A vacated commercial space, previously a production facility for the Spokesman-Review newspaper, has been adapted into a community-driven pickleball palace called the Press Pickleball Club.
The nearly $14 million pickleball facility has diversified the downtown tenant mix by introducing a recreation venue that engages community members from many backgrounds. The innovative transformation won the Downtown Spokane Partnership’s Best of BID “Best New Business” award in its first year of operation, and now it has earned a 2025 CoStar Impact Award for Spokane's redevelopment of the year, as judged by a panel of industry professionals.
This redevelopment preserves historic elements from the previous occupant, including the logo, brand components, name and even membership level titles that pay tribute to the printing press and newspaper origins tied to the space. The new purpose adds modern wellness, mobility and sustainability, setting a new standard for sports and recreation developments in the downtown community.
About the project: The Press Pickleball Club will take up 10,500 square feet of the 126,644-square-foot building at 50 N. Madison St. Cowles Real Estate injected nearly $14 million into revitalizing the distribution center previously used as the production facility for The Spokesman-Review.
What the judges said: "This redevelopment has created an area for community entertainment in a building that had become obsolete," said Jared Smith, vice president of JLL.
"The Press Pickleball Club is an innovative redevelopment of a historically significant property in the core of downtown. Maximizing space to add a new athletic and social amenity for employees, residents and visitors, the project maximizes its footprint while complementing nearby uses," said Emilie Cameron, president & CEO of Downtown Spokane Partnership.
They made it happen: The Cowles Real Estate development team included Senior Director of Marketing, Communications and Branding Rita Koefod, Project Manager Drew Kennedy, Assistant Property Manager Michael Myers and Director of Operations Shakara Heaton. The Press Pickleball Club Director Chris Allen was also involved in the project.
Senior Research Consultant Lucy Bingham contributed.