Walk Diaries – Monday, February 24, 2025

Over the past two mornings’ walks, we’ve reflected on just how quickly Spokane’s health, safety, and homelessness crisis has evolved. Today, we were joined by a husband and wife—empty nesters who moved into a downtown condominium four years ago, drawn by the area’s thriving and inviting urban environment. So much has changed since then—crime, open drug use, and vagrancy have become so prevalent that neither feels safe walking alone in the evenings or early mornings. Despite living in a secure building, they have experienced numerous thefts and other unlawful activities. Clearly, this was not the experience they envisioned when they chose to make downtown their home.

Their experience highlights a broader and more urgent  issue—how rapidly downtown conditions have deteriorated and how existing zoning and land-use regulations have failed to mitigate or prevent these problems.

Zoning Exists to Ensure Compatible Land Uses—But It Hasn’t Kept Up

Zoning is intended to create compatible property uses that allow businesses, residences, and mixed-use spaces to thrive in different parts of a community. Yet, in downtown Spokane, zoning regulations have clearly not adapted to the rapid shifts reshaping the area.

We now see low-barrier services—important and well-intentioned efforts to provide meals and resources to vulnerable populations—unintentionally attracting individuals with severe addiction issues. And where these vulnerable individuals gather, drug dealers and criminal elements follow, preying on them. This creates a dangerous mix of incompatible activities that directly conflict with downtown’s long-standing residential, business, and public uses.

The result? Many existing and potential businesses—as well as prospective residents—see these alarming conditions and decide to go elsewhere.

Compounding the problem are post-COVID work-from-home trends and other economic shifts that have already contributed to downtown vacancies approaching 30%—the highest rate we’ve seen in our professional lifetimes. This number will only continue to rise as long-term leases expire.

Cities Across the Country Are Making These Adjustments—Spokane Must Be Part of That Movement

Across the country, cities are making necessary zoning and regulatory adjustments to address these challenges. Cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles have already enacted policies to prevent low-barrier shelters from concentrating in downtown areas. Spokane must be part of this movement—it cannot afford to sit back while other cities take proactive steps.

Encouraging Organic Shifts

Despite the lack of regulatory support, we are seeing some positive, organic shifts in Spokane’s landscape:

• Compassionate Addiction Treatment (CAT) has moved to a more suitable location, allowing them to continue their critical work with medication-assisted withdrawal treatment without disrupting surrounding businesses and residences.
• City Gate, which had long served hundreds of meals downtown, closed in December due to ongoing issues related to fentanyl and methamphetamine use and dealing in its vicinity. Plans are now in motion to repurpose the property to support vulnerable populations in a way that also respects its neighbors.
• Catholic Charities has quickly evolved the Catalyst model—an emergency supportive housing program designed to assist individuals transitioning out of homelessness. This successful project has been carefully structured to integrate with its surrounding business and residential environments.

(Note: If anyone is interested in touring the Catalyst facility on Sunset Highway, let me know—we will arrange a group visit.)

Imagine the Difference Thoughtful Policy Could Make

These changes are occurring without comprehensive city planning or structured support. They are reactive shifts, happening in response to long-standing problems or public pressure rather than being guided by proactive zoning and land-use policies.

Now, imagine if these ad hoc improvements to downtown support systems were backed by careful planning and forward-thinking zoning regulations. This is entirely possible—especially considering that the City of Spokane has one of the country’s most talented and visionary planning directors in Spencer Gardner.

This is exactly why conversations like these need to happen—not just during the early morning walks of concerned citizens but every single day among our elected officials and government leaders.

Invitation

I’ll close with an invitation: If the idea of a very early morning walk and these discussions sounds (strangely) appealing, you’re more than welcome to join us any day of the week, 5 AM, in front of City Hall. Each walk lasts about 45 minutes, bringing together a rotating group of concerned citizens for conversations just like today’s.