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Want to meet for a cup of coffee at University Crossing?
How about looking for that new prom dress down at Sprague Plaza?
Well, it might not be the reality yet. But Robin Toth, director of business development for Greater Spokane Inc., told the Spokane Valley City Council on Tuesday night that some aggressive marketing – and maybe some rebranding – could help push along a growth spurt at the proposed city center at University and Sprague.
It might help, though, if the city were willing to ditch the clunky SARP acronym.
“Sprague-Appleway Revitalization Plan is a mouthful,” Toth said, suggesting that the city concentrate its efforts on bringing new business – particularly retail – to the city center area. University Crossing, Sprague Plaza and Appleway Gateway were all bandied about.
“You need something simple that creates excitement,” she said.
Greater Spokane Inc. – which formed out of the merger of the Spokane Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Council – was taken to task by Mayor Richard Munson and some members of the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce after the organization made a request for $65,000 from the city for marketing efforts. However, Munson said at the time that it seemed no one at GSI was even aware that the city had passed SARP and was trying to rejuvenate sputtering business along the Sprague-Appleway corridor.
“The response I got was, ‘What plan?’” Munson said at the time.
Since then, the council agreed to give GSI $30,000 with another $30,000 possible if the group produces a marketing strategy centered on SARP.
Toth did just that on Tuesday, but there was no mention by council members regarding the rest of the contribution, which the city routinely gives annually to social services and business-booting organizations like GSI.
Some of Toth’s suggestions included the city begin developing fliers or other documents that bear an easily recognizable logo and have concise information regarding permitting and zoning within the corridor.
Even noted SARP critic and candidate for City Council Dean Grafos nodded his head at that recommendation.
The city also needs to improve its infrastructure in the area, notably for lighting, landscaping and road improvements. Council members have said they will address the issue of reverting Sprague and Appleway back to two-way arterials once funding opportunities present themselves.
Munson said he hoped the plan would include more information on how to attract mixed uses to the corridor such as high-density housing. However, Toth said it made more sense to concentrate on the commercial aspects of the plan at this time.
“You’ve already got some in there, like apartment buildings and the Community Frameworks project,” she said. She added, however, that efforts could be made to help revitalize the Auto Row area to the west.
Council Member Bill Gothmann compared the marketing plan to some of the efforts he’s seen recently in the cities of Zillah and Grandview, while Deputy Mayor Dick Denenny said, “You’ve come up with some excellent ideas.”
Munson even had some kind words for Toth.
“This reconfirms the concept of being partners,” he said. He suggested that GSI have a representative be part of an ad-hoc committee to study the issue further.
In other news, the council:
- Passed a resolution to urge voters to cast their ballots against Initiative 1033, which would limit revenue growth based on inflation and population growth. Council members said it would prevent governments from saving money in rainy day funds for when the economy is bad or when reserves must be tapped for emergencies such as last year’s record snowfall.
- Held a second reading and passed the 2010 city budget of $102 million, with actual expenditures of about $65 million. A $37 million balance is expected at year’s end, and the budget is about $10 million less than 2009’s.
- Appointed Rustin Hall, president of ALSC Architects, to the Spokane Valley Planning Commission. Hall, who was approved unanimously, will fill out the remainder of the term of Ian Robertson, who was appointed to the City Council to take the spot of Steve Taylor, who left the council at the end of June to become the city administrator for Connell. Hall will have to apply again at the end of the year when the term expires, and another spot will open up when Tom Towey, who is running unopposed, joins the City Council. Other applicants for the Planning Commission included Bill Bates, Donald Cain, Jessica Carpenter-Niemela, Joseph Collins, Deanna Hormann, Robert Messerly, William Metge, Lynn Plaggemeier, Gregory Stirn, George Watson, Sam Wood and Arne Woodard.
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By
Mike Huffman
