Several parties interested in developing a University District in East Spokane have begun massaging their ideas and mapping out a strategy.


A group of stakeholders, including representatives of the city of Spokane, the Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce, universities, the East Spokane Business Association, and others, met three weeks ago to discuss what it would take to move the project forward. They applied about two months ago for federal funds to complete three major components of the district, and have begun writing a business plan for its development. Chamber President and CEO Rich Hadley says a process that has been percolating for a while suddenly is rapidly speeding up.


As envisioned, the proposed district would include retail, residential, and office areas, as well as restaurants, nightlife venues, and other businesses, much like the university district in Seattle that surrounds the University of Washington. Proponents say supporting such a district here and branding the area with the University District name could make big economic waves here.


It has the potential of Expo 74, claims Tom Reese, the citys new economic development adviser. This is an opportunity for Spokane to have that same kind of project without just replicating the past.


Proponent Jon Eliassen, the recently retired chief financial officer of Avista Corp., estimates the district could have an annual economic impact of $200 million to $300 million.


In April, the city requested almost $6 million in federal money to fund three major parts of the proposed district. They include conversion of Trent Avenue into a pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly boulevard near the Riverpoint Higher Education Park, creation of a gateway entrance to downtown on Division Street, and construction of a footbridge over the railroad tracks that separate the Riverpoint campus from the East Spokane business area.


District boundaries


The district would include Gonzaga University, Washington State University at Spokane, and the operations that Eastern Washington University and the Community Colleges of Spokane have on the Riverpoint campus, which together have a student population of about 5,100. District proponents say that number is expected to more than double in the next decade.


The district would extend from those campuses to the Sacred Heart and Deaconess medical centers on the lower South Hill, an important factor if WSUs nursing school moves to the Riverpoint campus as envisioned.


Although different boundaries have been proposed, Reese says the general consensus is that the district would be bordered roughly by Interstate 90 on the south, Sharp Avenue on the north, Division Street on the west, and Hamilton Street on the east. That area now is home to a variety of businesses, including delis, coffee shops, an outdoor recreation outfitter, and antique shops, as well as vacant lots, run-down buildings, and other eyesores.


At the turn of the last century, East Spokane was a thriving hub for a diverse immigrant population. The area declined in the 1970s and 1980s, but since then has seen some improvements. Over the last couple of years, separate groups began to talk about the neighborhoods potential to evolve into a mixed-use district including the Riverpoint campus.


Another key to the districts potential to thrive would be the development of residential buildings, giving the area a sense of community and permanency, says Bob Scarfo, associate professor of landscape architecture at WSU-Spokane. Although Gonzaga has a highly residential student body, most Riverpoint students commute to campus. That could change, though, as residential units are developed and interest in living downtown grows, he says. Several older vacant structures in the area would be ideal candidates for renovation for that purpose, Scarfo says, including the former F.O. Berg Co. and Jensen-Byrd Co. buildings, both located south of the campus.


If we could provide housing to the south of the railroad tracks for even 50 percent of the commuters, that would be a heck of a local residential boost to close-in businesses, he says.


The residential units, though, likely would be geared toward tenants of all ages, not just students, Scarfo says.


He notes that studies show todays retireesa booming populationare more interested in being active, browsing in art galleries, and volunteering, than staying home or playing bridge.


Circulation is another important factor, Scarfo says. Conceptual plans propose building bicycle and pedestrian pathways that would link the universities, downtown Spokane, the Centennial Trail, the medical facilities, and the districts business and residential areas.


Reese says that interested parties met three weeks ago to start fleshing out a lot of the details that we dont have yet and giving a voice to the stakeholders in that boundary. We just cant proceed any more on a piece-by-piece basis without stepping back and getting a global perspective.


One group that has helped define the project is a team of landscape-design students at WSU-Spokane led by adjunct professor Elizabeth Payne. The team developed conceptual renderings of nightlife, eating, retail, and other areas, and depicted Trent Avenue as a pedestrian-friendly boulevard. Washington Sen. Patty Murray, ranking member of the Senate subcommittee on Transportation/Treasury and General Government appropriations, as well as other Inland Northwest U.S. senators and representatives, heard about the University District about two months ago and asked its supporters to write a proposal for federal funds. Thats when the students and other proponents developed the three-part proposal for $6 million.


The students work, however, doesnt lock the city, the Washington state Department of Transportation, or private developers into a particular plan.


It helps people see the ideas and say, Oh, my gosh! I didnt know that it could look that way, Scarfo says.


Reese adds, though, that, Theres a high likelihood that if we get the appropriation, their concept will drive a lot of (the project).


The University District could take 10 years to become what proponents envision, Eliassen says.


Getting there is going to be a step-by-step, block-by-block, building-by-building process, he says.


The speed at which it develops, if it develops at all, will depend on several factors, including state funds for campus growth needs, federal or other money for road projects, and private companies willingness to invest in the area, Eliassen says.


The next steps


The next stepsfor the universities to do more planning, for the stakeholders to lay out a business plan for the district, and for all of the groups to sit down with legislators and determine from where the various funds could comecould be taken this summer, he says.


Hadley says some capital projects within the district, such as the conversion of Trent Avenue, could go up as early as next year. Development of a 30,000-square-foot wet lab facility, which the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute has proposed, is near approval from the U.S. Economic Development Administration and would play an important role in the district, he says.


The evolution of a district is a positive and spirit-building proposal, he says.


The district concept is something thats pretty prevalent in other metropolitan areas, Hadley says. As they grow, these districts create unique areas where people congregate. You grow a culture in that area.


The city also could, at some point, formally name the district, just as the Davenport Arts District has an official designation. Reese says there arent immediate plans to do that, though.


Creating identity for a neighborhood or a district is about more than just putting up signs, he says. The identity is created by the overall sense of place.