Combining Fragments into a Vibrant Whole

Abstract

Spokane, Washington is a medium-sized city whose downtown area has seen a large amount of development over the past two decades including the development of the University District, the Convention Center District, and the Downtown Core. These districts are adjacent to a fourth “district,” which contains the natural Spokane River, Spokane Falls, and Riverfront Park. The close proximity of these four areas creates the potential for a vibrant downtown. However, these districts do not currently mesh; continued development along these lines threatens future vibrancy. Since Spokane is not fully developed, it should proactively implement strategies to create a better Downtown, before it is too late. This paper discusses those strategies.