/2005 article by Craig Howard
If there was ever a building that summed up the definition of "multipurpose
venue" it might just be CenterPlace at Mirabeau Point.
Seniors will come here to line dance, college courses and city
meetings will be on the agenda, wedding receptions are already scheduled
for autumn.
Add amenities like a full-service kitchen, a "Great Room"
with seating for 400, and a state-of-the-art auditorium, and it's
no wonder why reservations are already coming in.
"We've had a lot of phone calls," said Lisa Bracco, CenterPlace
coordinator.
"People want to know what this building is."
The public will have an opportunity to tour Spokane Valley's $10
million civic center on Sept. 24 during the Valleyfest celebration
held at nearby Mirabeau Point Park.
Mike Jackson, Spokane Valley's parks director, described the 54,000-square-foot
building as "substantially complete," adding there is
a "punchlist" still to be completed such as installation
of the computer system.
Initially city officials were holding off on certain aspects of
the project like landscaping and polishing off the second floor.
Low bids, however, meant more money to wrap up the loose ends.
"I think the money has been very will spent," said Spokane
Valley Deputy Mayor Rich Munson during a recent tour of CenterPlace.
"This is very impressive."
Funding for the building came from a hodgepodge of sources - grants,
donations and refunding of a portion of the state sales tax.
Even concerns like lack of parking - there are 362 parking spots
available - and potential traffic snarls appear to have been alleviated.
"It looks like we've got lots of parking," Munson said.
The Spokane Valley Senior Center will be taking up one wing of
the facility from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Jackson
said there is a "memorandum of understanding" with the
senior center that needs to go through final approval by City Council.
Previously, the center had leased a building on Mission from the
city. The new arrangement would call for no charge to use CenterPlace.
The organization runs a wide range of activities that Jackson said
will only add to the options available for area seniors.
"Their programming really serves the whole senior community,"
he said.
"We're getting all this volunteer help in running programs
at no charge."
The center's new home includes a 1,652-square-foot wooden dancefloor
that was purchased through a combination of center and city funds.
A greenhouse and library overlooking the Spokane River are also
part of the layout.
Doorways and tables were designed accoding to specifications in
the American with Disabilities Act.
On the technological front, CenterPlace has most of the latest
bells and whistles including motion sensitive lighting, great acoustics
and rooms that can wire into the same audio/visual network.
Munson said City Council would probably meet several times a year
in the auditiorium space that will be used for presentations and
theater groups.
Community Colleges of Spokane has also made a committment to classroom
space at CenterPlace.
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By
Craig Howard
