1996 

“It is our belief that this project may well be of equal significance to the community as the arena has been, as the opera house continues to be, as the conference and ag trade center have always been, and as Riverfront Park has been since Expo. We are sure that this project will serve as a catalyst for additional new and redevelopment facilities within the entire region of Spokane.”
 
     -David Shea, chairman, Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce, City Council Meeting Oct. 17, 1996

“Here in Spokane this project will serve as a retail and entertainment anchor that will enhance our region’s ability to attract convention and visitor business, to bring new companies to town, and to hold onto our younger population and others who seek an exciting urban experience.”
 
“Finally, our organization has had the opportunity to meet with several urban consultants from around the country over the past few months, and one of those consultants, Daniel Soloman from San Francisco had a line that stood out in a letter that he sent to us. His statement is, “I cannot recall being in a place where the edge between collapse and opportunity is so clear.”
 
     -Larry Soehren, on behalf of the Downtown Spokane Partnership, City Council Meeting Oct. 17, 1996

“Spokane can be proud and should be proud that our downtown has never been allowed to deteriorate to a level that was irredeemable. Consider downtown like a home, it takes upkeep, investment and care, and it takes creative approaches and dedication. The River Park Square project represents all that and more.”
 
     -Janelle Fallan, executive director of Momentum, City Council Meeting Oct. 17, 1996

“As a businessman, I know how important a strong downtown is, not only to tourism, but to our businesses…a strong downtown is really the engine that drives not only tourism, but new business into the area. It drives the cultural pride, civic pride and civic capital to really make a strong area. I truly believe that a strong city is vital to our continued growth.”
 
     -Tom Stevenson, vice chair of the Spokane County Convention & Visitors Bureau, City Council Meeting Oct. 17, 1996

“This project will help to create a vibrant central business core, which will translate into increased sales and property taxes and those revenues will assist the city in continuous improvements.”

     -John Wagner, chairman of EDC, executive vice president of Seafirst Bank (now Bank of America), City Council Meeting Oct. 17, 1996

“I can tell you that probably no decision is more important than the one you are making now, to give public parking to the citizens to be a catalyst for other development that will take place, to put a vision in front of other people, to take risks and to come into downtown Spokane and be risk takers…we need to have vision, we need to accelerate the growth of our urban core and we need to do it with leadership and vision.”

      -Don Barbieri, CEO, West Coast Hospitality, City Council Meeting Oct. 17, 1996

“I personally think that this project is an essential ingredient in keeping downtown healthy and keeping Spokane in the position it has historically been as a regional draw…I think this project is necessary to provide a base foundation to support the improvements that have already been made downtown and to promote a synergy of more projects yet to come. I think this project will serve as a springboard for other improvements. I think it will revive the retail core before it deteriorates, as some other cities have experienced.”
 
“The project has a direct impact on all that I love about Spokane, and I do believe that if this project doesn’t go ahead as it’s outlined, that we run the very strong likelihood of Nordstrom leaving Spokane and the deleterious effect that would bring to the neighborhood around it.”

      -Ron Wells, real estate developer, City Council Meeting Oct. 17, 1996

“The downtown is the heart of the city, and we as a major retailer on the north side are just an extension of the heart. Without any heartbeat we would not survive.”

      -Chud Wendle, Wendle Ford, City Council Meeting Oct. 17, 1996

“Our downtown is at a critical crossroads…We are very fortunate at this point in time that there are people in our community who bring a vision and a willingness to invest in a significant  revitalization project. This opportunity and its timing should not be passed by. The River Park Square revitalization benefits not only to downtown but to our entire region through new jobs and a tax base that is increased rather than decreasing.”

      -Rob Fukai, vice president of Washington Water Power Co.(Avista), City Council Meeting Oct. 17, 1996

“Our fate then, as small business, rests very much with the fate of downtown. Along with the PBIA, the redevelopment of River Park Square represents a huge boost in my eyes to the future of downtown Spokane and hence, to our future.”

      -Patrick Jones, Harvey’s and Spokane Pendleton, City Council Meeting Oct. 17, 1996

“We think it’s a good project and we think it’s something that the city needs. We think it’s something that revitalizes the Spokane area and is something that puts this town, the city, on a correct course to the future and bridge to the next century.”

      -John Leinen, secretary/treasurer Spokane Labor Council, City Council Meeting Oct. 17, 1996

“Downtown is a tremendous tax base for this community. If this tax base is eroded by not doing this project, who pays the bill? The housepayers and the homeowners of Spokane will end up paying for that transfer of the real estate taxes for the increased services to maintain downtown.”
 
     -Craig Soehren, City Council Meeting Oct. 17, 1996

1997

“Do all you can to preserve retail. If you lose (your anchor retail downtown) you won’t get it back. Everyone in the country is competing for anchor retail in downtown and there will only be limited opportunities nationally.” 

“This project balances the public investments made here in Spokane over the past 10 years, such as the arena, the transit center, the library, Riverfront Park and federal investments made at the postal service and U.S. Courthouse.”

      -William Pupo, City Council Meeting Jan. 13, 1997

“…The city is going to obtain a valuable municipal asset, which is going to be of benefit to surrounding municipal properties upon payment of all debt by the foundation.”

     -Stan Schwartz, city attorney, City Council Meeting Jan. 13, 1997

“(River Park Square) will serve as a catalyst to this very important economic investment in our community…the potential benefits if this is even the modicum of success…will be benefits to this community that will far outweigh the risks.”

     -Jack Geraghty, Spokane mayor, City Council Meeting Jan. 13, 1997

“(Downtown) lacks…a vital retail component, a residential component and some of the other arts and quality of life. The foundation believes that the parking structure…is a very integral part of providing more components necessary for a vital downtown.”

“We believe this is a very important project. We think it’s vital not only today to the development of downtown, but we believe it will be a very important cornerstone to the further development of a very vital downtown that contains multiple uses, retail, government, service, housing and a number of other areas. We think this is a very vital part of a start to the regeneration and recreation of a vital entire downtown.”

      -Mike Ormsby, City Council Meeting Jan. 13, 1997

“The Spokane Labor Council has endorsed this project. We think it’s a good project and we think it will work. We think it’s something that the downtown needs and something that will keep the downtown alive.” 

      -John Leinen, secretary/treasurer of Spokane Labor Council, City Council Meeting Jan. 13, 1997

“The reason our group, unanimously endorsed this project, that is made up of big players and small players, is because we believe that it fits into the big picture of economic revitalization for downtown Spokane and no other reason. We believe the design is grand in scale and reflects the cultural values of our community and it will be a place that all members of our community can congregate and enjoy themselves, relax and have fun.”

     -Andrew Baucom, on behalf of Davenport’s Arts and Entertainment District, City Council    Meeting Jan. 13, 1997

“Would you rather invest in a new car for our tour or would you rather invest in an old hearse? Because if the downtown goes downhill, that is exactly what we’re going to have to face, millions of dollars of reinvestment and hard work and staff time here and in our agencies to bring back a downtown that at this point has great opportunity to take the next step forward.”

     -Rich Hadley, on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, City Council Meeting Jan. 13, 1997

“No city in America can be strong without a healthy downtown. All neighborhoods depend on the synergies from downtown jobs, wages, tax revenues and property values. A strong downtown needs a balanced mix of office uses, eating establishments, entertainment facilities and events, hotels, residential housing, cultural facilities and activities, convenient parking and a favorable retail environment…but the glue that binds them all together, so that they can play off of one another, is a strong retail district.”

“The retail exodus from downtown Spokane will be immediate and dramatic in scope. The exodus will ripple into tourism, entertainment, cultural activities, hospitality, office occupancy, and government employment, as well as tax receipts. The residential property owners will also be impacted financially. Organizations like SIRTI and the EDC will have a difficult time recruiting once this decline is recognized.”

      -Al Payne, downtown business owner, City Council Meeting Jan. 13, 1997

“Spokane has a rare opportunity to make downtown better. If we miss this opportunity to secure the health of downtown, for many years to come the glue that holds many diverse neighborhoods will begin to soften and our unique community spirit will fade. The day Nordstrom’s and The Bon leave downtown is the day I begin to make plans to leave as well…because I know that without these stores, my favorite restaurants, bookstores and the civic events that I and thousands of others in Spokane enjoy, will also suffer and leave.”

      -Greg Tew, architect and faculty member of Washington State University City Council Meeting Jan. 13, 1997

“My company is a small operation, about as small as can you get. But I would submit to you that no company is so small that it can ignore the direct to indirect benefits of this opportunity to revitalize our downtown…Mayor, you spoke to the issue of risk and not putting any undue risk on the citizens of Spokane. I would submit to you today that the 
greater risk is the risk that we run if we don’t grab this opportunity before it’s lost to us.”

      -Steve Clark, downtown business owner, City Council Meeting Jan. 13, 1997

“What we want to really emphasize here tonight is that we from the medical community are spiritually, philosophically and economically bound to the downtown business community. We support this fully and we want you to pass this resolution, we want to get going on this, we have a time line.”

     -Phil Werschler, MD owner of Dermatology Clinic, City Council Meeting Jan. 13, 1997

“This project will energize downtown Spokane, just as I have seen in my travels to meetings. San Jose and Santa Monica, California, are perfect examples of a setup with standardized civic parking combined with a vertical shopping center. San Antonio is another fabulous, successful example...These are models of success that attracted a high quality mix of entertainment, retail and high technology into the downtown area.”

     -Steve Simmons, director of the SIRTI software engineering laboratory, part owner of XN Technologies, professor of computer science at Eastern Washington University. Developer/creator of Terabyte Triangle. City Council Meeting Jan. 13, 1997

“Yes, we have potholes, but we also have boarded up stores. I remember Leed’s, Newberry’s and Lamont’s. How long have some of those facilities been boarded up? Those facilities that can and could in the future generate revenue for the sake of filling a pothole is like my saying I am going to quit my job and spend my savings and paint my house but not to recognize the fact that I need to provide future generations of revenue to maintain that house.”
 
     -Phyllis Holmes, city council member, City Council Meeting Jan. 13, 1997

“One of the things that impacts me greatly are those folks who have businesses in our downtown section, in our core who are saying to us this is absolutely vital, without this project, I just have to make a decision to leave. If you own one of these ancillary kinds of businesses that require the support of the downtown core and you think that you as an employee aren’t going to be impacted by the future of this revitalization effort, then you really need to think again.”
 
     -Roberta Greene, city council member, City Council Meeting Jan. 13, 1997

“There is a theory, and I subscribe to that theory that parking meter monies, since they are not taxes, can and should be used for downtown projects. It’s ironic to think that if we allow the downtown to deteriorate and in my opinion it has already begun, that we will have any parking meter funds at all. Why would someone want to come down there to use the parking meters if there’s no reason to come downtown?”
 
     -Jeff Colliton, city council member, City Council Meeting Jan. 13, 1997

“The impacts on the community as a whole and on the total community are enormous from this, $3 million a year from new tax revenues. That money will go to streets, it will go into police…additional portions will go to our public schools…it will be used in a variety of ways. I don’t think we can afford not to move ahead with this…but nevertheless, this is going to be a hard battle, but it’s one worth waging in the interest of this total community and the overall benefit for the people of this community.”
 
     -Jack Geraghty, Spokane mayor, City Council Meeting Jan. 13, 1997

“It might cost the taxpayer more by not doing it than…by doing it.”
 
     -Orville Barnes, city council member, City Council Meeting Jan. 13, 1997

“…the risk of not doing it is concentrated right here on the residents of the City and County of Spokane, in the form of lost opportunity, lost revenue and the increasing cost of providing public safety services in a declining core.”
 
     -Phyllis Holmes, city council member, City Council Meeting Jan. 13, 1997

“The health of the downtown core continues to be a measure of the overall economic strength of the entire community. A vital downtown is a critical factor in company expansions and relocations. Spokane must understand that a healthy and vibrant downtown reflects the overall image of the Spokane area, not just the downtown core.”
 
     -Frank Tombari, chairman of the board of the EDC, City Council Meeting Jan 27, 1997

“…A strong, healthy, exciting, active and safe downtown is vital to the continued growth of the visitor and convention industry that we enjoy today. It is vital to us as a marketing strategy, to attract more visitor and convention business. I feel that this development would become a destination attraction for Spokane, downtown and all of this region.” 

     -Hartley Krueger, president of the Spokane Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, City Council Meeting Jan 27, 1997

“A city without a thriving center is like a person without a center: they’re lost, vacant eyes, vacant storefronts, depressed, hopeless. A city without a center flounders, misses opportunities and doesn’t reach its full potential. Your center, your heart, determines what kind of person you are and a city’s downtown determines what kind of city you are and will become.”

     -Dale Sachs, middle school administrator, City Council Meeting Jan 27, 1997

“Spokane is the spot that a lot of people in the region look to for a night on the town or a weekend or a fun getaway. This project hits to the heart of the other aspects of what downtown has been and should be much more, and that is the specialty retailing. We need 21st century specialty retailing, we need this Nordstrom to put Spokane back on the map for being the center that it’s always been and the regional draw that is has traditionally been…without this Nordstrom, the kind of specialty retailers that typically attach themselves to a Nordstrom’s simply will not come to the Spokane market.”

      -Ron Wells, real estate developer, City Council Meeting Jan 27, 1997

“We support the downtown revitalization for all the obvious reasons- job creation and enhanced tourism- but, perhaps as important, it is critical to business retention and economic development efforts overall. From Kaiser’s perspective, a healthy, attractive and economically vibrant downtown is an important marketing tool, both in recruiting and retention of employees from a variety of fields and disciplines. Our job is made easier with a community that is vibrant culturally, socially and economically.”

      -Susan A. Ashe, NW Public Affairs Manager, Kaiser, January 23, 1997