SPOKANE, Wash. — After months of debate and public discussion, the Department of Natural Resources approved the sale of nearly 200 acres of land in Latah Valley.
The Thorpe Property, also known as the ‘Westwood Area,’ will be sold to Blue Fern Development Group in a land exchange.
In return, Blue Fern will sell a 4-acre site in Bellingham to the state.
The decision sparked debate amongst Spokane City Council and residents about land use and preservation.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Spokane City Council votes to delay sale of 200 acres in Latah Valley
DNR said the sale was necessary to fulfill their legal obligations to generate money that goes to public funding, such as schools.
“DNR is under a legal obligation to produce revenue for our trusted beneficiaries,” said Ryan Rodruck of DNR. “It will have a variety of revenue sources, timber sales being one of those, and potential for commercial leases.”
Blue Fern will purchase Thorpe for $8.2 million, while DNR will buy the 4-acre Fern property for $7.1 million.
Critics of the sale said DNR put revenue ahead of conservation and resident’s desire to have a natural space.
“They let dollars rule the day and were not really mindful of the fact that this has value beyond dollars,” said Kai Huschke, Latah Valley resident.
Huschke and others against the sale said Latah Valley doesn’t have the infrastructure to support more development.
Councilmember Paul Dillon also campaigned against the sale.
“It has been a little bit of a flawed processes,” said Dillon. “I think that how we look at public lands versus privatizing them, really is an important conversation, I think, to take away from this.”
Now, the city can either buy part of the Thorpe property from Blue Fern or transfer its own land. If that is not done before July 15, Blue Fern will own the whole property.
COPYRIGHT 2025 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
