Downtown Spokane Partnership

Downtown Spokane Partnership
Name	Downtown Spokane Partnership
Type	Nonprofit organization
Founded	1969
Headquarters	Spokane, Washington
Region served	Downtown Spokane

Downtown Spokane Partnership Downtown Spokane Partnership is a nonprofit civic organization focused on revitalization and advocacy in central Spokane, Washington. The organization collaborates with municipal leaders, business groups, and cultural institutions to influence urban planning, transportation, and cultural programming in the Spokane area. Its work intersects with regional entities and events that shape downtown development and public life.

History

The organization's origins trace to postwar urban renewal debates that involved the City of Spokane, Spokane County, and civic leaders responding to trends seen in Seattle and Portland, Oregon urban redevelopment projects. Early milestones included coordination with the Spokane Chamber of Commerce, the Spokane City Council, and downtown property owners during revitalization efforts influenced by federal programs such as those tied to the Department of Housing and Urban Development and initiatives reminiscent of Urban Renewal plans enacted in other Pacific Northwest municipalities. Landmark local projects connected to the organization’s early years involved partnerships with cultural anchors like the Fox Theater (Spokane), the Spokane Symphony, and the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox. Throughout the late 20th century, the group interfaced with transportation reforms associated with the Spokane Transit Authority and downtown infrastructure investments influenced by state legislators in the Washington State Legislature.

Mission and Governance

The stated mission aligns with objectives promoted by peer organizations such as the International Downtown Association and strategic frameworks used by municipal partners including the City of Spokane and regional planning bodies like the Spokane Regional Health District. Governance is typically overseen by a board composed of executives from institutions such as major employers, hospitality groups, and educational partners including Gonzaga University, representatives from cultural organizations like the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, and stakeholders from property management firms and developers who have worked on projects with entities such as Avista Corporation and financial institutions headquartered in the Inland Northwest. The board coordinates with municipal offices including the Office of Mayor of Spokane and collaborates with commissions such as the Spokane Historic Landmarks Commission.

Programs and Initiatives

Programs administered have addressed public safety, streetscape improvements, business attraction, and placemaking initiatives reminiscent of tactics used by the Main Street America program and inspired by projects in Pittsburgh, Denver, and Minneapolis. Initiatives have included public realm projects that connected to the Riverfront Park (Spokane) master plan, art placemaking in partnership with the Spokane Arts commission, and pedestrian-way improvements linked to the Spokane River Centennial Trail corridor. Business support programs worked with retail coalitions, hospitality groups tied to the Spokane Convention Center, and small-business resource partners like SCORE and local chambers of commerce. Advocacy campaigns coordinated with transportation stakeholders including the Washington State Department of Transportation and nonmotorized mobility advocates connected to the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

Economic and Urban Development

Economic development activities intersect with downtown real estate trends, tax increment financing mechanisms similar to those in the Bellevue urban core, and investment patterns visible in redevelopment projects by regional developers who have completed work in neighborhoods analogous to Manito and the Browne's Addition Historic District. The partnership has engaged in discussions about adaptive reuse of historic buildings like those listed in the National Register of Historic Places and collaborated with financial partners, including local banks that participate in community reinvestment programs modeled after Community Reinvestment Act efforts. Downtown commercial vacancy, mixed-use conversion, and residential infill strategies were informed by studies from planning firms and academic partners at institutions such as Washington State University and Eastern Washington University.

Community Engagement and Events

Community engagement included coordination with cultural festivals and events such as collaborations with organizers of the Spokane County Interstate Fair, the Bloomsday Run, and programming partners from the Spokane International Film Festival. Public events and seasonal activations leveraged partnerships with arts organizations, hospitality stakeholders, and volunteer networks drawn from alumni groups at Gonzaga University and civic service organizations like the Kiwanis International clubs in Spokane. Outreach strategies employed stakeholder forums similar to those used by neighborhood councils and noncrisis community response collaborations aligned with the Spokane Police Department and social service agencies operating in the central business district.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding has historically combined dues from downtown businesses, sponsorships from corporations such as Avista Corporation and regional lenders, project grants from state programs administered by the Washington State Department of Commerce, and philanthropic support from local foundations comparable to the Gonzaga University Foundation or the Spokane Community Foundation. Partnerships included cross-sector coordination with municipal departments, cultural institutions like the Spokane Civic Theatre, transit agencies such as the Spokane Transit Authority, and regional economic development organizations including Greater Spokane Incorporated.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Spokane, Washington