261 construction about brand recognition, local effort

The most eye-catching area for commercial development in Ritzville is nestled around Exit 221 of Interstate 90.

Plenty of businesses with brand-name recognition have already sprouted, from a Love’s Travel Stop to McDonald’s, and a Maverik station is near completion.

“The Maverik is part of a large annexation that occurred, I think it’s been three years ago now,” said Julie Flyck, who is the Ritzville planner as well as the city clerk and treasurer.

Looking very enticing beyond the Maverik station is the planned but not yet detailed Grainery District, a 280-acre sprawl of undeveloped land that...