University District Board Celebrates Departing CEO Lars Gilberts

Thursday, June 24, 2021

With special thanks to event host Julie Van Wormer and Architect's West, the Univeristy District board of directors celebrated departing CEO Lars Gilberts at the McKinstry SIERR Building. Here are just a few of the things the University District accomplished under Lars's watch from March 2017-June 2021.

  • University District Gateway Bridge completed and celebrated
  • MLK Jr Way completed
  • Sprague Avenue Phase 2a completed and 2b underway
  • UD Strategic Master Plan Update completed including numerous public outreach events; South Sub-Area Planning completed with City including rezoning
  • City surplused the UW Spokane Center property to the UDPDA; extended lease with the UW; started new lease with Riverside and Browne Investments
  • Parking study and public outreach completed with Desman
  • Public right of way funds to facilitate Boxcar and Riverside and Browne developments
  • MFTE to facilitate The District housing development
  • EPA Brownfields Coalition Grant
  • Led Real Property Acquisition Agreement with UDC LLC  Completed wayfinding signage project
  • Up to 80% of UDRA funds dedicated to a parking structure; completed site evaluation project which likely will lead to potential property purchase
  • Established the UDDA/UDPDA Administrative Services Agreement
  • Established UDRA-eligible project evaluation criteria
  • Overhaul of bylaws, restructured UDDA and UDPDA boards
  • Secured new banking partner
  • Sales and property tax methodology resolution 
  • Established mission, board roles and responsibilities, core values, thematic goals
  • Marketing brochure and website refresh, Riverside Chat series launched
  • Key partner in moving CEDS forward and served on many community task forces, advisory boards, etc.
  • NEC event leadership and sponsorship success
  • Established the UD Impact Award and awarded to UD pioneers Dave and Mari Clack (2018), Kim Pearman-Gillman (2019), Dean Allen (2020), and Jim Sheehan (2021)

Lars will continue on on a part-time basis until a new CEO is selected.

Photos from the celebration herewith!