Updating the vision

In February 1999, when the city of Spokane incorporated into its comprehensive plan the vision for a “new downtown,” the Davenport Hotel had not reopened. The Fox Theater was showing cut-rate movies. Only 1 percent of Spokane residents lived downtown, and those who invested in the few upscale condos were considered urban pioneers – or fools.

The economy was on its way down again, due to the dot.com bust. So the ambitious plan for downtown seemed a faraway dream. Turned out, it wasn’t. In the past decade, downtown has blossomed. An art and music district now shimmies west from the Davenport. Upscale condos stretch from Browne’s Addition to the University District east of Division Street. Businesses of all kinds, as well as some much needed nightlife, have returned to downtown.

Time to dream again. Downtown Spokane Partnership is updating the plan for the next five to 10 years. The group met to brainstorm with residents in November and will do so again March 6.

All Inland Northwest neighborhoods need to get involved in this process. If you brag that you never go downtown, perhaps some of these floating-out-there ideas might pique your interest. Here’s a sample:

“ Turn some one-way streets back to two-way streets. Add angle parking and plenty of street trees.

“ An upscale grocery store. Trader Joe’s, anyone?

“ Bike paths, racks and lockers throughout downtown.

“ A railed streetcar.

“ A Native American cultural center, as well as a science center.

“ A permanent farmers market.

Those working on the downtown vision hope to have it incorporated into the city’s comprehensive plan a year from now. “What we’re looking at this go-round is to add the regulatory teeth to the policy. If someone wants to put a parking lot in downtown, with regulations we may be able to stop that,” explained Jeff Nave, board chair for Downtown Spokane Partnership.

The region’s core is looking good in 2008, thanks to a decade of work and more than $3 billion invested.

In 2018, what more should be in downtown Spokane? And what should downtown mean for the region? Think big. Then share your vision with those who can make it happen.