West Central Neighborhood Infrastructure Project
Spokane, WA · 2024
Client: City of Spokane
Location: Spokane, WA
Year: 2024
CP Role: Sub-consultant to Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
Practice Area: Real Estate + Feasibility · Urban Analytics + Scenario Planning
Team: Alex Steinberger, Economics; Irene Kim, Engagement; Angélica Martínez Sulvarán, Engagement; Sara Goldstein, Analyst
The Challenge
Spokane created the West Quadrant tax increment district in 2007 to fund infrastructure in the West Central Neighborhood, but the heart of West Central remained one of the city's poorest areas, and some residents felt the funds had not gone to their priorities. The City's Housing Action Plan rated the neighborhood at moderate to high risk of displacement.
Our Approach
As a sub-consultant to Kittelson & Associates, we led the economic impact analysis. We reviewed 15 studies on the economic effects of traffic calming, bikeways, sidewalks, and crossings, interviewed developers and business owners, and mapped commercial nodes. We screened parcels countywide in a geographic information system (GIS) and narrowed 170 candidate sites to 112 on the ground, then rated each priority project high, medium, or low on catalytic potential, support for existing businesses, nearness to commercial nodes, and nearby opportunity sites. We also wrote an anti-displacement framework for housing and commercial space.
Outcome
The final report, issued in December 2024, ranks ten priority projects, led by parking-protected bike lanes on Broadway Avenue. Our opportunity-site mapping and anti-displacement framework appear in the report, and our scoring method is written out so City staff can repeat it.
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