Feedback
The new owner of Spokane’s Masonic Center sees it as the potential centerpiece of a new “old town” tourist and visitor section of downtown. Greg Newell, an Australian businessman, bought the 108-year-old building for $1.1 million and wants to fill it with cafes and use it as a meeting and event center. He also is working on a plan to purchase a parking area on the back side of the building. We asked readers what they thought of this proposal. Here’s what they said:
L. Ross
I am happy about this. Love this building. I remember going to a very cool Chris Cornell concert there.
Wilcox
If they put in a restaurant/bar with a view, great food and a great happy hour that doesn’t require a membership fee to attend, then I’d take on the challenge of finding street parking and go there all the time.
Lange
It’s a great building. If they do it right, it could be very cool. As long as they make parking available.
Burke
Parking SUCKS, that is going to be a BIG problem, good luck!!!
Weber
What a beautiful building. Too many times old buildings are razed to put up new, modern ones. This is a gem of our city. Cheers to someone that wants to preserve/enhance a treasure of a building and continue making downtown a place to be proud of. Jeers to the tired comments about parking downtown. Heaven forbid you might have to walk a block or two because you can’t find a parking spot directly outside the place you want to go.
Guell Heaps
I’ve always loved that building and hope he can restore it to a beautiful place to shop, eat and continue to have it as an event showcase.
Shields
More power to them…and WHERE in this town is parking NOT a problem?
Wight
They couldn’t build it today for 10 times the price. I used to go to my father’s Christmas party here every year when I was a boy. He worked for the Carnation Dairy in the 50s and the party was in the big hall downstairs. I’ll be in line on the first day to see how it comes out.
Stephens
I had my wedding there and the woman that ran it told me there were secret passages and I would think having tours of those would be awesome!
Pope
That would be nice. Might even entice me to go downtown again.
I love that Spokane seems to be saving its history these days. Too many fine old buildings have been lost to *ahem* progress in past years.
We had senior prom there and it is a really nice place. I would be sad if they took down the building, but I agree with the new owner trying to attract people to come down there.
Reich
It’s a great idea; they did the same thing in old section of Sacramento.
Sokolik
Great history. Make sure there is a place to tell and show the history of this building. Keep its appeal; let’s hope it doesn’t get too touristy. Careful thought needed to make this a show piece.
Hausman
Like in Boston, MA