It's only been about 4 years now since Catholic Charities of Spokane launched it's first apartment building to help house Spokane's homeless. That project , Father Bach Haven , is open and going strong at 108 S. State St. with over 50 apartments. The non profit is also currently constructing a " Father Bach Haven II " project which has since been re-named Buder Haven that is currently under construction at 201 E. 2nd , east of Downtown Spokane. And, Volunteers of America also has a similar project under construction along E. 2nd, right next door to Buder Haven
Now, we are learning that Catholic Charities of Spokane is advancing their plans for a third apartment complex for the homeless. This project, which is, called Father Bach Haven III ( for the time being ) would be built closer to the Downtown core and will actually replace a couple of buildings. This as the plans actually call for two eventual buildings on the site.
The project would be on the site of the now empty former Spokane Public Market at 24 W. 2nd . It would only replace the former Public Market section of the building, as plans call for keeping the smaller area closer to the corner of 2nd and Browne, occupied be Pinot's Palette Paint n' Sip studio. A second building would also be built on the site of the former State St. Flats apartment building, which was destroyed in a arson fire a couple of years ago. Despite the second building actually being a future phase, plans show the State St. Flats building being removed during phase 1.
The new apartment project is still in the planning phases with actual demolition and construction will likely to start in July, after Buder Haven and the V of A housing project are completed. The new building will have the same goal as the two before it, housing Spokane's chronically homeless. The Father Bach Haven III apartment building will offer 51 apartments on 4 floors with studio and one bedroom sizes. To qualify for apartments residents would need to make less then 30% of the area median income, or 50% in some units.
Both Buder Haven and the newly purposed Father Bach Haven III have been spurred by a high demand for housing for the homeless of Downtown Spokane. The original Father Bach Haven currently has a long waiting list and each night many sleep in places like under I-90 fully exposed to the elements. Stay tuned as we will keep an eye on this project and a couple other possible homeless housing projects that have been swirling around recently....
