The office vacancy rate in downtown Spokane is now over 31%. Let that sink in for a moment.

It’s not yet time to panic, but the worsening situation in the city’s core requires increased attention and changes — from the community as a whole. A vibrant, bustling downtown is what we all not only yearn for but deserve. It’s also what restaurants and retailers deserve, as they are among the first to suffer when vacancies climb and workers leave, and would benefit from the activation that occurs when workers return and more residents call the core home.

It’s no secret that at the forefront of the downtown vacancy problem are concerns over security and safety. A drastic increase in the area’s homeless population since the pandemic, coupled with substance abuse issues and disorderly behavior often on full display, has driven some businesses out of downtown while steering new or relocating businesses to other parts of the Inland Northwest or beyond.

We’ve used this space in the past to call on the city’s elected officials to address the security and safety concerns in downtown Spokane. We’ll do that again here today, but nuanced problems require broader solutions. We all must do our part: government, employers, and property owners.

Downtown employers that are still using remote work models should consider bringing employees back to the office. Doing so will not only give an economic boost to the restaurants and shops in the area but also will help address the security and safety concerns.

An activated downtown is a safer downtown. Look no further than Seattle, where improvements are reported in parts of the city’s core since Amazon brought most of its workers back to the company’s headquarters five days a week.

Employers, of course, must weigh other factors, such as overhead costs and company culture, but a larger downtown workforce could go a long way in improving the current situation. It is direct economic development. A healthy core means a healthier community, and makes Spokane a more desirable destination, a more desirable place to start or grow a business, and a more desirable place to recruit or retain talent.

Building owners also can play a role in lowering office vacancy rates. As one longtime real estate broker here puts it, the buildings that have struggled most are those in which the owner hasn’t reinvested and made improvements. That’s easier said than done, as higher construction costs and other economic challenges have made it more expensive to perform renovations or add amenities, but vacant space is no picnic either.

There is evidence that reinvestment into buildings has led to increased tenant activity, for example at the Old City Hall building, where improvements have attracted tenants from other downtown buildings and tenants from outside of the core.

While the city’s government simply must do more to reduce drug use and safety concerns, we all could play a greater role in creating an environment where our buildings are attractive and our streets are activated. Complaining alone won’t fix 31% vacancy rates. Action will. Let’s get to it.