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Spokane council adopts interim ordinance lifting downtown height limits to encourage housing development
Summary
The Spokane City Council adopted Ordinance C36646, removing interim height restrictions in parts of downtown to make more parcels financially viable for development. Supporters said the change could spur housing projects; opponents cautioned about historic character, infrastructure strain and concentration of low-income units.
Spokane City Council on March 17, 2025, adopted Ordinance C36646, an interim zoning ordinance that removes or relaxes certain height limits in parts of downtown and creates a new interim chapter (17C.0.425 SMC) to encourage multi-story development.
Council members and downtown developers said the change will make previously undevelopable parcels financially feasible and could increase housing supply. Braylon Barton of the Downtown Spokane Partnership told the council, “these height restrictions would potentially free up development along Spokane Falls Boulevard with much needed housing.”
Supporters, including members of the commercial real estate community, argued that removing the artificial cap will allow projects to “pencil” for lenders and bring more residents and customers to downtown. Clayton McFarland, a commercial property manager who is active with downtown business groups, said the ordinance “does not readily solve our…
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