Comstock, Spokane

Last updated
Comstock
Comstock Park Pool.png
Comstock Park Pool
Comstockcropped.png
Location within the city of Spokane
Coordinates: 47°37′23.4″N117°24′40.7″W / 47.623167°N 117.411306°W / 47.623167; -117.411306
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
County Spokane
CitySpokane
Population
 (2017 [1] )
  Total6,615
Time zone UTC-8 (PST)
  Summer (DST) UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP Codes
99203, 99223
Area code 509

Comstock is a neighborhood in Spokane, Washington. It is located on the south side of the city in a broader area commonly known as the South Hill. [2] The neighborhood is primarily single-family residential, and a mix of homes built during the streetcar era and then built during the post-World War II housing boom. The neighborhood is also home to a few commercial districts, including the regionally important Manito Shopping Center, two schools, the eponymous Comstock Park, sports fields and a golf course.

Contents

History

James M. Comstock Portrait of James M. Comstock (1838-1918) from History of the City of Spokane and Spokane County, Washington, Volume 2.png
James M. Comstock

The Spokane people inhabited what is now Comstock for centuries prior to the arrival of European settlers in the second half of the 19th century. [3]

In 1888, the Cook's Line of the Montrose Electric Company streetcar system reached to 37th Avenue and Grand Boulevard. Another line traveled along Division Street a few blocks west of Grand and ended at 33rd Avenue. With the streetcar came early settlers into Comstock. Land was platted and homes were built in the areas closest to the streetcar lines, with areas beyond remaining largely undeveloped into the middle of the 20th century. Manito Boulevard was constructed in 1907 as a tree-lined parkway from Manito Park in the north to 35th Avenue in the south, with the hopes of bringing development further into the Comstock neighborhood. [4]

In 1913, as part of the Olmsted Brothers' plan for the city, it was decided to extend Manito Boulevard south to the bluff on the edge of the neighborhood. [5] There, Manito Boulevard would connect with a new parkway, High Drive, which would run west and north along the edge of the bluff through Comstock and beyond. Though the plan did not come to fruition until 1947. It was at that time, during the post-war housing boom, that the southern areas of Comstock, beyond the reach of the now-defunct streetcar lines, began to see full development. [4]

Between the initial arrival of streetcars in the late 19th century and the development of the southern portion of the neighborhood in the mid-20th century, much of the undeveloped land in the southern half of Comstock was developed into parkland. A golf course was built at the original southern terminus of Manito Boulevard in 1907 as part of a plan to lure home builders to the area. By 1922, however, the golf course had moved, though only about a mile to the south where it exists to this day as Manito Golf and Country Club, on the far southern tip of Comstock. The original land used by the golf course was acquired in 1925 by Principal Hart of Lewis and Clark High School, which was located downtown but served the neighborhood. Lewis and Clark's location in the dense city center did not allow it to have sports fields on campus, so the former golf course was converted into Hart Field and to this day is the site of the school's playfields. In 1960, the southern part of Hart Field was developed into Sacajawea Middle School. [6] Comstock Park, with a then state-of-the-art pool, was established in 1938. [4]

Comstock Park was named for James M. Comstock, an early pioneer and businessman who founded The Crescent department store downtown, and later served a term as mayor of Spokane. The land for the park was purchased by Comstock's daughter, Josie Shadle, and donated to the city in 1936. The neighborhood surrounding the park subsequently took Comstock's name as well. [7]

After World War II, the vacant areas on the edges of the neighborhood began to fill in. The land to the west of Comstock Park had been developed by 1958, and the curving streets to the south of the park were filled in in the final decades of the 20th century. [4]

In the late 1950s, the Walther Family, who had owned and operated Manito Grocers out of a two story building at 30th and Grand since 1911, together with developers drafted plans for an expanded shopping center surrounding the busy intersection of 29th and Grand. However, the neighborhood came together to fight the development proposal and it would spend much of the next decade going through court proceedings. Ultimately, the Walthers and their developers won out and the Manito Shopping Center was built in 1969. [8] Construction of the Manito Shopping Center meant the destruction of the former Spokane College building located on the site. Built in 1906, the building housed a college until 1942, and after World War II used as apartment housing. [9]

The neighborhood had been essentially completely filled in by the start of the 20th century [4] Changes have come to the neighborhood in the most recent decades, however. Jefferson Elementary, which had been located at 37th and Grand since the 1908s was moved half a mile west, to 37th and Manito Boulevard on the other side of Hart Field, in 2013. [10] At the same time, Hart Field as a whole underwent renovations. [11] As of 2022, the old Jefferson Elementary on Grand is still standing. While schools around the South Hill have undergone renovations, the old Jefferson building has served as the temporary for those students. [12]

Geography

North entrance to Comstock Park ComstockEntrance.png
North entrance to Comstock Park

Comstock is located in the South Hill area of Spokane, in the southwestern quadrant of the city. 29th Avenue is the neighborhood's entire northern border, from High Drive in the west to Perry Street in the east across which lies the Southgate neighborhood. High Drive, and the adjoining bluff that rises above Latah Creek separate Comstock from the Latah/Hangman neighborhood below, on the west and southwest. The border diverges from the ridge at High Drive and Manito Boulevard, where it cuts north at a nearly 90 degree angle and then zig-zags to the southeast until it reaches 57th Avenue at Hatch Road. It then drops north to 54th Avenue where it goes over to Perry Street. The eastern border follows Perry from here to 29th Avenue in the north. [13]

The Bluff passes Comstock along High Drive, then past the golf course by Hatch. The Bluff rises over 500 feet (150 m) from its floor at Latah Creek and contains within it High Drive Bluff Park, which features 22 miles (35 km) of scenic trails that are popular for dog walking, hiking, running, and biking. [14] [15] [16]

Though it is located on what is known as the South Hill, [2] and located atop a steep bluff, Comstock itself is mostly flat. The slopes of the South Hill become more noticeable to the north of Comstock, as they descend towards the Spokane Valley. Comstock, however, is at roughly the same elevation as the surrounding Columbia Plateau. [14] [17]

Due in part to the flat terrain, the majority of Comstock conforms to the city's street grid, especially east of Bernard Street. The newer developments between Comstock Park and the curve of the Bluff are a notable exception, taking on a more suburban style with winding roads and cul-de-sacs The grid is broken in a few places, such as by the Hart Field/Sacajawea Middle/Jefferson Elementary complex and the private Manito Golf Club in the far south. [13]

There are numerous publicly-accessible open areas in Comstock. Comstock Park is located in the northwestern corner of the neighborhood, between 29th and 33rd Avenues and Lincoln Drive and Howard Street. Amenities at Comstock Park include an aquatics center, playground, picnic areas, tennis courts, softball diamond and basketball court. [18] Hart Field is the site of Lewis and Clark High School's sports fields, between 33rd and 37th Avenues. [6] Manito Boulevard features a tree-lined parkway that runs from the southern bluff at High Drive south into the Manito/Cannon Hill neighborhood to the north. High Drive also features a parkway that runs along the southern and western bluff. [19]

Demographics

As of 2017, 6,615 people lived in Comstock across 2,890 households. Of those households, 24.6% were rented, compared to 45.3% citywide. The median household income was $68,084, above the citywide median of $44,768. 33.4% of students qualified for free or reduced lunch compared to 54.5% citywide. 21.2% of households had children, and 23.6% of residents were aged 19 or younger. 19.1% were aged 65 or above. Persons of color made up 8.6% of residents, compared to 15.1% citywide. 55.1% of residents had a bachelor's degree or higher while 12.7% had nothing beyond a high school diploma. [1]

94.6% of residents were born in the United States or its territories. Of those born outside of the United States, 17.3% came from Canada, 16.2 from South Korea, 12% from China and 8% from Colombia. [1]

Education

Comstock is served by Spokane Public Schools, and is home to one public elementary and one public middle school, along with the private Southside Christian School. Jefferson Elementary, located in Comstock, serves most of the neighborhood. Wilson Elementary, located in the adjacent Manito/Cannon Hill neighborhood, serves the northwestern corner of the neighborhood west of Comstock Park. The gated communities in the south, west of the Manito Country Club, are served by Mullan Road Elementary on 63rd Avenue outside of the city limits. Both Jefferson and Wilson feed into Sacajawea Middle School, which is located in Comstock. Mullan Road has fed into Sacajawea as well, but starting in 2023 it will begin to feed into the new Peperzak Middle School being constructed, as of 2022, adjacent to Mullan Road. [20] [21] All three public elementary schools serving Comstock feed into Lewis and Clark High School. [22]

Transportation

Surface Streets

Two streets in Comstock are classified as principal arterials by the city: 29th Avenue and Grand Boulevard. Which makes their intersection in the north-central part of the neighborhood, at Manito Shopping Center, an important intersection for the neighborhood and broader south side of the city. High Drive north of 29th Avenue is also considered a principal arterial, but once it crosses into Comstock it is considered a minor arterial. Other minor arterials include Bernard Street, Hatch Road and 37th Avenue. [23]

Most of the neighborhood follows the street grid, with the exception of the area west of Bernard Street that features winding roads. The street grid east of there is a mix of single and double-length blocks. [23] High Drive is a windy road that runs the length of the neighborhood's western edge and overlooks the Latah Creek valley; there are pull outs for drivers, and park benches for viewing the scenery. [5]

29th Avenue west of Grand Boulevard, High Drive east of Bernard and Hatch south of High Drive have dedicated bike lanes and High Drive west of Bernard has a shared use path for pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles. Arthur Street is a shared roadway bicycle route. [24]

Public Transit

Comstock is served by the region's public transit provider, the Spokane Transit Authority, with three fixed-route bus lines. [25]

RouteTerminiService operation and notesStreets traveled
4
Moran Prairie
Downtown Spokane
STA Plaza
Glenrose
Moran Station Park & Ride
High-frequency route29th
34
Lincoln/37th Ave
Downtown Spokane
STA Plaza
Lincoln Heights
South Hill Park & Ride
Basic-frequency route29th, Bernard, 37th
144
South Express
Downtown Spokane
STA Plaza
Glenrose
Moran Station Park & Ride
Express route during peak weekday hours29th/Division, 31st/Grand, 38th/Grand

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neighborhoods in Spokane, Washington</span>

Neighborhoods in Spokane, Washington are officially grouped by the Spokane City Council into three main city council districts: 1, 2, and 3. Each city council district contains multiple, official neighborhoods that are recognized with a neighborhood council. Informally, neighborhoods are colloquially grouped by local geographical, geological, cultural, or historical features The list of neighborhoods below is organized based on the official designations by the City of Spokane. Unofficial neighborhoods and districts are listed within the official neighborhood in which they are located.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Central, Spokane</span> Neighborhood in Spokane, Washington, U.S.

West Central is a neighborhood in Spokane, Washington. As the name suggests it is located centrally on the west side of the city. Downtown Spokane is immediately east of the neighborhood, and spreads into West Central along Monroe Street in the Kendall Yards area. The neighborhood is diverse, with single and multi-family residential zones dating back to the early days of Spokane, a new mixed use development on the site of a former rail yard, the Spokane County Courthouse campus and associated government buildings and a few commercial districts. The Spokane River gorge winds around the southern and western edge of the neighborhood. It is home to Nettleton's Addition Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in March 2006, and is also the largest historic district on the Washington State Heritage Register.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bemiss, Spokane</span> Neighborhood in Spokane, Washington, United States

Bemiss is a neighborhood in Spokane, Washington. It is located within City Council District 1, which covers the northeastern section of the city. The neighborhood is bounded by Wellesley Avenue to the north, Market Street to the east, Illinois Avenue and the Spokane River to the south, and Perry Street and Napa Street to the west. It is located to the southeast of the Hillyard neighborhood and is often grouped into greater Hillyard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Central, Spokane</span> Spokane Neighborhood in Washington, United States

East Central is a neighborhood in Spokane, Washington. As the name suggests, it is on the east side of Spokane and centrally located. The official neighborhood is expansive and covers multiple areas considered by locals to be independent neighborhoods, such as the Sprague Union District on East Sprague Avenue, the South Perry District, the Underhill Park area and the University District on the eastern fringe of Downtown Spokane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minnehaha, Spokane</span> Spokane Neighborhood in Washington, United States

Minnehaha is a neighborhood in Spokane, Washington, located in the northeastern portion of the city. The Spokane River flows along the southern edge of the neighborhood, from which the terrain rises along the slopes of Beacon Hill to the northeast. It is a primarily residential neighborhood, with its main commercial district on Euclid Street shared with the adjacent neighborhoods of Bemiss and Hillyard. Minnehaha Park is located here, though the nearby Minnehaha Rocks are just beyond the neighborhood's bounds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Browne's Addition, Spokane</span> Spokane Neighborhood in Washington, United States

Browne's Addition, often referred to shorthand as just Browne's, is a neighborhood in Spokane, Washington. It is located directly west of Downtown Spokane and is one of the oldest and densest neighborhoods in the city. The area is known for its numerous historic mansions, many of which have been converted into multi-family apartments. The terrain is flat in the neighborhood despite the degree of topographical relief in the immediate surrounding area. Latah Creek cuts a deep valley to the west, separating Browne's Addition from the Sunset Hill portion of the West Hills neighborhood and the Spokane River gorge drops off dramatically to the north into the Peaceful Valley neighborhood. The South Hill area of Spokane rises to the southwest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peaceful Valley, Spokane</span> Spokane Neighborhood in Washington, United States

Peaceful Valley is a neighborhood in Spokane, Washington. It sits directly below Downtown Spokane on the Spokane River under its falls. The neighborhood snakes along the thin floodplain on the valley floor of the Spokane River Gorge. It is the smallest neighborhood in the city by both area and population, but due to its central location and unique character it is quite notable. The neighborhood has a working class and bohemian culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockwood, Spokane</span> Spokane Neighborhood in Washington, United States

Rockwood is a neighborhood in Spokane, Washington. It is located on the south side of the city to the southeast of Downtown Spokane and expanding southeasterly from close to the city center. Its proximity to downtown makes it one of Spokane's older neighborhoods, with mature trees lining most of its streets. Due to its location on the hill leading up from the Spokane River Valley, the street grid breaks down in many places around Rockwood. The most notable of these is along the winding Rockwood Boulevard, which bends its way from the northwesternmost corner of the neighborhood through the center and across to the eastern border.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manito/Cannon Hill, Spokane</span> Neighborhood in Spokane, Washington, United States

Manito/Cannon Hill is a neighborhood on the South Hill of Spokane, Washington. It is named after the two public parks that dominate its setting: Manito Park and Cannon Hill Park. Manito/Cannon Hill is a predominantly residential neighborhood made up mostly by single-family homes and city park land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cliff/Cannon, Spokane</span> Neighborhood in Spokane, Washington, United States

Cliff/Cannon is a neighborhood in Spokane, Washington. It is located immediately south of Downtown, Spokane, and on the lower reaches of the broader South Hill. The neighborhood is home to a medical district with Sacred Heart and Deaconess both having their main hospital campuses along Cliff/Cannon's denser northern edge. To the south the neighborhood becomes more residential. City parks break up the residential zoning of the southern half of Cliff/Cannon. It is adjacent to the Cannon Hill area of the neighboring but separate Manito/Cannon Hill neighborhood. The Marycliff-Cliff Park Historic District, a National Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is located within the neighborhood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Latah/Hangman, Spokane</span> Spokane Neighborhood in Washington, United States

Latah/Hangman is a neighborhood in Spokane, Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emerson/Garfield, Spokane</span> Spokane Neighborhood in Washington, United States

Emerson/Garfield is a neighborhood in Spokane, Washington. It is located immediately north of Downtown Spokane's North Bank and extends out into the inner northwestern portion of the city. Emerson/Garfield is a diverse neighborhood with residential, commercial and civic zones all bordering one another, with density ranging from single-family homes to multi-use buildings. Due to its location in the central area of Spokane, Emerson/Garfield is criss-crossed by numerous arterials and thoroughfares. Along those main roads are numerous commercial and retail districts of importance to both the neighborhood and city as a whole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lincoln Heights, Spokane</span> Spokane Neighborhood in Washington, United States

Lincoln Heights is a neighborhood in Spokane, Washington. It is located in the southeastern portion of the city in a broader area commonly known as the South Hill. As the name suggests, Lincoln Heights lies on the slopes and atop the crest of the South Hill area. Lincoln Heights is home to a mix of single-family residential, multi-family residential, and commercial areas and a significant amount of park land. The Lincoln Heights Shopping Center and surrounding area is one of the largest and most important commercial and retail districts on the entire south side of Spokane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southgate, Spokane</span> Spokane Neighborhood in Washington, United States

Southgate is a neighborhood in Spokane, Washington. It is located in the southwestern corner of the City of Spokane and part of the broader area known locally as the South Hill. Southgate is one of the newer neighborhoods in the city, with development first taking hold in the post-World War II housing boom and continuing into the present day. It is a mix of single-family residential, multi-family residential and commercial districts. The neighborhood has grown as Spokane has expanded southward, with multiple annexations expanding Southgate and the city since 2000 and as recently as 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grandview/Thorpe, Spokane</span> Spokane Neighborhood in Washington, United States

Grandview/Thorpe is a neighborhood in Spokane, Washington. Located in southwestern Spokane, the neighborhood takes its name from two roads that pass through. Grandview Boulevard, so named because of its location at the top of a ridge from which large swaths of Spokane, the Spokane Valley and surrounding mountains to the north and east such as Mount Spokane, can be seen, is located in the northern part of the neighborhood. Thorpe Road traverses a gully in the central and southern portion of the neighborhood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Hill, Spokane</span> Spokane Neighborhood in Washington, United States

North Hill is a neighborhood in Spokane, Washington. As the name suggests, it is atop a hill on the north side of Spokane, within which it is centrally located and crossed by numerous major thoroughfares. It is home to parks, commercial districts and single family residential areas. The historic Garland Theater is located in North Hill, and the city's main north–south arterial, Division Street, is home to a major commercial district along the eastern edge of the neighborhood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Hills, Spokane</span> Spokane Neighborhood in Washington, United States

West Hills is a neighborhood in Spokane, Washington. As the name suggests, the neighborhood is located on hillsides to the west of downtown Spokane. The neighborhood also extends far to the west along the West Plains to incorporate the Spokane International Airport and surrounding land. As the city has grown over the decades, the West Hills neighborhood has expanded uphill and onto the plains to the west. That history of incremental growth, combined with the hilly topography of the area cut by numerous watercourses, has broken up the neighborhood into multiple, distinct areas with swaths of undeveloped land mixed in between.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Audubon/Downriver, Spokane</span> Spokane Neighborhood in Washington, United States

Audubon/Downriver is a neighborhood in Spokane, Washington, located on the northwest side of the city. There is a diversity of land use in the neighborhood, with single-family residential areas dating from the early 20th century through the Post–World War II economic expansion era, regionally important commercial districts, smaller neighborhood retail areas, numerous schools, large parks, a golf course, conservation areas and part of Riverside State Park along the Spokane River. The neighborhood is the site of the corporate offices for Rosauers Supermarkets, a regional grocery store chain with stores located across the Northwestern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nevada Heights, Spokane</span> Spokane Neighborhood in Washington, United States

Nevada Heights is a neighborhood in Spokane, Washington, located on the north side of the city. Its southern border is atop a bluff that runs east–west across the north side of the city, which gives the neighborhood its name. Nevada Street, a major north–south arterial, runs through the neighborhood. The neighborhood is largely residential, but also home to large retail districts, medical facilities, schools and parks. Being surrounded by the city of Spokane on all sides, the neighborhood is well integrated into urban area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northwest, Spokane</span> Spokane Neighborhood in Washington, United States

Northwest is a neighborhood in Spokane, Washington, located in the northwestern portion of the city. Largely single-family residential, Northwest is also home to Spokane's VA Medical Center, the Dwight Merkel Sports complex, a large public sports facility, and portions of Riverside State Park along the Spokane River. The neighborhood contains developments that span from the post-World War II housing boom in the east to more contemporary, suburban-style developments in the west. It was also home to Joe Albi Stadium from 1950 until 2022, which served as the Spokane region's main high school sports stadium over its seven decades of use.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Comstock Neighborhood Snapshot" (PDF). spokanecity.org. City of Spokane. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  2. 1 2 "South Hill Coalition". spokanecity.org. City of Spokane. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  3. "History - Spokane Tribe of Indians". spokanetribe.com. Spokane Tribe of Indians. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Comstock Neighborhood Profile" (PDF). spokanecity.org. City of Spokane. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  5. 1 2 Rebstock, Tracy L. "High Drive Parkway". Spokane Historical. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  6. 1 2 "LC History". spokaneschools.org. Spokane Public Schools. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  7. Tinsley, Jesse (21 May 2018). "Then and Now: Comstock Park". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  8. Tinsley, Jesse (10 October 2016). "Then and Now: Manito Grocery". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  9. "South Hill college." The Spokesman-Review, December 25, 1998 (accessed May 23, 2022).
  10. "Future Schools & Improvements / Jefferson Elementary". spokaneschools.org. Spokane Public Schools. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  11. Troxel, Camille (29 May 2013). "Hart Field gets a new look". KXLY-TV. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  12. Currey, Caiti (3 September 2014). "Elementary students head to Camp Hutton for the year". KXLY-TV. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  13. 1 2 "Comstock Map" (PDF). spokanecity.org. City of Spokane. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  14. 1 2 "Spokane SW Quadrangle". usgs.gov. U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  15. "Friends of the Bluff". friendsofthebluff.org/. Friends of the Bluff. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  16. Switzer, Cheri. "High Drive Bluff Trails". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  17. "Spokane NW Quadrangle". usgs.gov. U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  18. "Comstock Park" (PDF). spokanecity.org. City of Spokane. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  19. "High Drive Conservation" (PDF). spokanecity.org. City of Spokane. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  20. Nelson, Madeline (26 May 2021). "Denny Yashuara, Pauline Flett and Carla Peperzak: SPS chooses names for 3 new middle schools". KREM-TV. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  21. "Elementary School Boundary Map" (PDF). spokaneschools.org. Spokane Public Schools. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  22. "High School Boundary Map" (PDF). spokaneschools.org. Spokane Public Schools. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  23. 1 2 "Official Arterial Street Map" (PDF). spokanecity.org. City of Spokane. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  24. "Spokane Regional Bike Map". srtc.maps.arcgis.org. Spokane Regional Transportation Council. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  25. "STA System Map" (PDF). spokanetransit.com. Spokane Transit Authority. Retrieved 24 May 2022.