Maximizing property for more housing

POST FALLS — A plan to revitalize a Post Falls parcel owned by St. Vincent de Paul of North Idaho will be presented Tuesday evening for approval from the Post Falls City Council.

In partnership with a Boise-based nonprofit, the Housing Company, St. Vincent de Paul is seeking a zone change from medium density residential and community commercial services to a Smartcode zoning district that will allow for the construction of a 32-unit, mixed-use, multi-family community south of Seltice Way, north of West Seventh Avenue and between Compton and Catherine streets.

"That parcel, 1.16 acres, has been a part of our portfolio for years, as our old Post Falls thrift store on the north end and on the south end is what we can call workforce housing for the ALICE (asset limited, income constrained, employed) population," St. Vincent de Paul of North Idaho Executive Director Larry Riley said Friday. "It's seen better days."

Buildings currently on that parcel were constructed between 1940 and 1985.

"The history of that campus has been an old gas station, an old motel. Most recently it is our warming shelter," Riley said. "We expect to run a warming shelter there this winter."

It will be a challenge to find an alternate space for the winter warming shelter once the proposed project is underway, Riley said.

About 12 tenants live on the parcel now. Upon approval, the existing structures will be scrapped and new construction will go up. Riley said the present tenants would not be without housing if the project is approved.

"We’ll be able to coordinate all the moves really effectively," he said.

The space would be better maximized with the increase from 12 to 32 units, Riley said. With approval from the City Council, the project could be completed by the end of 2025.

"We’ve got a concept we want to present to the city that would be the Post Falls thrift store on the ground floor, with two floors above — two over one — that would have workforce housing," Riley said.

According to the original application materials, they intend to have 22 one-bedroom, two two-bedroom and eight three-bedroom units of affordable, income-restricted housing units, Post Falls Community Development Director Bob Seale said.

The "Smartcode 5" zoning designation encourages a mixture of uses at higher densities in order to encourage walkability and vitality in a city center, specifically mixtures of commercial and residential, Seale explained.

"The current Millworx project and the recent Smock Zone change on the adjacent block — not under construction yet — are perfect examples of Smartcode 5 zoning," he said.

Seale said some pushback may occur concerning reduced parking requirements from typical auto-oriented businesses and market-rate apartments.

"However, this type of affordable housing and shared uses often results in a reduced demand for parking, even during peak hours, and it is located within a couple of blocks of a current transit stop," Seale said.

Riley said even though St. Vincent de Paul is proudly associated with helping the homeless, this particular parcel will have no homeless component.

"People are looking forward to what might be able to happen to property that has seen better life," he said. "It's time for a change."

If approved, the campus would be named the John Bruning Commons for St. Vincent de Paul board member and longtime North Idaho resident John Bruning.

"He’s such a humble man, in giving beyond anyone's expectations," Riley said. "It’s our honor to name this campus for John."

Also on Wednesday's agenda, Post Falls City Council members will consider the 2.64-acre Nagra Annexation at McGuire Road and Prairie Avenue, a Corbin Lift Station award recommendation and an amendment to the city's comprehensive plan to clarify the focus area maps.

The Post Falls City Council will hold its regular meeting at 6 p.m. with a fiscal year 2024 budget workshop preceding at 5 p.m.

Post Falls City Hall is at 408 N. Spokane St.