New apartment complex going up near University District

Friday, April 28, 2023

(as reported by Vanessa Perez with KXLY.com)

SPOKANE, Wash. -- A four story multi-family apartment complex is going up just outside the university district along the Spokane River.

The Iron Bridge Apartments are expected to bring 164 units to the area. 

The apartments are expected to have workforce housing, so certain people will be able to apply for a voucher with the city of Spokane to receive lower rent. Crews broke ground on the site about a month ago, so it's still in its early stages.

"Obviously we're in a housing crisis nationwide, and so the University District is excited to welcome any type of housing additional housing into the district. Even though these apartments are just right outside the boundary, it's bringing in market rate, and workforce housing into the district," University District CEO Juliet Sinisterra said. 

Neighbors on the other side of the new development say they've had enough of crime in the area. 

"It's always happening, we don't really catch breaks. We've had drive-by's, stolen cars blow up right here, lots of people living right next to our house, people with knives staying on our sidewalk. I have compassion for the homeless. It's not about that it's just when it really starts affecting your home life and you don't feel safe, that's the frustrating part." Adrienne said. 

A graffiti-filled wall separates Adrienne from what will be the new apartment complex. Another woman in the area says she feel like car prowlings are down in the area, but believes it's only because the Trent Bridge is closed. 

She says new development could mean more people in the area, which could drive bad behavior away.

"You see all this aluminum, and trash in the area. It's just depressing, you don't want to take your kids there, you don't even really feel safe walking sometimes because they'll ask you if you got a cigarette, you got this or you know. I don't usually walk by myself that's why I'm here on the sidewalk today," Monica McGlynn said. 

"This train track is kind of like a highway to Mission Park where a lot of the theft. They'll steal stuff and then go to Mission Park, so yes I hope it creates more community. I would say that's that, hoping," Adrienne said. 

Adrienne says she wants to see the obscene graffiti cleared from the wall. 

According the the Iron Bridge Apartment website, the complex will be coming in 2024. 4 News Now reached out to the developer, a company called Spectrum, but have not heard back.