Colleges Look To Move Up In The World Community Schools Hope To Buy Building Near Riverpoint

Wed., June 21, 2000

By Wendy Harris wendyh@spokesman.com

Community Colleges of Spokane may soon be joining its higher education neighbors in downtown Spokane.

The CCS Foundation is hoping to buy the Riverpoint One building adjacent to the Riverpoint Higher Education Park off Trent Avenue. It is seeking $8.8 million in bonds from the state Housing Finance Commission to purchase the building.

If the deal goes through, CCS would move its administrative offices from Spokane Community College to Riverpoint One.

“It’s an exciting opportunity,” CCS Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer Charles Taylor said. “The Community Colleges of Spokane is trying to take a leadership role in the community, and this is just another example of trying to position the community colleges to be able to interact with business, industry and the other four-year institutions.”

In addition to Spokane Community College, the CCS system includes Spokane Falls Community College and the Institute for Extended Learning.

The Riverpoint One building at 501 N. Riverpoint Blvd. sits just west of the Riverpoint campus, which is home to Washington State University and Eastern Washington University branch campuses. Riverpoint is also home to the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute.

CCS has been searching for a new location for its headquarters. Its current administration building, located off Greene Street, lies in the path of the planned North Spokane Freeway through Spokane. Though the freeway is still years away from being built, the opportunity to move near the Riverpoint campus is perfect, CCS officials said.

“The community colleges have been seeking a space in their dreams near that high-tech center,” said Bridget Piper, CCS Foundation president. “It will increase the awareness of the community colleges. Sometimes people say (CCS) is the best-kept secret in town. But I don’t think it’s a secret anymore. It’s a real vital part of keeping our economy growing here.”

The nonprofit foundation raises money for scholarships and to support CCS programs.

CCS Foundation staff members are scheduled to meet with Housing Finance Commission staff next week to work out the details of the bond issue. Then, the commission will decide whether to approve the deal at its August meeting, Housing Finance Commission spokeswoman Pamela Mead said.

The Riverpoint One building, owned by a group of private investors, is home to about a dozen private businesses. Pitney Bowes Inc. recently moved out of the 72,000-square-foot building, freeing up about 1-1/2 floors of the four-story building.

Piper said the existing businesses would continue to lease space, allowing the foundation to pay back the bonds. CCS would also make lease payments to the foundation.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.