SPOKANE, Wash. – The Spokane Public Library will partner with Thrive International, a non-profit which provides transitional housing, to build 45 apartments in north Spokane.
The North Nevada street property has been owned by the Spokane Public Library for three decades, and will be developed into a mix-use facility.
Half of available space will be set aside for refugees new to the Lilac City and the rest will be offered to long-term city residents.
The library will offer a learning space and a 24/7 kiosk at the location, as well as a playground and greenhouse at the property.
Spokane Public Library trustee Danielle DeJaegher touted the agreement as an accomplishment for the community.
“We are able to develop a vacant property that the Library has owned for decades…and we’re turning it into greater use for the entire community. We’ll be able to bring [library] services…while helping to combat Spokane’s affordable housing crisis and create a welcoming home for newly arrived refugees,” DeJaegher said.
The agreement between Thrive International and the city library system was secured on Tuesday, when the library offered Thrive a zero dollar lease over 50 years in exchange for the ability to offer library resources from the facility.
