Bloglander

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Spokane Mayor Mary Verner awarded the top Mayor's Urban Design Award of the year to the Spokane Public Market at last night's City Council meeting. The market, which was designed by Nystrom Olson Architecture and opened its first phase in June (it doesn't yet look as idyllic as this picture might suggest) was granted Verner's Mayor's Choice Award.

Urban Design Merit Awards were also given to a plan for Kendall Yards that includes parks, open space and access to the Centennial Trail; the new Shadle Park High School; and the LEED-certified Bissinger Building downtown.

The Design Review Board also threw bones to Davenport Hotel developer Walt Worthy, and Wells and Company developers Ron and Julie Wells (responsible for many of the old restored apartment buildings downtown). It even went so far as to bestow an award on a project that didn't even ask for recognition — the "Shrinking Lilac" award went to the Main Market Co-Op, on East Main Avenue.