Downtown Spokane
Encyclopedia
Downtown Spokane is the central business district in Spokane, Washington
. Downtown Spokane's rough boundaries are I-90 to the south, Division St. to the east, Maple St. to the west, and the Spokane River
to the north, though the north bank of the river is essentially part of downtown, with bridges or pedestrian only bridges spanning the river at nearly every block.
Other significant buildings in downtown include the Spokane Convention Center, the INB Performing Arts Center, and the Spokane Arena.
The topography of Downtown Spokane is mostly flat except for areas downstream of the Spokane Falls which are located in a canyon. South of downtown slopes up to the South Hill, quite steeply in some places such as Pioneer Park, where long cliffs oriented east-west provide great views of the downtown, the North Side and Spokane Valley to the east.
Downtown straddles Sprague Avenue which divides the city into North and South. On the eastern end of Downtown Division Street splits the city into East and West. I-90 is elevated thru almost all of downtown, often with parking lots underneath but occasional blocks are solid cement, forming a barrier at the southern end of Downtown. Immediately south of the interstate the high density area continues into a growing medical district with Spokane's two largest hospitals, Sacred Heart and Deaconess.
To the west one is one of Spokane's oldest neighborhoods and densest neighborhoods, Browne's Addition. In the photo, Browne's addition is the treed area in the foreground on the right. The left side of the foreground is the valley cut by the Spokane river immediately downstream of the falls, this area is the small and similar neighborhood of Peaceful Valley.
Gonzaga University
is located just upstream on the north side of the river from Downtown. Across the river from Gonzaga is the new University District home campuses of Eastern Washington University
and Washington State University
, Division street separates Downtown from the University District.
Downtown Spokane had undergone a major rebirth in the years before the recession, after the completion the River Park Square Mall. The historic Davenport Hotel underwent a major renovation in 2002 after being vacant for over 20 years. The project was funded by local entrepreneur Walt Worthy, who also added a Safari-themed 20 story tower to the hotel in 2007. Other major projects include the Holley Mason Building - seen as the catalyst to downtown Spokane's rebirth, the building of the Big Easy concert house (now renamed the Knitting Factory
), the remodeling of the historic Montvale Hotel
and Fox Theater
(now home to the Spokane Symphony
), numerous new condo buildings, and renovations of historic, older brick buildings that will soon house both condos and business. Also, the Spokane Convention Center just finished a major expansion which helped host the 2007 US Figure Skating Championships
. All new skyscrapers built in Spokane
are subject to city height restrictions, and therefore, any new efforts to build major buildings are hampered. Recently, a local developer (Rob Brewster) has proposed building the new VOX Tower which, if approved, will become the tallest building in Spokane.
Riverfront Park
, created after Expo '74 and occupying the same site, is 100 acre (0.404686 km²) in downtown Spokane and the site of some of Spokane's largest events. The park has views of the Spokane Falls
, and holds a number of civic attractions, including a Skyride that is a rebuilt gondola that carries visitors across the falls from high above the river gorge, a 5-story IMAX theater, and a small amusement park (which is converted into an ice-skating rink during the winter months) with numerous rides and concessions. The park is host to a full schedule of family entertainment and events such as the Bloomsday
Post-Race Celebration, Hoopfest
, the IMAX
Film Festival, Spokane Music Festival, Pig-Out in the Park, Restaurant Fair, Pow Wow, First Night
Spokane, plus many outdoor concerts and other community activities. The Park also includes a hand-carved carousel created in 1909 by Charles I. D. Looff
as a wedding present for his daughter. The carousel still operates in Riverfront Park, where riders can participate in an old-time ring toss. The carousel continues to offer a free ride to the rider who grabs the brass ring. Riverfront Park also includes ample views of the Spokane falls as well as other water features (some man-made) of the Spokane River.
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
. Downtown Spokane's rough boundaries are I-90 to the south, Division St. to the east, Maple St. to the west, and the Spokane River
Spokane River
The Spokane River is a tributary of the Columbia River, approximately long, in northern Idaho and eastern Washington in the United States. It drains a low mountainous area east of the Columbia, passing through the city of Spokane, Washington.-Description:...
to the north, though the north bank of the river is essentially part of downtown, with bridges or pedestrian only bridges spanning the river at nearly every block.
Buildings
The Bank of America Financial Center, standing at 288 feet (88 m) tall, is the tallest building in Spokane. It was completed in 1981. The nearby Wells Fargo Center is the second tallest building (243 ft), and was completed in one year later 1982. Until 2006, with the construction of the Davenport Tower & Residences (an expansion of The Davenport Hotel), no other high-rise has gone up in Spokane.Other significant buildings in downtown include the Spokane Convention Center, the INB Performing Arts Center, and the Spokane Arena.
Geography
Downtown straddles Sprague Avenue which divides the city into North and South. On the eastern end of Downtown Division Street splits the city into East and West. I-90 is elevated thru almost all of downtown, often with parking lots underneath but occasional blocks are solid cement, forming a barrier at the southern end of Downtown. Immediately south of the interstate the high density area continues into a growing medical district with Spokane's two largest hospitals, Sacred Heart and Deaconess.
To the west one is one of Spokane's oldest neighborhoods and densest neighborhoods, Browne's Addition. In the photo, Browne's addition is the treed area in the foreground on the right. The left side of the foreground is the valley cut by the Spokane river immediately downstream of the falls, this area is the small and similar neighborhood of Peaceful Valley.
Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington, United States. Founded in 1887 by the Society of Jesus, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is named after the young Jesuit saint, Aloysius Gonzaga...
is located just upstream on the north side of the river from Downtown. Across the river from Gonzaga is the new University District home campuses of Eastern Washington University
Eastern Washington University
Eastern Washington University is an American public, coeducational university located in Cheney, Washington.Founded in 1882, the university is academically divided into four colleges: Arts and Letters; Business and Public Administration; Science, Health and Engineering; and Social & Behavioral...
and Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
, Division street separates Downtown from the University District.
Downtown rebirth and development
Knitting Factory
The Knitting Factory is a music venue and concert house with locations in Brooklyn, Boise, Reno, and Spokane. The club originally specialized in jazz and experimental music and has expanded to showcasing all genres of music, performing arts and comedy....
), the remodeling of the historic Montvale Hotel
Montvale Hotel
The Montvale Hotel is a boutique hotel in Spokane, Washington. Originally built in 1899 as an SRO , the Montvale Hotel also served Spokane as an apartment building, a brothel, and as a youth hostel during Expo '74 and then was abandoned for 30 years...
and Fox Theater
Fox Theatre (Spokane)
The Fox Theater in Spokane, Washington is a 1931 Art Deco movie theater. It was designed by architect Robert C. Reamer, notable for his design of the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone Park. It was part of the Fox Film Corporation Empire founded by studio mogul William Fox...
(now home to the Spokane Symphony
Spokane Symphony
The Spokane Symphony is a 70-piece orchestra based in Spokane, WA that performs more than 60 concerts per year for more than 150,000 listeners. It was originally incorporated in 1945 as the Spokane Philharmonic before being renamed the Spokane Symphony in 1962...
), numerous new condo buildings, and renovations of historic, older brick buildings that will soon house both condos and business. Also, the Spokane Convention Center just finished a major expansion which helped host the 2007 US Figure Skating Championships
2007 United States Figure Skating Championships
The U.S. Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition organized by the United States Figure Skating Association. In addition to determining the national champions, the event is used to determine the U.S. teams for the World Figure Skating Championships, World Junior Figure...
. All new skyscrapers built in Spokane
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
are subject to city height restrictions, and therefore, any new efforts to build major buildings are hampered. Recently, a local developer (Rob Brewster) has proposed building the new VOX Tower which, if approved, will become the tallest building in Spokane.
Kendall Yards
The new Kendall Yards development on the northside of Downtown Spokane along the Spokane River will become one of the largest construction projects in the city's history. The proposed development will directly connect to downtown with bridges across the Spokane River and will blend residential and retail space with plazas, and walking trails. Phase I of the development will incorporate about 300 residential units and 450000 square feet (41,806.4 m²) of non-residential use. Town homes, condominiums, and apartments will comprise the residential makeup. Upon completion, the nearly 80 acre (0.3237488 km²) Kendall Yards project will include up to 1,100 residential units and up to 600000 square feet (55,741.8 m²) of commercial, retail, and office space.Parks
Riverfront Park (Spokane)
Riverfront Park is a public park in downtown Spokane, Washington. The 100 acre park is located along the Spokane River, not far up from the Spokane Falls. It was created for Expo '74, a World's Fair event. The defining feature of the park is the Pavilion, which is marked by a metal frame and wire...
, created after Expo '74 and occupying the same site, is 100 acre (0.404686 km²) in downtown Spokane and the site of some of Spokane's largest events. The park has views of the Spokane Falls
Spokane Falls
Spokane Falls is the name of the series of waterfalls and dams on the Spokane River in downtown Spokane, Washington.The Indian name for the Spokane Falls was "Stluputqu", meaning "swift water". The falls was once the site of a large Spokane people village....
, and holds a number of civic attractions, including a Skyride that is a rebuilt gondola that carries visitors across the falls from high above the river gorge, a 5-story IMAX theater, and a small amusement park (which is converted into an ice-skating rink during the winter months) with numerous rides and concessions. The park is host to a full schedule of family entertainment and events such as the Bloomsday
Lilac Bloomsday Run
The Lilac Bloomsday Run, also known as Bloomsday, is an annual timed road race in Spokane, Washington, held on the first Sunday of every May since 1977. The course is 12 km long. The course starts in Downtown Spokane and heads northwest along the far west end of town, passes by Mukogowa Ft...
Post-Race Celebration, Hoopfest
Hoopfest
Hoopfest is an annual 3on3 basketball tournament. Such an event can be held for several means. Examples are for a charity, physical activity, disease curement, and most commonly human spectation. The idea sees two even teams oppose each other in various games of basketball where the advancing teams...
, the IMAX
IMAX
IMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
Film Festival, Spokane Music Festival, Pig-Out in the Park, Restaurant Fair, Pow Wow, First Night
First Night
First Night is an artistic and cultural celebration on New Year's Eve, taking place from afternoon until midnight. Some cities have all their events during the celebration outside, but some cities have events that are hosted indoors by organizations in the city, such as churches and theaters...
Spokane, plus many outdoor concerts and other community activities. The Park also includes a hand-carved carousel created in 1909 by Charles I. D. Looff
Charles I. D. Looff
Charles I. D. Looff was a master carver and builder of hand-carved carousels and amusement rides in America. Looff built the first carousel at Coney Island in 1876. During his lifetime, he manufactured over 50 carousels,twelve amusements parks, several roller coasters and Ferris wheels, and built...
as a wedding present for his daughter. The carousel still operates in Riverfront Park, where riders can participate in an old-time ring toss. The carousel continues to offer a free ride to the rider who grabs the brass ring. Riverfront Park also includes ample views of the Spokane falls as well as other water features (some man-made) of the Spokane River.
Cityscape
See also
- Spokane, WashingtonSpokane, WashingtonSpokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
- Spokane, Washington neighborhoodsSpokane, Washington neighborhoodsSpokane, Washington has neighborhoods ranging from the late Victorian-era to the ultra modern. The neighborhoods listed here are recognized by the city and each has a neighborhood council...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Spokane County, Washington