For 20 years a vacant apartment building was the worst thing in the neighborhood, constantly squatted and constantly visited by cops who weren’t allowed to do anything.
This situation was NOT understandable. The property was owned by a company that could afford to fix things if they wanted to.
In 2017 the squatters burned the garage, which finally triggered a very slow cascade of very slow actions. In 2021 the apts were completely renovated and two new houses were built across the street.
After the apt was gone, a large property just south of the apt took over the position as worst place. The back yard was constantly full of trash and RVs. The owner hauled off trash fairly often but the quantity stayed the same. He must have been hauling things in and out at the same rate. About a year ago the house burned, but nothing changed.
This situation, though generally awful, was understandable. The owner was poor and ill and couldn’t do much else.
Googlestreet was taken in Aug 2025, showing the results of the fire. At the right of the side view is the garage of the apts, which was never renovated.
My weird skin inflammation that started in June is fading out, and my feet are more skinny and comfortable. None of the diagnoses or treatments helped; it simply decided to go away in the same mysterious way that it decided to appear. Some combination of seasons and stress.
With calmer feet I’ve returned to daily walks and enjoying life. The longer walks reveal that the bad house is suddenly being cleared out and demolished. The fence and trash and RVs are gone, the trees have been cut down, and today an Avista truck is turning off the power, or perhaps making new connections for more houses.
The property is big enough for three houses facing the other way, so I’m guessing that the same developer who did the apts is handling this one. As yet I don’t see a ‘short plat’ in the city’s website.
Polistra's Mill 