Spokane’s South Hill

Where it is

The South Hill takes in the Cliff/Cannon, Manito/Cannon Hill, Rockwood, Comstock, Lincoln Heights and Southgate neighborhoods. Providence Sacred Heart and MultiCare Deaconess hospitals sit at the foot of the hill.

Parks and places

• Manito Park: 78 acres of park plus 20 acres of botanical gardens, including Duncan Garden, the Japanese garden, the Gaiser Conservatory and the Lilac Garden.
• High Drive Bluff Park: about 500 acres with more than 20 miles of trails.
• Cannon Hill Park: an Olmsted-designed park in its own historic district.
• Comstock Park: home to one of the city’s aquatic centers.
• South Perry: the Thursday Market runs at Grant Park from May to October.

What the homes are like

Manito and Cannon Hill are mostly early 1900s homes. Comstock has streetcar-era houses near the old lines and post-war homes further south.

Historic districts

Several parts of the South Hill are local historic districts. Inside one, exterior changes, new construction and demolition need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the city; routine repair does not. Ask whether an address is in a district before you plan a remodel.

Schools

Spokane Public Schools serves the South Hill, with Lewis and Clark and Ferris high schools. Boundaries were redrawn in 2021, so confirm the assignment for the address. Spokane Public Schools has an address lookup that shows the schools for any address in the district.

What to check before you buy

• The age of the house. Ask your inspector about the sewer line, wiring, plumbing and roof.
• Historic district rules. They affect what you can change on the outside.
• Winter. The city plows arterials first, then residential hills, and has seasonal parking rules. Look at the street’s slope.

Drive times are free-flow estimates from mapping data, not traffic-aware. Ask me and I will time the route you would actually drive.