The Cannon Streetcar Suburb Historic District was listed on the Spokane Register of Historic Places on April 23, 2023.

In 2015, the Cliff-Cannon Neighborhood embarked on a long process of creating a Spokane Register Historic District in their neighborhood. Throughout the years since, the Spokane Historic Preservation Office worked with the neighborhood, advocacy organizations, City administration, and City Council to create an historic overlay zone which was voted on and passed by a majority of Cannon Streetcar Suburb property owners. The district became official on April 23, 2023. The district allows property owners of historic (contributing) resources who significantly improve their properties to take advantage of a reduced property value for ten years (special tax valuation). It will also protect the neighborhood character through design review of changes to existing buildings, new construction and demolition. Please review the Spokane Municipal Code 17D.100.290 for the full ordinance creating the district. The Historic Preservation Office has created a page devoted specifically to the Cannon Streetcar Suburb Historic District Overlay Zone, but much of the information can be found here. Documents related to Cannon Streetcar Suburb Historic District that may be of interest are here:

Cannon Streetcar Suburb Historic District Resource Forms (each property within the district has a form that notes if the property is contributing or non-contributing, discusses the architectural style, date built and key, character-defining features of the building)

Cannon Streetcar Suburb Historic District Design Standards & Guidelines (this document gives more background on the design review requirements of the district, as well as offers advice to property owners on best preservation practices for their important historic buildings when they consider improvements or changes)

A map of the district showing the boundaries as well as contributing and non-contributing designations is also available. Zoom into the map to explore the district digitally!

Ordinance C36362 relating to the adoption of the Cannon Streetcar Suburb Local Historic District Overlay Zone and Design Standards and Guidelines.

District Map (PDF)

The Cliff-Cannon Neighborhood currently includes two National Register Historic Districts: The Marycliff-Cliff Park National Register Historic District which was listed in 1979 and the Ninth Avenue National Register Historic District listed in 1994. Those two districts include nearly 300 properties –however, National Register designation is an honorary listing, meant mostly to acknowledge an area’s history. It is not generally a regulatory tool. In Spokane, the Historic Preservation Office and Spokane Historic Landmarks Commission do have the ability to review demolitions that are proposed within our National Register Historic Districts and can also review the replacement structure. However, only designation of a district on the Spokane Register of Historic Places allows for property owners to take advantage of incentives when they improve an historic property like Special Tax Valuation and the Facade Improvement Grant. Additionally, local designation helps protect the “sense of place” of your neighborhood – the very essence of what makes a neighborhood special and unique.