Closed Spokane Business Sues City & Catholic Charities Over Alleged Crime & Public Safety Failures

A downtown Spokane business has sued the City of Spokane and Catholic Charities Eastern Washington (CCEW), alleging that conditions associated with nearby homeless housing facilities created an unsafe environment that ultimately forced the business to close.

According to the complaint, Urbanna Natural Spa, Salon & Wine was founded in 2009 and operated in downtown Spokane until its closure. The lawsuit alleges that after CCEW opened a low-income housing facility near the business in 2013, crime in the surrounding area increased substantially. The complaint cites police data indicating that calls for service increased from approximately 85 during a six-month . . .