Browne’s Addition Local Historic District

In October of 2019, after tireless work by the Browne’s Addition Neighborhood Council, Browne’s Addition was designated as a local historic district in Spokane. It was the first historic district in Spokane formed by a vote of property owners within an identified district boundary. The neighborhood was first designated as a National Register Historic District in 1976, but the neighborhood was disappointed and even surprised that National Register designation offered little or zero protection to historic resources in the neighborhood.

The intent of these efforts are to keep historic buildings in use and the historic character of the district intact through listing on the Spokane Register of Historic Places and forming an overlay zone; incentivizing rehabilitation; and reviewing changes to historic properties, demolitions, and new construction.

District Map

Property Owner Resources

District Nomination Design Standards & Guidelines

Resource Forms

Project Description

The Browne’s Addition Neighborhood Council initiated the process to create a historic district overlay in fall of 2016. The overlay created a Spokane Register Historic District and implemented Historic Design Review for properties located within the district. The overlay applies design review for any new construction as well as for additions to existing buildings. This proposal does not include public rights-of-way within the district. A map is located below.

The district will help maintain the historic character of Browne’s Addition while allowing contributing properties within the district to take advantage of incentives for owners of historic properties, including Special Tax Valuation and the Façade Improvement Grant program.

There were many steps to approval for this historic district overlay. In spring of 2019 a draft of the Browne’s Addition Design Standards and Guidelines was made available for public review and comment. The City of Spokane Plan Commission held three workshops to look at the proposed guidelines and district overlay zone. The Plan Commission held a public hearing on June 12, 2019 at which they recommend the formation of the Browne’s Addition Local Historic District Overlay Zone to Spokane City Council.

The adoption of the overlay was also subject to review by the Landmarks Commission of the City of Spokane. The Landmarks Commission approved formation of the district at a public hearing on August 28, 2019.

The overlay district was also subject to a vote of current property owners within the district. By city code, a vote of over 50% of property owners of developable lots was required for the overlay district to move forward to City Council for potential adoption. The voting period ended on August 22, 2019 and over 54% of owners of properties within the district showed their support for formation of the overlay zone.

The overlay was passed by Spokane City Council as Ordinance C35810 by a vote of 6-1 on September 23, 2019. The Mayor of Spokane, David Condon, signed the ordinance on October 4, 2019 and the ordinance went into effect on November 3, 2019.

Timeline

Public Outreach/Internal Process:

June 3, 2015: Initial BANC Meeting
November 30, 2016: HPO published Pro-Browne’s Addition Historic District website with FAQs, all other info on district formation
June 7, 2018: BANC Meeting Presentation to Neighborhood
September 13, 2018: BANC Meeting Presentation
October 5, 2018: Mailing sent to all property owners within the district boundaries
October 18, 2018: #1 Browne’s Addition Workshop – Compatible New Construction in Browne’s
November 7, 2018: #2 Browne’s Addition Workshop – Frequently Asked Questions
March 14, 2019: Postcard mailing to all property owners announcing availability of docs, workshop
March 20, 2019: SHLC Preliminary Approval for Browne’s Addition documents
March 27, 2019: #3 Browne’s Addition Workshop – Overview of Completed Documents/Discussion
April 8, 2019: Urban Experience City Council Committee update on BA District
April 24, 2019: Plan Commission Workshop #1
May 8, 2019 2 p.m.:Plan Commission Workshop #2
May 16, 2019 6:30 p.m.: Browne’s Addition NC Meeting – Process Update
May 22, 2019 3 p.m.: Plan Commission Workshop #3
June 12, 2019 4 p.m.: Plan Commission Hearing – Browne’s Addition Local Historic Overlay Zone – Plan Commission Votes 7-1 in favor of district creation
June 19, 2019 3 p.m.: Landmark Commission Hearing – Browne’s Addition Local Historic District Nomination & Design Standards and Guidelines
June 20, 2019: Ballots mailed to the property owners within the boundaries of the proposed historic district
July 17, 2019: Notice Signs Posted for Landmarks Commission Public Hearing on August 28, 2019 – signs located at corners of W. 2nd Ave. & S. Chestnut St. and W. Riverside Ave. & S. Maple St.
August 22, 2019: Browne’s Addition Local Historic District voting period ended – there were 371 possible votes and 201 were “yes” votes (54%) in favor of forming the district. In order to move the proposal forward, 186 (50%+1) affirmative votes were required.
August 28, 2019: Landmarks Commission Hearing – Browne’s Addition Local Historic District Nomination & Design Standards and Guidelines – Final Approval by vote of 8-0
September 23, 2019: Spokane City Council Meeting – Ordinance C35810 forming the Browne’s Addition Local Historic District Overlay was passed by City Council by a vote of 6-1
October 4, 2019: City of Spokane Mayor, David Condon, signed Ordinance C35810
November 3, 2019: Ordinance C35810 goes into effect

Additional Project Documents