Business district for gays touted

Creating a thriving business district for Spokane’s gay community might become another spark plug that revs the area’s economy, a group of civic leaders have decided.

The idea will be discussed from 1 to 3 p.m. next Saturday in the Washington State University Phase 1 classroom building auditorium. Hosted by the Inland Northwest Business Alliance, the open session is described by organizers as the first step in moving toward a possible gay village or gay neighborhood in Spokane.

No one involved has a specific area in mind. And no one is sure the neighborhood concept will even happen, said Bonnie Aspen, one of the event organizers.

“This is the first in a series of conversations about the idea,” said Aspen, who with her partner, Willow Williams, runs Find Your Path Avatar, a Spokane-based personal development company.

At this point, the discussion resembles the early stages of the effort here to form a University District, she said.

Another organizer, Marvin Reguindin, said benefits would be economic as well as social. He said members of the Inland Northwest’s gay community would spend more time and money here instead of driving to Seattle or Portland for recreation and entertainment.

“We can also start marketing Spokane as a gay destination for the lucrative and upcoming market appealing to gay travelers,” said Reguindin, who runs Thinking Cap, a Spokane design firm.

The INBA is an alliance of gay and lesbian business owners and community members. The group was approached two years ago by the Downtown Spokane Partnership to discuss ways the larger business community could better connect with area gays and lesbians.

Since then, many civic leaders nationwide have accepted a tenet of modern urban planning: that attractive urban centers include features and businesses that appeal to gays.

Those backing the idea in Spokane point to similar efforts elsewhere. In Oakland, Calif., for example, officials want a distinct gay business district that would appeal to gay travelers who otherwise would head to San Francisco.

Ben Cabildo, executive director of AHANA, is a believer. “I’m very interested in exploring the possibility of that happening. It could happen here,” he said. AHANA is the African-American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American Business and Professional Organization.

Reguindin credited Downtown Spokane Partnership Executive Director Mike Edwards and board member Ron Wells with exploring the idea.

“As they began pursuing the idea of urban living, they realized that the gay community are among the pioneers in any city who embrace that style,” Reguindin said.