Policy Priorities

The DSP’s Policy Principles serve as a framework to guide its advocacy. Initiatives are implemented through five priority areas: Cultivate economic vitality, enhance a vibrant destination, build and expand housing, improve safety downtown, and prioritize getting people the help they need.

1. Cultivate Economic Vitality

With increasing office vacancy rates Downtown, incentivizing investment and job opportunities is critically important to stabilizing economic vitality while new and adjacent areas of future growth will be important catalysts to strengthen Downtown as a powerful economic driver for the region.

2. Enhance a Vibrant Destination

Focusing support on efforts to improve, beautify and revitalize streetscape, entryways and the public realm, policies that support a vibrant destination to work, live and visit supports a healthier downtown.

3. Build and Expand Housing

Expanding practical economic incentives and programs to support new housing options Downtown will result in greater housing capacity of all types and income levels and build a healthier urban neighborhood to support Spokane and its residents.

4. Improve Safety Downtown

Reducing crime and improving public safety and cleanliness through strategic funding and enforcement of adopted laws—with a focus on reducing recidivism—supports a welcoming Downtown.

5. Prioritize Getting People the Help They Need

Downtown is a hub for public safety and emergency response systems with a super-concentration of social services for Eastern Washington. Accessing shelter and housing options with wraparound services is critical to prevent hazardous urban camping on public rights-of-ways and conditions where criminals prey upon the most vulnerable in our community.