Sunday, March 28, 2004

Paying to Park

About this series

For nearly a decade, the debate over River Park Square's troubled parking garage has been a defining element of Spokane's civic life.As the trial date approaches in a federal securities fraud lawsuit, court filings are shedding light on the chain of decisions that led to this point.In the next week, The SpokesmanReview will examine the history of the controversy, focusing on the moments where key decisions were made.

  • Sunday: The city of Spokane and the developer go into business together.
  • Monday: The city hires a consultant, whose projections for garage revenues far outstrip the actual performance.
  • Tuesday: Applying a rarely used assessment method, the city and the developer agree on a price for the garage that critics say is too high by millions.
  • Wednesday: The Spokane City Council pledges money from city parking meters as a backup for garage revenues.
  • Thursday: The developer makes a deal with a key tenant, AMC Theaters, that essentially guarantees the garage will fall millions behind projections.
  • Friday: A new City Council votes not to loan some $450,000 from the parking meter fund to cover garage expenses, and the court battles begin.
  • Saturday: The key players in the federal case agree to seek mediation, as the trial approaches.
  • March 28: The possible solutions -- and costs -- for the controversy.

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