affordable housing - 12/8/2012

Housing is affordable

[Comment on this Posting]

The Beautiful Northwest at its Best - 10/15/2012

I read ALL of the comments about Spokane and had to write my own review of my beautiful city. Spokane has alot to offer--but even that is very subjective. It depends where you are in your journey,what you are looking for and why you want to be here. I have lived in Spokane for 49 years--born, grew up, started off on my own, had my family, went to school, worked, stayed home, professional in emergency services and academia, a single parent, and now in grad school, an empty nester, looking for that "good career" in mid-life. I think I can offer a wide view of the area. Spokane and its surrounding area's are BEAUTIFUL. Hot/warm summer, cool, brisk fall with beautiful foliage and canopied treed streets, cold winters, wet winters, mild-severe winters. Beautiful Spring. It's here. Over 76 lakes in the area, snow skiing and snow sports close by, hiking, camping--we are within 20 miles of the Idaho border for additional hunting, camping fishing, shooting, whatever outdoor sport you like, we have it, from expensive to free. Museums, civic theatre's, casino's, fairs, small business venues, local music and artists, many cafe-style bookstores, fine, 4-5 star hotels, mom and pop diners, many places to walk the puppies, or stay home and have a warm fire because MANY apartments have fireplaces as well as homes here. Spokane has diversity--but one has to understand the majority of the population is white, unfortunately. We have many churches of different denominations, spiritual events and spiritual stores to purchase goodies--organic neighborhoods with street vendors indoors and out. Rural areas known for picking your own fruit--or not--some of the best and biggest organic peaches and nectarines I have ever seen. You can cut down your own holiday tree or purchase--ride a motorcycle on the freeway and still be reasonably safe--AND you get home from anywhere in the city in about 15-20 minutes. We also boast many natural areas still within the city limits. County and state parks are just 5 minutes right outside of town if you want something close. The best market for a career position here, I feel, are in the medical and emergency services fields. Alot of unskilled labor, government jobs, and administrative positions. Spokane is "old money"--our Kirkland Cutter mansions boast the days of the great Railroad here and the grounds where they exist are pristine. Topography was designed with keeping alot of its naturalness so the south side of our town is hilly and provides a beautiful view to many. Trees literally canopy the streets. So beautiful! Rentals are relatively inexpensive still comparatively. An 800 sq. ft, 2bd. apt. in a decent neighborhood should go for under $700. A 800-1100 sq. ft apartment in an older home can be had for around $600+. Because of our "old money", we have tons of huge houses that have been transformed into mega-apartments. These give the character of the late 1800's and early 1900's with the storage that goes with it. We have new and modern buildings as well. Homes are very inexpensive to purchase here with our minimum wage being as high as it is currently. (Over $9.00 per hr.). Cons: The crime rate has risen. We have a new Chief of Police and a new Mayor who is doing well so far. Yes, there have been police involved shootings. Yes, we have meth and drugs. We have gangs. Are we over-ridden? NO. Are some area's not ok to walk in wearing expensive clothes with your expensive phone and your expensive watch and diamond rings? Yep. Ghetto's? No. Low income areas, middle income and upper all exist. My answer to the former review slamming our police department? Be respectful on traffic stops--if the police have to come to your house for something that you did, do what they tell you to do. Pretty simple for the most part. Con: Some of our streets are rutted--true. Con: We do have some fun clubs and excellent restaurants but we are NOT Seattle. We have excellent resources for low-income. We have excellent community colleges (2) and top rated Universities (3) and at least 2 more with a little bit of driving. We have been hit by the economy and seen businesses close as well. However, this is an excellent place if you don't want to give your money to big box stores and want to instead support small business. I hope this helps. Please contact our Chamber of Commerce and they can also email and mail information to you at www.greaterspokane.org.

[Comment on this Posting]

Quality of Life - 10/11/2012

Spokane is a great place to live if you enjoy a small town feeling. It's impossible to get lost in Spokane. We have hot very dry summers and unpredictable but usually cold snowy winters. Good place if you enjoy 4 distinct seasons. Worst part of living in Spokane is there is little to do. Spokane is basically an island, surrounded by hundreds of miles of nothing until you come to the next substantial city,which is Seattle, making it difficult to drive out of town to an interesting city. Still it is a good place to raise a family if it's limitations are acceptable.

[Comment on this Posting]

living in washington - 9/6/2012

have been in construction for over 20 years..the state is not very small business friendly... high cost of employee liabilities... high insurance labor and industries... just tired of the high taxes sales tax 8.7% property 9-13.5% L & I 3.85 an hour per employee

[Comment on this Posting]

Pro's and Con's of Spokane - 9/4/2012

I have lived on and off between Portland, OR, Seattle, WA and Spokane for my entire life. There are always up's and down's to every place, so I'll be to the point. The Pro's: If you don't plan on living in the city itself, there are lot's of great things about some suburb areas.. Good private school options. Homeschool friendly. Great summers. A few days in the 90's, but mostly in the 80's. Tons of lakes and mountains nearby. Good skiing in winter within an hr. Great local produce from Green Bluff. Very little rain. (I hate rain so I like this aspect.) Some nice parks (Manito) and a river running through. (lots of people like to float down the Little Spokane in summer) The Cons: The city has a very high homeless rate. VERY HIGH. The reason is because Spokane has 4 hospitals for a city of only 200,000. They come here for medical/mental health care. They also bring their meth problems with them. If you work in the medical field there are tons of jobs. If you don't there are very few decent paying jobs. We have been here for 6 years straight now and my husband still commutes to Seattle every week for work, as there are no decent jobs that pay high here. (unless you are in the medical field or just happen to get lucky) It is COLD here in the winter. Not as cold as some places, but expect a 17 degree day in January or Febuary. with a low around 10. And it does snow. Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. Most of the population is white, and there isn't much diversity. My husband is filipino and we always joke about how rare it is to see someone of another race. Because of this don't expect much culture. At the same time, there isn't much racism. (Husband doesn't encounter it anyway) Dining is so-so. You have to drive downtown or to the South Hill for good food. Public Schools are so-so. Mead and South Hill schools are probably the highest rated. *The town is politcally conservative, and has high corruption in it's inner poltics. (What town doesn't?!) I'm not saying conservative is bad, (I am fiscally conservative) but some Liberals may want to know that their votes won't win elections in this red town.

[Comment on this Posting]

Spokane - the death of a city - 7/31/2012

I moved to Spokane to work at a high tech startup - I write computer programs. In spokane I can live like a king on my income. The city has issues however, but since right now I am in my 20s and just saving money I dont really get involved with the things that concern some people that have kids and such (I actually laugh at all the issues I see - fortunately it is not my problem and I dont get involved). But from the eyes of a college grade in my 20s with a good job and I can report what I have seen here. What I can say is from my perspective Spokane is turning into a ghost city. I live downtown and I rode the bus home today, (spokane has great bus service) but when I got off the bus and walked 15 minutes home, I must have seen 4-5 drug deals going down. I dont fear the thugs that are taking over the city though. Just dont make eye contact and you will be okay. Also if they ask for something from you - dont look afraid, just hold your ground - most of the druggies are very weak from drug abuse and could not beat up a healthy person. I would guess the homeless out number the homed. I think there are alot of homeless in spokane because it attracts people that want easy access to Meth and cheap street drugs. It is funny to go outside and see guys walking around with no (or very few) clothes on - apparently when someone gets tripped out on meth, they get really itchy and take their clothes off. I once saw a guy in the downtown park rubbing his head in the dirt ( I guess it was itching - very funny to see). There is a really nice old building downtown called the Hotel Carlyle - it now houses mental patients and when you go by you see all kinds of people in various states of confusion (quite comical really) And they seem to wander throughout the city, you see them everywhere... but yet at night I suppose they must find their way back to the Hotel Carlyle somehow... On a serious note - I do wonder why there is so much mental disease in Spokane, could it be the water? High levels of Radon? Fallout from the Tri-Cities nuclear programs? Or just coincidence? I think someone should study this place and try to figure out what is going on here. Having lived in other cities I can say this place is genuinely weird. If I was not a fast runner, somewhat strong, and making alot of money writing software I would leave - All future economic indicators are negative for this city.

[Comment on this Posting]

Living in Spokane - 6/4/2012

Spokane is a large city but not too large. There's still the small town feel and mindset. We're the largest city between Seattle & Minneapolis MN yet still have 'culture'! Spokane's climate is mild yet wide. It does get hot but doesn't stay hot too long. Yes it can reach 100 for a couple days. It does snow how much depends on the year; and, it does get cold but not below zero like the midwest; which is fine with me. Single digits fine but not below zero. The people as a whole are friendly and neighborly. Job wise there is a ton of medical field jobs. Spokane is the Lilac City! Oh, and so many things to do during May: Bloomsday, several parades, and Hopfest in June!

[Comment on this Posting]

Think twice visit often before you decide this is - 2/1/2012

I was born in Spokane, and I raised my child in Spokane. I moved away 10 years ago, but visit my aging family there often. Spokane is virtually a ghost town compared to what it used to be, there are very few jobs, many of the homes are run down, lots of closed businesses, and if you have children and you want them exposed to culture... Spokane isn't the place to move. If you are ready to retire and have a sufficient income by all means come to Spokane, they have great lakes to fish from and home costs are low. I don't recommend it for families, one reason is because Spokane houses a prison right on the edge of the city. It houses sex offenders and some of of Spokane's neighborhoods have a high population of sex offenders living in them because when they are released they move to Spokane. I also find a lot of the teachers I have encountered there while my daughter attended school were not in my opinion very qualified to teach and I was actually discouraged by two public school employees; a principle and student counselor to not take my daughter out of private school or her home school situation because the student teacher ratio was ridiculously not balanced and my daughter would most likely not get the individual attention I wanted her to have in school. My daughter is a 4.0 student but had low grades during her first 4 years of public school education because teachers weren't interested in teaching just interested in getting them in and out... This included when I approached the teaching staff many times to ask what I could do to assist with helping my daughter with her education. The crime rate their is high, I live a clean law abiding life but I have 5 friends who were murdered in individual incidents and all except for 2 of them were unrelated. One of them was a child. I recommend before you decide to just make the leap and move there to visit and secure a job before you make the move. There are a lot of great private schools there and home schooling is supported.

[Comment on this Posting]

SPOKANE HAS A CURUPT POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS - 12/19/2011

SPOKANE HAS MORE PER CAPITAL POLICE SHOOTING OF PEOPLE THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN WASHINGTON IF YOU COME ON VACATION YOU LEAVE ON PROBATION AND WILL COME BACK ON A VIOLATION.OR INSTEAD OF BEING JUDGED BY 12 YOU WILL BE CARYED BY 6. METH AND OTHER DRUG USE IS RAPID AND THE CRIME RATE IS OFF THE HOOK!! STAY AWAY!!!YEARS BACK EVEN THE CITY OFFICERS WAS INVOLVED IN DOING COKANE

[Comment on this Posting]

relocating to spokane? - 9/23/2011

im thinking about relokating to spokane wa, from sac, ca. and im looking for input and advice about sokane.. im a 33 yr. old single mom thats a massage therapist. all i can say about sacramento is that its going to hell in a hand basket. dont get me wrong im not disallusioned on the fact that this is the only bad place on earth i do understand that there are bad places everywhere, but my youngest brother lived in spokane and told me that it is a wonderful place to live and its cheap! so my question is... is it cheap? are there many massage places i can work? is it kid friendly? i dont mind rain or cold weather or kind people or even small towns. in fact i crave that environment! please if any one reads this im desparet for info! thank u much

[Comment on this Posting]

moveing - 8/30/2011

I want to move to Spokane before next summer to start my family. I'm from AZ and I never want to deal with 115 weather and NO rain ever again. I don't know where to start... But my questions are, Are there any mines close by? Where can I get a cheap apartment in a (nice) area? Drug areas? Where are they? Does the river ever flood? I'd love to know all the good and bad things.

[Comment on this Posting]

Climate - 8/16/2011

Having recently moved to Spokane from the Sacramento , CA area we have enjoyed the climate tremendously. It is so refreshing to see the beautiful blue skies and breathe the clean air.

[Comment on this Posting]

Quality of Life - 8/16/2011

Moving to Spokane from the Sacramento area has been a delightful change in our life. The weather is wonderful and the slower paced lifestyle is a breath of fresh air, literally and figuratively!

[Comment on this Posting]

Seattle's Less Successful and More Resentful Count - 7/26/2011

Spokane does have some great neighborhoods where people are better educated and more tolerant, but most of Spokane is very conservative. And if you aren't white and need to move here, you have my sympathy. Spokane's conservatism ranges from the meathead, knee-jerk angry Republican sporting some variation of the Calvin urination decal on his jacked up truck to the myopic,whining Tea Party middle class blaming all their problems on the more prosperous west side of the state. The local daily paper is very conservative - it endorsed the McCain/Palin ticket. And it does not have a problem publishing blatantly racist letters to the editor. And on the subject of racism, keep in mind this is the city where a bomb was planted on the MLK Day Parade path. We are in fairly close proximity to the infamous city of Hayden Lake. I know people from Spokane will try to distance themselves from this history, but there are reasons why all these racists have chosen this geographic area. And it's not just for the four seasons of weather. Unfortunately, the white power history of this part of the country has distorted what locals consider racism. If it's not the blatant shaved head & red braces variety, then someone complaining of racism is just playing the "race card." I had the good fortune of growing up a military brat - I actually lived at Fairchild for a few years as a kid. As a NCO brat, I got used to living in a racially and culturally diverse environment. Moving to Spokane was a disappointing eye-opener.

[Comment on this Posting]

I love Spokane WA - 5/18/2011

Moved here without ever being here before and wouldn't change it for anything. Good people, fun active downtown area, reasonable cost of living, a lot of educational opportunities available, and just an overall adorable old town.

[Comment on this Posting]

spokane - 3/21/2011

I lived here too long and would loved to leave and when I do I won't think about it will be in my past and the nasty people too.

[Comment on this Posting]

Seriously considering a move to Spokane - 3/17/2011

I've never been to Spokane, and, I must admit, I'm bit conflicted with all of the differing opinions I have read. I grew up in Rockford, IL - a city of almost 200K that is consistently rated one of the worst places in the country to live, by any poll (education, economy, crime, etc). I grew up with harsh winters, months of snow, ice and bitter cold, so winter doesn't scare me. I do believe, after doing some research, that Spokane winters are actually milder than those in the Midwest, anyways. Spokane seems to have affordable housing. Many people have said that Spokane doesn't really have a ghetto, but certainly there are probably nicer areas. My children are grown - it is just me and my cat - so I will not be buying anything fancy or too costly. I want an older home (pre 1930's), and Spokane seems to have these in abundance. I love outdoor activities: hiking, biking, fishing, canoeing, etc., and Spokane seems to be a great place to do this too. I am a nurse by profession, so finding a job should be possible. My questions are these? Does Spokane have a lot of natural beauty? Are there lots of hiking/cycling paths in and around Spokane? What is a good, older neighborhood to live in? Does Spokane have a decent downtown (charm, restaurants, live music, etc)? How are the property taxes? How are the people (very general question, I know, but are they nice?)? A lot of people have said some very bad things about Spokane. And, frankly, a lot of people have said some very good things. But I am getting older. I don't need excitement, but I do long for natural beauty and (maybe) a sense of community. Any and all opinions are appreciated.

[Comment on this Posting]

IF U DON'T LIKE IT THEN LEAVE - 2/17/2011

This is in response to the people who don't like Spokane and in particular the person that posted the comment about being in Spokane only for school and then leaving. Everybody has opinions and I respect that. My opinion on Spokane is that it is a great place to live. The city is smaller than places like Seattle and Vegas and L.A. which is why this place is so good to live. Rush hour, what rush hour??? I lived in Vegas where sitting on I-15 for 2 hours and only moving 2 feet was the normal. The roads are bumpy and rutty thanks to the studded snow tires that are allowed so that all of the 2 wheel drive people can get around in the winter time. There is lots of stuff to do up here especially if people turn off their T.V's and get off the couch to go explore what is out there. Camping, sure and it's only a few minutes away. Beautiful gardens, yup it's at Manito park. What about going to Pig Out in the park in late summer where you can try all kinds of restaruant food or what about the county fair that has all kinds of stuff to do and see. If you like malls then we have a few of those too. Like most places on earth, Spokane has weather and can be viewed by stepping out the door or watching the news forecast. Unlike some places that I have been, Spokane actually has 4 seasons. Winter is cold and that is why it is called winter. Spring is called spring because everything springs back to live after a cold winter. Summer is nice and generally reflects what this site shows for the average. Fall is neat because you can see the change in all of the things around you. To the person in college that can't wait to leave. Your comment was nothing but wrong about Spokane. If you don't like it then please leave because the rest of us don't want a complainer in our great city. By all means I hope you graduate early and move somewhere else and please don't let the door hit you on the way out. To everybody else. I invite you to see what Spokane is really like for yourself and to form your own opinion which you are certainly welcome to!!!

[Comment on this Posting]

Everything, Really. - 2/17/2011

I highly recommend not moving to Spokane, or anywhere on the Eastern side of the state. I moved here for college in 2007 and cannot wait to leave. First of all, I hate the weather. It is far too variable for my tastes. It's gotten to -20 in the winter and up to 110 in the summer, neither of which is agreeable to me. I like moderate climates with less drastic changes. The spring and fall seasons here are also very short, which is unfortunate. The cost of living is much lower than in Seattle or any other major city in the state, but you do get what you pay for. The roads are atrocious and are only getting worse. People consistently vote down ways to improve the education systems. The standard of living is much lower than in the other large cities in Washington. There is a ridiculous amount of drunk driving and drug use. If you look at a crime map of Spokane, you'll find that murders and rapes are very rare, but DUIs and assaults are at the top of the list. There are large parts of the city where it is not advisable to go out at night, especially alone. Culture and recreation...things that are very hard to find here. There's a nice park downtown (can't go after dark) and Manito Gardens (absolutely wonderful). There's the MAC, which is nice, and a couple of smaller museums. There are without a doubt some great areas to hike over here, some nice camping, and the Spokane river is beautiful (but too polluted to swim in). However, the hiking and camping on the peninsula is better, and that's about all you've got. There are 4 WalMarts, I believe, so there's great people-watching. The unemployment rate of Spokane is worse than the state/national averages, but only by a couple of percent. The median income is lower, as is the standard of living and property value. There are a lot of people here on SSI, disability and welfare. I won't take a stand on whether businesses do well here or not as I'm sure my opinion would reflect recent trends rather than overall tendencies. 1/3 of high school students drop out. This is about 6% more than the state average. Eastern, the local public university, has a 42% retention rate and a 72% graduation rate. People here do seem to be average or below (generally, not everyone is) when it comes to IQ, critical thinking, and reasoning. Religion and politics here are pretty one-sided although it is improving quite a bit. The county is 60-70% Republican and overwhelmingly Christian. There is a Buddhist temple and one or two synagogues, but it's very much like moving a bit of the Bible belt up to the Northwest. I've been insulted and physically threatened for wearing pro-Obama and atheist gear. That said, most people who disagree just give me disparaging looks or make snide comments about Obama supporting welfare, after all. Pointing out that I've never received assistance and do, in fact, own my own home usually quiets them. And, as I said, that's slowly changing. The horrible quality of roads aside, transportation here is pretty good. There are some bus routes that are always late, but most are on time. They have good coverage, nice drivers, and reasonable fares. I wish they ran later and earlier, but they're a great resource. There aren't many bike lanes and people here do not generally like bicyclists. Walking is also a challenge in some areas because drivers ignore crosswalks. That said, pedestrians frequently ignore them, too. The lack of courtesy goes both ways. Also, the drivers here ARE IMPOSSIBLY TERRIBLE. Speed limits, lane lines, red lights, stop signs...it's beyond at least 1/3 of them. Also, per Enterprise Rent-A-Car, about 40% don't have insurance. I recommend the bus. Things I like about Spokane: Spring here is nice. There is good hiking. The cost of living is low. I bought a house at the worst of the recession in a neighborhood that is being built up. In 2 years the value has gone up $14000 over what I paid, and I still have 3 years of school left. A da Vinci exhibit is coming to the MAC! A lot of locally owned businesses are opening up and doing well. There are some GREAT local restaurants. Spokane Valley is pretty nice. The South Hill. Lots of farmers means a wonderful farmer's market. The interest in organic food is growing! There's a growing community of progressive, sustainable-growth focused citizens who are trying to help Spokane realize its potential. Great views of the mountains! Where I come from: I was born in Virginia, then raised in Mississippi, Florida, and Seattle. I would rather move back to MS than stay in Spokane. At least I could afford horses there. I moved here for college, as I said earlier, and have no intention of staying here after I finish my master's. I would not raise a family here. Hopefully that helps!

[Comment on this Posting]

Spokane is a really nice place - 10/26/2010

We moved from Las Vegas to Boise about 15 years ago. Found out that we didn't really like that area and moved up here about 4 years ago. It is much better than Boise. A hair more expensive, but it is worth it. I have been everywhere, even overseas. Some areas are bad, but most of the areas are really nice. We own a business and during the last two years we have done really well. Not too much new construction though, but we adapted. The weather is nice, just not the winter of 07 or 08, but last year was nice. We do construction and we are still working now and it is the end of Oct. here. If you are looking for a nice place with decent weather, this is it. Not too many bugs, not too hot, the people are nice, no traffic really, decent schools, close to nature and tons of things to do. This is the place that we came to and could actually afford to buy a home. I think that our home is worth the same as when we bought it. The taxes are high, but if you work for someone else, they are decent. If you are considering Spokane, it is a good place.

[Comment on this Posting]