Repurpose the Chancery

Shawn Vestal recently wrote about a proposed cultural trail on Riverside Avenue highlighting “our coolest buildings” (notably featured in the 2012 National Trust for Historic Preservation National Conference), other cultural institutions and arts.

The most significant section of the trail is framed by two buildings, the Chancery and Spokane Club, each Kirtland Cutter designs.

The Chancery is at risk for demolition due to a design for a new city block proposed by the Cowles Real Estate Company. This would be a huge loss for Spokane on many levels.

The Cowles family deserves credit for saving Spokane’s downtown by building River Park Square, repurposing Macy’s and the Chronicle Apartment building, as well as other contributions.

They now have a opportunity to repurpose the Chancery, and work it into their larger downtown plan.

Could the Chancery building be used by either medical school, or the nursing school? As a teaching/practice music building for local institutes of higher learning? A Spokane Public Schools charter academic academy/school for the arts? A museum devoted to the daily newspaper? A Spokane Design Center with showrooms for fine furnishings? Large family apartments for diverse urban living ? Swanky dwellings with concierge service in the lobby? Restaurant or nightclub? Or preserve the Chancery exterior and build into as part of the new Cowles plan?

Rising to the challenge of repurposing the Chancery could lead to exciting new design plans, as well as preserving significant history and beauty on the proposed Riverside cultural trail.

Suzanne Fleming

Spokane