Spokane City Council Votes to Freeze Housing Growth Boundaries

Spokane Valley says “We’ll build here!”

By a 5-2 vote along party lines, the Spokane City Council votes has voted to freeze housing boundaries under the Growth Management process for the next 10 years.  Despite overwhelming evidence that demonstrates the harm caused to Spokane’s Housing market in just the last 10 years cycle, council members decided Spokane has all the land it needs to meet population growth until the year 2036.

“It’s clear, the City of Spokane has no interest in housing,” said local developer and builder Jim Frank, of Greenstone Homes. “There are way too many issues already trying to build in Spokane, it’s ridiculous,” said Frank.

Among the facts presented to the City Council:

• Since the last Growth Management 10 years ago, a lack of supply has driven lot prices up from an average of $79,000 in 2015, to well over $200,000 in 2025.
• By comparison, nearby Post Falls has lots for sale around $82,000
• The result – you can by a 3bed-2bath home in Post Falls ($411,000) for less than a median priced older home in Spokane ($425,000)
• Traffic on Interstate 90 between Spokane and Idaho has increased from 30,000 cars per day, to over 120,000 as people go where housing is easier, creating a tremendous Greenhouse Gas disaster.
• This daily commute from Idaho is costing Spokane County nearly 1$-Billion dollars in lost revenues ($951-million) every year

By contrast, the City of Spokane Valley says it wants to grow, signaling to the County it needs more land to make more affordable housing possible. Many builders have now turned their attention there, proclaiming Spokane is No Longer a Place to Build. “We have to work, where you can work,” said Frank.