Hillyard Historic

Business District
A reflection of the diverse

activities and people that shape

Brent Boardman
Hillyard
Whitney Clerf
Ami Keiffer
Casey Strain
Washington State University
Spokane
Design Studio 6 – Scarfo, Spring
2007
What makes up the Historic
District?

 The set of buildings in the

“downtown core” that are
historic – listed on the
National Register of Historic
Districts
 The district runs along the
couplet of Market and
Haven Streets; for the
purpose of this exploration,
we examined Market from
Harmon Park to Mann Hall
 Why is the Historic District
important to Hillyard?
“A young veteran who was going to Gonzaga University used to lend me his bicycle and I could ride all the way to the Hillyard Library

and bring back the absolute limit of books allowed! That guy was always a hero to me…I needed to know the world was different than

The history of the Hillyard region

just my own small reality.” ~Valerie Smith

is linked to this district. The age
of the buildings lend to the
material and culture of the time
they were built.
 Heart of Hillyard

 Personal accounts of downtown

are reminiscent of a different way
of life – one with tradition and
 Developing Ideas

 Research
 Interviewing
 Matrix
 Best Practice of Historic Business
Districts
 Desires of residents and business
owners
 Group research
 Goals

 Create physical, visual, and social connections & linkages

 Wayfinding and identity
 Re-establish the routine use of downtown
 Necessitate Safety
 Street and building lighting
 Pedestrian safety
• Traffic calming techniques
• Material changes – visual identification
 Establish healthy lifestyles with walkability and park development
 Preserve the building and social character of Hillyard
 Encourage energy conservation through:
 Alternative transportation – walking
 Greenway development for heat island reduction and air filtration
 Develop infrastructure for future sustainability
Concepts
 Civic Centers
• Social interaction
• Pedestrian loops
• Unification of
 Greendistrict
Spaces
• Soften concrete jungle
• Exercise, restoration,
relaxation
 • Continuous
Pedestrian links throughout
Network
district street
• Calmer
environment
• Walkable destinations
• Less automobile reliance
 Civic Centers

 Locations become focal

points/ anchors within
district
 Further development of
Harmon Park and Market
Street Market
 Queen Street pedestrian
only – links east and west
 Inclusion of farmers
market in Mann Hall
complex
 HBD’s Role in future of Hillyard

 Act as the heart or core of the neighborhood – linking other

districts together
 Economic growth and opportunity for expansion
 Immediate:

• Aesthetic improvements
• Tax incentives for façade treatment
• Public festivals
 5 year:

• Greenway development
• Backdoor entrance and alleyway development
 15 year:

• Mixed-use development along Haven Street

• Civic Center(s) expansion
 Final thoughts

 The Hillyard Historic Business District is

unique and special to Hillyard as a whole.
Understanding this uniqueness has helped
establish the design character of Hillyard.
 In understanding this character, goals for
creating thriving businesses and healthy
residents while preserving the social and
physical character occurred seamlessly.
 The eclectic nature of people and place is
what makes Hillyard special.
THANK YOU

Questions,
Comments?