Spokane Office-to-Residential Conversion Plan Approved, Unlocking 700 Units of Downtown Housing
Key Takeaways Stringent regulations and costly retrofits threaten to stall developer interest, placing historic buildings like the Peyton Building at risk and straining water and transit systems. Climbing vacancies and aging infrastructure present major challenges, and the current $20 million budget may not be sufficient if construction costs continue to rise. Swift action is crucial to prevent further downtown decline and ensure Spokane seizes this revitalization opportunity. Downtown Housing Revitalization Faces Major Hurdles The Spokane office-to-residential conversion plan is officially approved, opening 700 new units near Riverfront Park as downtown towers sit half-empty. Vacancy is rising, infrastructure is aging, and $20 million will not stretch far if construction costs soar higher. Rapid action is urgent—a failure to adapt means downtown could slide further into stagnation. The next move reveals everything. Challenges and Opportunities in Downtown Spokane’s Transfo...