Spokane University District aims to create safe, inviting environment for all with new development plan

(As reported by Madeleine Mullins, KXLY)

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Spokane's University District is working with a developer to come up with plans to improve the sub-south area.

This area includes the east-to-west streets from Browne to Hamilton and north-to-south from the train tracks to Fifth Avenue just north of the freeway.

Juliet Sinisterra, CEO of the University District, said the House of Charity and Catholic Charities' Haven complexes were also included in the design process.

"They are upset about the increase in crime, they are concerned about the increased garbage, even excrement on the sidewalks," Sinisterra said. "All of the things that we are appalled at, they are appalled at."

One of the improvements the University District is proposing is an increase in green space.

"We are identifying some parks and other space that we can implement in the south sub-area because there are none right now," Sinisterra said.

The University District is focused on putting in more community gardens, increasing security, and adding more infrastructure like lights and benches.

"We want them to be inviting, we want them to be healthy, we want them to be safe, we want them to be green," Sinisterra said.

The University District said its District Conceptual plan wants to address the problems Spokane residents have expressed in the area. Sinisterra added she wants it to be inviting to all.

"When you are planning for an urban environment you don't want to be segregating people either. We want to create a beautiful place for everyone," she said.

 Sinisterra said while providing greenspaces is important, maintaining and keeping them safe is also a crucial step.

"How can we keep it safe; how can we keep it from not being overrun with tents? A lot of the conversation revolved around creating active uses within the space, and active uses that opened up onto the space," she said.

Sinisterra said the University District is currently working with a design firm. By December, it should have a plan in place for where these greenspaces will be and when they will be done.