298-Unit Class-A Multifamily Development Will Break Ground in Spokane’s University District in April 2021

Spokane, WA – March 4, 2021 - Sagamore Spokane LLC, an innovative and community-minded development company, announced today that the City of Spokane approved its application for building permits for the first phase of “The District,” a 298-unit Class-A multifamily project. The District is located on a 13.16-acre parcel of land comprised of ten lots and surrounded by vital Spokane arteries, including the Spokane River to the north, East Martin Luther King Jr. Way to the south, the Ben Burr trail alongside the river to the north, and bisected by the Hamilton Street Bridge. The District is expected to transform this dynamic location into an essential housing component within the rapidly growing University District. 

 

The issuance of the building permit is the culmination of a four-year pursuit by Sagamore Spokane with respect to the project. The permits were issued only after a Prospective Purchaser Consent Decree (“PPCD”) was agreed upon by the Washington State Department of Ecology and the Attorney General’s Office, as well as being approved by Court order. The PPCD is an important agreement to facilitate redevelopment of the property that was negatively impacted by past industrial uses. The District’s redevelopment process will provide significant environmental improvements to the land as it builds this much-needed housing and integrates the space into Spokane’s core. Sagamore Spokane’s legal and environmental consulting team consisted of Mike Dunning of Perkins Cole LLP and Dave Cook and Adam Griffin of Aspect Consulting. DCI Engineers played a critical role in the civil engineering while Stanley Schwartz of Witherspoon Kelley handled all local legal matters.

 

Sagamore Spokane principal Charles Dubroff stated, “We are thrilled to have this project underway. Our riverside parcel presented several unique challenges and opportunities that we wanted to make sure were addressed in a way that contributed to the long-term health and growth of the University District. As a result, we are grateful for the critical support of the City, the University District, as well as all the teams of professionals engaged in this now 4-year effort. We also greatly appreciate the dedication and perseverance of those in the City of Spokane, University District Department of Ecology and the Attorney General’s office with whom we interacted.”

 

The University District’s CEO, Lars Gilberts has celebrated this milestone commenting that, “The District is helping fulfill our mission to make the University District the preferred live, learn, work, play urban environment in the Intermountain Northwest. This also delivers on Spokane’s 50-year push to transform our railyards into a vibrant and walkable urban core along the Spokane River.”

 

The District was designed by local architecture firm ALSC with Rustin Hall and Gale Stanley playing lead roles. Rustin Hall stated, “From the very beginning of our conversations, it was clear that the Sagamore team wanted to build an iconic and respectful project that would embrace its unique location along the river, amongst the community trails, and breathtaking views of the water and city. I believe that we have accomplished these goals and foresee this project being a great addition to the University District.”

 

Construction is planned to start this April. Swinerton Builders LLC is expected to be the General Contractor, while Construction Management and Development, Inc. has been acting as the owner representative. 

 

The parcel was acquired from an entity controlled by Eric Brown, whose family has owned the property for many years. In addition, an affiliate of Sagamore Spokane acquired the property across East Martin Luther King Jr. Way from the District, which formerly housed Brown Building Materials. Finalized plans for the development of this neighboring property have not yet been announced.

 

Sagamore Spokane is part of an affiliated group of companies with diversified real estate investments nationwide, including ongoing multifamily developments in Arizona and New York, various land investments, and as a joint venture partner in another eastern Washington project, a student housing facility on WSU’s Pullman Campus.

Contact Information:

Sagamore Spokane LLC, 1 East Camelback Road, Suite 120, Phoenix, AZ 85012