Street improvements dress up West Broadway
New sidewalks, old-style lampposts part of area’s business revitalization goals
George Craig was perched on a ladder high above West Broadway Avenue on Wednesday, doing something that hasn’t been done in the West Central Neighborhood for some time: He was hanging Christmas decorations.
“I volunteer to do these things, because I have the time and the heart,” Craig, who is retired, said from the top of the ladder. “We often get a bad rap up here, but it’s a nice neighborhood.”
Craig was hanging a festive, dark-green wreath with a big red bow from each of the lampposts, between Oak and Ash streets.
The newly restored streetscape along Broadway is a result of the city centers and corridors comprehensive plan, which was adopted in 2001. In 2003, West Broadway was designated a corridor to stimulate business and neighborhood development.
“We were really happy to finally see the street improvements go in,” said Craig, who has been active with the West Central Neighborhood Council for more than seven years. “It’s taken years and years of planning, and meetings and raising money. It’s just hard to get the grants with the economy being the way it is.”
New sidewalks line Broadway Avenue here, and old-style lampposts assure proper lighting, in this old neighborhood that’s home to a couple of restaurants, law offices and smaller businesses.
“We are trying to revitalize the business district,” said Craig. “Eventually the new sidewalks will go all the way down to Elm.” Craig added that a public plaza located south of Broadway, around Elm Street and Bridge Avenue, also is part of the neighborhood plan.
The West Central Neighborhood Council raised the $175 to purchase the wreaths, which can be used again next year.
“We wanted to put banners up on the lampposts,” said Craig, so the neighborhood council contacted the Downtown Spokane Partnership to see if it was possible to borrow some.
“They were very helpful,” Craig said, “but the downtown banners were too long; the poles must be taller downtown.” He added that eventually the neighborhood council would like to have different banners and decorations to match the seasons.
“Maybe it’ll catch the attention of some of all the people driving through here,” said Craig, “and they’ll stop and take a look.”