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Spokane’s University District is a vibrant and dynamic 770-acre district, home to 20,000 students, faculty, and staff across five major universities and community colleges, two medical school programs, a nationally recognized smart city testbed, and an emerging life sciences cluster. Established in the 1980s as a special funding district to revitalize Spokane’s east downtown area, it has since attracted over $1 billion in investment, emerging as one of the Inland Northwest’s fastest-growing urban centers.

In the coming years, University District leaders are looking to add 1,000 additional housing units and significant institutional, commercial and retail space to the area. The recently unveiled Next Generation Conceptual Plan 2065 sets a visionary course for this growth, distinguished by its dual focus on climate resilience and social-racial equity. While much of Spokane has experienced robust development and investment momentum in recent years, the East Central neighborhood and southern portion of the University District have fallen behind. This area’s challenges stem from historical redlining practices, industrial pollution, and significant community displacement during the I-90 highway construction in the 1960s, resulting in decades of underinvestment.

Join Mithun partner Erin Ishizaki for “The Future of Innovation: Nature & Equity-inspired Collective Action in Spokane’s University District,” to explore one of the Pacific Northwest’s most promising urban redevelopment initiatives. Discover how the project team aims to catalyze a Just Growth movement in Spokane, setting a new standard for equitable urban development.

Erin’s co-presenters are Spokane’s University District Development Association CEO Juliet Sinisterra and Empire Health Foundation policy director Jonathan Teeters.

Date Posted: 01.29.2025