How much has Spokane changed?

[509]

Originally Posted by pnwguy2

I don't live in Spokane, but visit frequently. I have been shamed on other threads for what some thought were insults to the city, which really were not, but so be it. I will focus on the positives.

The south hill may be one of the most beautiful residential areas in Eastern Washington, if not the entire State. Big oak trees and evergreens, some substantial houses, and a general upscale feel. Likewise, the other side of the hill has some beautiful, newer neighborhoods (most with views), though more expensive than the city generally.

Downtown still feels like a downtown, despite losing some big department stores, but welcome to the 2020's. Riverfront Park is terrific. As a kid I remember my parents driving through there in the early 70's and pointing out what "Skid Row" looks like. How it has become such a beautiful park and community gathering area is a credit to the city.

While Spokane's growth rate is not the highest in the state, there are positive signs. The new Amazon center up on the plateau is a big plus. The tech industry is growing, as it outgrows the Puget Sound region. Spokane Valley is also growing, albeit with a suburban feel. I do see some efforts to make that suburban feel more street friendly, however.

I also am impressed that Spokane has become more interested in the arts such as theater and museums.

Overall, Spokane has more positives than negatives. I personally don't care for the weather, but I know many love the real 4-season climate with few real extremes.

As for politics, generally conservative, but as cities evolve there usually is a lean a bit left. I am not surprised Spokane has followed this curve.

Spokane didn't LOSE the Crescent, it was bought out by a Seattle business interests and promptly run into the ground.

Expo 74 was amazing. The legacy still lingers to this day.

Spokane was always into the arts. Do you think the Opera House got built over local opposition?? I am halfway between Spokane and Seattle...the choice for the arts and shows is Spokane.

The Spokane Public Library use to loan art works to the public. Check out a painting a hang it above your mantle for a month. Than somebody decided to do a inventory and valuation of the art work being lent to the public on a monthly basis. Some art works were taken immediately out of the lending library.

That was in 1978 and earlier. Does that sound like a community not into art??

Agree with you on the weather. It is awful. Better than Seattle but not by much.

Spokane is evolving left. That is NOT a good thing.

[Pruritus Ani]

Originally Posted by ErrorDetected

Whether you like it...or not.
"Physical Security of Women" goes down the more immigration rises. (WomenStats)
https://ibb.co/Ctfp7fZ
There's a reason why Bezos loves open borders.
And why Obama sent Somalian refugees to the Whites places in the US.
This has been obvious to many for (at least) 5 years.



And further...and further.
Meanwhile, Democrats flee their own mistakes and also "find themselves happier further east."
https://www.opb.org/article/2022/09/...-gun-violence/



And on and on it goes.
Rules for thee but not for me. kek

PREACH, BROTHER! PREACH!
Give those regressive Leftist racists the ol ONE TWO!

[servo75]

Originally Posted by slowlanes

which is why it's increasingly popular for younger folks, such as my daughter who has lived there for 20 years, who well understand they are raising their kids to be happy and functional in a multi-cultural world. Those pining for less tolerent will likely find themselves happier further east.

That's a rather unfortunate accusation. Why do you make that association between happy/functional and left-leaning, and right-leaning means pining for "less tolerance?" People leaning one way are naturally going to be happy around people who lean the same way (that's unfortunate that it's come to this and civil conversation is a thing of the past). But where you make the association that the right-leaning folks are less tolerant begs explanation, especially given what we see on Social Media.... and in colleges.... and in movies and TV.... and in other pop culture.

[pnwguy2]

Originally Posted by servo75

That's a rather unfortunate accusation. Why do you make that association between happy/functional and left-leaning, and right-leaning means pining for "less tolerance?" People leaning one way are naturally going to be happy around people who lean the same way (that's unfortunate that it's come to this and civil conversation is a thing of the past). But where you make the association that the right-leaning folks are less tolerant begs explanation, especially given what we see on Social Media.... and in colleges.... and in movies and TV.... and in other pop culture.

Yes, so true and so false. Bare with me here. Spokane leans conservative but has been increasing in liberal ideals in the past couple of decades. If the younger population chooses to continue to live there then this will continue. Political viewpoint may change a metro area but it depends on how active those folks decide voting is important.

[UniversalTraveler]

Originally Posted by 601halfdozen0theother

Somebody's been drinking the crazy juice!

Based on my experience of visiting relatives over the past decades, Spokane in the late 1970s was pretty grungy. Spokane in the early 2020s seems cleaner and more upscale.

However, poor old Coeur d'Alene has been completely ruined. It used to be so wonderful; now too many people, too many cars, and it just makes me sad.

Gee and guess why. All the folks with REAL money moving from "you know where" came there to build their dream estate homes and more. But you're right. Coeur d'Alene is a far cry from what it was more then a decade ago........sad

[509]

Originally Posted by UniversalTraveler

Gee and guess why. All the folks with REAL money moving from "you know where" came there to build their dream estate homes and more. But you're right. Coeur d'Alene is a far cry from what it was more then a decade ago........sad

REALLY? Coeur d'Alene was NEVER a good community to live. At least not in the time I lived there, from 1978 until I finally sold my home in 1984.

I almost moved to Spokane and considered commuting to Coeur d'Alene since that was where I worked.

I got a Spokane Public Library card, the books in Coeur d'Alene library primarily had cartoon drawings. You needed permission from Hagadon to do ANYTHING in town.

The golden age of Spokane was from 1974 to about 1990.

Now it is just a city just as congested and trashy as Seattle.

My favorite bumper sticker in eastern Washington from the early 1990's.......DON'T 206 509.

We failed.

[grega94]

Originally Posted by pnwguy2

Some may not realize that Spokane is the largest metro area between Seattle and Minneapolis in the northern US. And as I mentioned previously the area feels like a real sturdy traditional city. I don’t care for their weather, but it is a good midsized city to live in.

Well it also helps that Eastern Washington alone has 1.6 million people and has about the same population of both the Dakotas combined.

[TheTimidBlueBars]

Originally Posted by grega94

Well it also helps that Eastern Washington alone has 1.6 million people and has about the same population of both the Dakotas combined.

Spokane is why Eastern WA is that populated --- the other prominent cities (Yakima, the Tri-Cities, Walla Walla etc.) are similar in size to the prominent cities of the Dakotas.

Anyway, I like Spokane. Solid urban bones, cool downtown, some nice parks like Manito Park, real "city of neighborhoods" feel --- uncommon for interior western cities not named Denver. Would look cool with some light rail extending to Coeur d'Alene (and maybe a line north to Whitworth/Country Homes?), but that'd be a tough sell at the region's current population.

Last time I was there (summer 2021) it seemed like the U District area around Gonzaga was the hot development spot. Not sure how much progress has been made since.

[DJKirkland]

I'm leaving the Seattle area to move to Spokane in the next month, and I'm stoked for it. Spokane has some great bones and all the amenities I would need/want. I can't afford to go to many Seahawks games or overpriced restaurants in Seattle, so really its the natural surroundings that I do like more on the west side. I did grow up in CDA so familiar with how Spokane has changed over the years, but to me its been mostly positive.