About Us

A Brief History of the Davenport District Arts Board

In the late 1980’s, a group called the Friends of the Davenport had been working hard to save the distinctive Davenport Hotel and find a new owner. One idea was to create a thriving arts and entertainment district in the area surrounding the hotel. With a matching grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a report was commissioned to determine the economic viability of such a district.

A committee of business owners and citizens was formed to develop this district. In October 1992, Karen Valvano became the manager of the district. The district has the largest number of 100-year old buildings in Spokane, and the group headed by Karen worked to bring these buildings back to life.

The first major project in the district was the renovation of the Steam Plant into a lively historic space filled with a restaurant, bar, and offices on multiple levels. Through the guidance of the board’s new chair, Kim Pearman-Gilman, business owners in the district helped establish the Riverside Neighborhood Council as part of the citywide coalition of neighborhood councils. The board also raised funds to install tree planters and helped fund the colorful David Govedare sculpture in the railroad underpass on Lincoln Street.

In late 2001 the Downtown Spokane Partnership spearheaded a Strategic Action Plan for the district following the momentum begun by the comprehensive management plan for downtown. At this time the "Davenport District" was selected as the name for the area surrounding the hotel from Stevens Street on the east to Madison Street on the west (please see Map).

The organizing committee for the Davenport District is the Davenport District Arts Board. The Metal to Magic Auction provided cast off metal components from the Steam Plant to artists who created works of art to be auctioned. Receipts from this auction were used to purchase and commission unique benches located throughout the Davenport District.

For several years Taste Washington named the Davenport District as a beneficiary of funds raised at their very successful wine tasting event. Printed brochures with a map of the district are available, and this website was created to provide information on the many businesses and attractions located in this lively and walkable area.