Idaho city official eye former mill site along Spokane River

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho (AP) - Beach lovers would have a new swimming and boating area if an Idaho city buys a former mill site.

The city of Coeur d’Alene announced Thursday its plan to purchase the former Atlas mill site for about $8 million, the Coeur d’Alene Press reported (https://bit.ly/2ppQF71). The city wants to convert a half-mile of river frontage into a boat launch, docks and swim area.

Part of the 2,047,000-square foot parcel would be resold to a private developer, city officials said.

The mill site has been vacant for a decade, according to the report. It is mostly empty space with uneven ground and a hill called Big Hank. Officials believe the area is free of toxic or hazardous material.

The City Council will vote on the purchase plan at its regular meeting next week. City attorney Mike Gridley is confident it will get approved.

“There has been a lot of enthusiasm,” Gridley said. “We think it will be a positive thing.”

The city would buy the area for $7.85 million if the sale is completed by Oct. 25 or $8 million if a deal is not reached by the end of the year.

City officials say they would work with urban renewal agency ignite cda to redevelop the land.

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Information from: Coeur d’Alene Press, https://www.cdapress.com