Marlene Feist, Utilities Director of Strategic Development, No Phone Number Available
Tuesday, November 8, 2016 at 4:05 p.m.
On a beautiful November morning, a small crowd gathered on Main Avenue between Division and Browne streets to celebrate a new streetscape for this vibrant block of eclectic shops, restaurants, and offices.
Instead of a ribbon cutting, officials and local business owners connected the ribbon, symbolizing how the new look for the street has helped to bring together this area, which has become one of the hottest 24-hour locations in Spokane’s downtown.
Council Member Lori Kinnear, who represents District 2 which includes downtown, was happy to be part of the ceremony. “Main Avenue has seen a resurgence and now is one of the most active areas in our core, with late night venues, early morning coffee, and specialized products,” said Council Member Kinnear. “With this project, we have improved the pedestrian experience, slowed down traffic, and made parking more convenient.
The new look is designed to enhance the business environment, improve the pedestrian experience, and make it easier to park. Most distinctive is the addition of center-lane parking and a mid-block pedestrian crossing. In all, the project has provided 21 new auto and eight motorcycle parking spots. New landscaping, safer pedestrian crossing areas, and pay-by-plate parking kiosks are also part of the enhanced streetscape.
“As a City, we want to leverage our infrastructure investments to create vibrant business areas and more livable neighborhoods,” says Scott Simmons, the City’s Division Director of Public Works & Utilities. “This is part of our strategy to get our citizens the amenities they want while we also repair our streets and build critical underground infrastructure.”
