Controversial state land transfer in Spokane is approved

The state Board of Natural Resources has approved a controversial land exchange in Spokane that could lead to as many as 1,000 new homes on an undeveloped tract southwest of the city’s downtown.

The Department of Natural Resources will transfer the nearly 200-acre parcel to a private real estate developer, which has plans to build housing, a park and a civic center. In exchange, the state will receive a commercial plot in Bellingham that is the site of a Haggen grocery store.

The board’s unanimous decision Tuesday came despite pushback from Spokane residents, city leaders and other state agencies who say the plan would eliminate some of the last open space in Spokane and that the surrounding infrastructure is not ready for such heavy development.

The agency, on the other hand, says the parcel is no longer generating money for the state — one of the department’s essential responsibilities when managing lands. It has not produced timber revenue since 2009 and has been designated for residential use by the city. Funding from state lands helps pay for schools and some local government services.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/01/08/controversial-state-land-transfer-in-spokane-is-approved/