SPOKANE, Wash. — A local real estate company plans to develop two workforce housing complexes in downtown Spokane, marking the first projects to utilize a city tax incentive program designed to boost affordable housing construction.

RenCorp Realty will develop the housing units on Monroe and Broadway, with construction expected to begin next spring. The developments represent the first projects to take advantage of Spokane's "Pavement to People" program, enacted by City Council ordinance in 2022.

"We need to add 3,200 new market rate housing units downtown to get some balance in the market," said Chris Batten, CEO and owner of RenCorp Realty.

The city program eliminates sales and use taxes on construction costs for developers who ensure 50% of their housing units remain affordable. The

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