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Elvis' Urban Renewal

Before the World Expo in 1974, the eponymous river that runs through Spokane, Washington was flanked by railroads and industry. The Expo transformed downtown into a green space and a destination, and the city has continued to revitalize the area. The World's Fair in 1974 was just the first step, although it was probably the most dramatic. The Expo brought Spokane international attention, a visit from the president, and the filming of a truly terrible Elvis movie. But the lasting impact was the transformation of downtown from a complex of industry, parking lots, and railroads to a revitalized and greener area featuring Riverfront Park. The downtown area became a destination for residents and established Spokane as the hub of the inland northwest. The facelift helped transition the city from industry to service, which is the heart of the local economy now.

The momentum from the World's Fair did not continue without several waves of community effort along to way. In the mid-1990s, the commercial area of downtown was flagging. Several storefronts went empty, and malls on the edge of the city threatened to swallow the local retail trade. The city, along with private investors, spent millions to create River Park Square, a unique downtown commercial complex that attracted retailers and customers back to the city center.

Spokane is now undertaking a wave of cultural revitalization downtown. Led by the refurbishing of the historic Fox Theatre and the opening of The Big Easy music venue, the goal is to attract not only patrons to the area, but artists as well. Spokane has adapted itself from industrial center to service sector hub, and now strives to be a cultural promoter and host in the region.

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