State of the City: Post Falls Idaho

As 2008 President-Elect of the Coeur d’Alene Chapter of the Women’s Council of Realtors, it was my privilege to attend today’s Power Luncheon hosted by Kirsten Donovan at STCU.

Today’s Power Luncheon speaker was Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin. Clay spoke on the “state of the city” and frankly, 2008 is looking pretty darn awesome for Post Falls.

1. Walmart currently has a 200,000sf store in Post Falls. They will be opening a 2nd Post Falls store of 250,000+sf at The Pointe (near Cabela’s). They will be retaining their current location and either leaving it as a Super Walmart or transitioning it into a Sam’s Club.
2. Cabela’s will be having their “Grand Opening” in February or March. They opened their doors on November 9th with their ’soft opening’. The Post Falls Cabela’s is the chains 24th store. The soft opening in Post Falls was the best soft opening of any of their stores.
3. There is an Electronic Chip Factory being built across from 84 Lumber
4. Lowe’s is expected to “sign on the dotted line” to put in a store at “The Pointe”.
5. Target is in serious negotiations for a Super Target at “The Pointe”.
6. There are 7 motel franchises interested in puttig 200-300 unit hotels at “The Pointe”. 3 will ‘land’.
7. Splash Universe, an indoor waterpark/hotel is seriously looking at putting a hotel at “The Pointe”.
8. There have been 2-3 serious ‘prospects’ in the past 60 days for Post Falls to have it’s own “Convention/Conference” center with seating for 600+.
9. In the new 50-acre shopping center going in at Prairie/Highway 41, it is probable that it will be anchored by a Home Depot and Fred Meyer.
10. Sysco is expanding their facilities from 160,000sf to 400,000sf.
11. Activity will be ‘happening’ on the LP Mill site in 2008
12. At the Hwy 41/Mullen northwest corner (current site of El Rancho Mobile Home Park) there will be a Safeway or an Albertsons and a shopping center similar to the one directly across the street
13. There will be “lots of dirt flying” at the Tullamore project in 2008
14. In the next 120-180 days, there will be 6-7 “Big Box” ground breaking, 2 at “The Pointe” and the remaining along the Hwy 41 corridor.
15. There have been positive/intense conversations from a major east coast furniture manufacturer of hardwood furniture. This company seeks to opening a manufacturing facility and a retail store.

Interesting things to know about Post Falls:

1. It took 105 years for the market value of the city limits to reach $1 billion dollars. It took 5 years for it to reach $2 billion. It’s current value is $2.3 billion.
2. 65% of the residents of Post Falls live between Mullan Avenue on the South Side, Prairie Avenue on the North Side, Highway 41 on the East side and Idaho Street on the West side.
3. Post Falls has gone from 95% residents/5% businesses to 78% residents/22% businesses.
4. After Walmart moved here in 2002, traffic counts rose drastically, increasing business for everyone. No business in the area has gone out of business because of Walmart.
5. Post Falls has instituted the “Smart Code” for growth. This will not change existing areas but only applies to new areas.
6. There are currently 700-800 acres waiting for annexation to Post Falls

Interesting things to know about Kootenai County:

1. The demographics of Kootenai County have historically been estimated by taking population from within 1 hour of Kootenai County. Now, because of growth and industry, the demographics include up to 3 hours away which is a population base of 1.2 million.
2. Idaho’s (not Kootenai County’s) #1 industry is Agriculture (because of Southern Idaho) and #2 is Tourism. It is expected that Tourism will overcome Agriculture in the next 1-2 years.
3. Kootenai County’s unemployment rate is hovering at 2-2.5%. This has created issues for employers. Sonic had to import workers from other stores up to 5 weeks after opening. They couldn’t find enough employees locally to staff the store.

 

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