Times are uncertain but in due time, Spokane and the rest of the world will bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. Even writing this seems a bit weird knowing there have been some drastic changes to our economy. But, my goal in writing this blog is providing news on new businesses / restaurants and developments happening around our area in quick terms that everyone can understand. So, with that said I figured I'd update my readers on some of projects i'm watching and that I will hopefully write about in the coming days and weeks.
Some projects might get put on hold, some might change, like everyone else I just don't know right now, but i'm not going to not tell you about them.
On a side note, like many others i'm temporarily not working at my other job so for a time I am a full time blogger, so please if you have any questions now's your time to reach out to me. My e-mail is inlandbusiness@yahoo.com , obviously I'll do my best to answer you at anytime but now I'll be focusing more on you, my readers!
Boxcar Apartments
A Portland based developer has proposed a new seven story apartment building at 15 N. Grant by the south landing of the new University District Gateway Bridge. Plans call for a $18 million project with 136 apartments, covered parking structure and a cafe on the ground floor.
Catalyst Building
The first building in what will be described as a " innovation hub " is going up off of E. Sprague by Spokane's blossoming University District. The 150,000 square foot 5 story building will house dry labs, offices, classrooms and common study areas and built from CLT, a revolutionary new kind of building material.
Cyclebar
Cyclebar. a franchise based chain of spin class studios planning on going into a 2200 square foot new building that will rise at the corner of 29th and Fiske on the South Hill.
Red Wheel
Been getting a few questions about what's going into the former location of The Buzz Pizzeria at 5th & Thor by Fred Meyer. It will be a new place called Red Wheel, seems to be a restaurant and bar of some sort again but I don't have much on it yet and have yet to hear back on my message to them.
New hotels in Downtown Spokane
A new LaQuinta Inn & Suites is nearing completion and we're hearing will finally be opening soon at the corner of Division & 2nd. This hotel is the result of a full top to bottom remodel of the former Fairbridge Inn hotel.
As of the last time I heard the new Hotel Indigo on 1st was to open in late April. Not sure if that's the case or not, it will also house a restaurant called Magnolia American Brasserie, also not sure of when that will open. This project is one of my top things to watch so hopefully we'll hear more soon.
Papillion Towers
Selkirk Development is still working on designing / financing these two new high rises planned on N. Howard St. near the Spokane Arena. Not sure when construction will actually start but interestingly the existing building on the site ( which will stay as part of the project ) will soon house a new restaurant from Chef Ian Wingate called Outsider.
The Falls Tower
No construction has started and the plan has changed a couple of times but we're still watching for news on The Falls Tower project which stands to potentially be a huge 22 story high rise just south of Spokane Arena near Riverfront Park. It will contain residential and commercial components as well as possibly a hotel?
Columbia / James Black Building multi-family renovation
Big renovations are planned for the building at the corner of Howard & 1st in Downtown Spokane. Most recently the building's upper floors we're offices, including the HQ for NAI Black commercial real estate. But the offices are relocating / have already relocated and the building will be converted to a primarily multi family use.
Under the current plan, the upper floors will be converted to 50 apartments. The ground floor would remain commercial but a restaurant on the ground floor, The Wave, would also be remodeled during the project.
120 N. Wall building
Renovations are ongoing on the building at 120 N. Wall in Downtown Spokane. Plans call for revamping the ground floor space, but keeping it as a commercial space. The upper floors would be converted to apartments, 21 in all.
124 S. Wall building
Currently a large warehouse, plans are in the works to convert it to a new mixed use building. 4,200 square feet of commercial space would be opened up on the ground floor and the upper floors would house apartments, 83 in all, which in the SEPA application at least are listed as affordable housing.
Domino's at Third and Howard.
The building is going up for the new Domino's Pizza anchored two story building at Third & Howard in Downtown Spokane. In addition to the Domino's Pizza store location, the local franchise owner Pacific Pie,Inc. will move their offices into the second floor and some extra space on the first floor will also be available for a future tenant.
The 508 West Building
Formerly known as the Qualmed Building , the medical office building at 508 W. Sixth has new owners, a new name and will be renovated for new uses. Now known as the 508 West building plans call the first five floors to be leased out as office space and the upper floors along with an attached unused parking structure will be converted to apartments, 85 units in all.
6th & Washington medical office building
The credit union building that had stood at 613 S. Washington will soon be removed in favor of a new construction medical office building. The building is planned to be a 2 story 20,000 square foot structure. Horizon Credit Union, which had been on the site recently moved into a new construction branch location that was built over top of part of the buildings parking lot.
The OCH
Renovations are ongoing in the former Old City Hall building at the corner of N. Wall and Spokane Falls Blvd. in Downtown Spokane. It will still be primarily office space on the upper floors and some commercial space below. New tenants are thought to be filling the once underutilized building and possibly something new to fill the ground floor where a Olive Garden restaurant was operated.
Kendall Yards projects
Kendall Yards continues to be a hot spot for new construction and development. Permits are on the way for a new " flatiron " style building next to the My Fresh Basket grocery store. This building would have ground level commercial space and loft style apartments on the upper floors.
Another mixed use project is also planned just the the west of the Kendall Yard Flatiron site. And, another commercial building is going up next to the Indaba building on Nettleton at the other end of Kendall Yards. That building will house a brick and mortar location for Crepe Cafe Sisters.
The was also supposed to be a new office building on the south side of W. Summit Pkwy but that project got put on hold even before the pandemic.
Philomina Building
Currently in the planning phase, a group of investors led by Gonzaga / NBA legend John Stockton are working on a new building to be built on the site of a former emissions testing facility at 920 N. Hamilton nearby Gonzaga. This would be Stockton's second project in the neighborhood as he also developed The Matilda building to the south on Hamilton.
The Philomina is currently planned to be a four story structure with ground floor commercial space and about 63 apartments on the floors.
Mythos
Construction is already well underway to convert the former office building at 1403 W. Broadway in the West Central neighborhood to a cool new use. The owners of Gamers Haven in Spokane Valley plan to move their store to the building, and open a restaurant and bar called Mythos in the space. Additionally surplus space on the second floor will be leased out, and i'm told a barber and possibly a tattoo shop will open there.
Hazelwood Square
A new small strip mall of business planned to be built next to the Village Center Cinemas in Airway Heights. I'm hearing a location of The Man Shop barber shops and The Dental Center are to open locations here once built.
Dr. C's Retail
A new small strip mall next to KFC in Airway Heights, many spaces that will be open for new businesses to occupy and a dentists office named Dr C's to occupy the lead space.
The parcel across from Spokane Tribe Casino
I've been asked about the site work that is rather obviously happening across from the Spokane Tribe Casino. I'm not 100% what is for yet but the land was recently sold to a road construction company from Wilbur,WA and one of the rumors is that they are building a storage yard and office there so that seems about right. Sorry, to the people who have heard it'll be a Costco.
North 40 Airway Heights
We'll likely see construction soon for a new North 40 Outfitter store at the corner of US 2 and Deer Heights Rd. in Airway Heights. Additionally we're seeing plans for a small strip mall with about 3 bays to be built out front of this store.
Spokane International Airport remodel
Big plans are being developed to possibly improve the Spokane International Airport. Plans call for a few new gates and a centralized baggage claim, and I've heard the work will also finally connect the C Concourse to the main terminal area. This one is probably one of the more up in the air projects right now however sadly.
Amazon Fulfillment Center
I think we pretty much all know about this project because it stands to create hundreds of new jobs for Spokane and quite frankly the building is huge. I'm told Amazon has occupancy of the building now, which stands along I-90 and Geiger Blvd to the southwest of Spokane International Airport. As of the last I had heard they are working on installing robotics,etc.. right now. Full hiring will probably be in the next month or two.
New hotels around Spokane International Airport
The new Sleep Inn / Mainstay Suites is now open on Geiger Blvd, but a new Cambria Suites hotel is planned a bit to the south closer to the new Amazon facility. Also the new Spring Hill Suites hotel is nearing completion on Airport Dr, walking distance from the Airports baggage claim.
New development on Hilton Dr, near Airway Heights
We're told the site next door to the Hilton Garden Inn on Hilton Dr, along US 2 is still planned for construction. The site will house a Roasters Coffee ( a Tri-Cities based coffee chain ) , Bush Car Wash and a Bruchi's restaurant. More commercial buildings are also likely on the back half of the site once they get to building out the second phase. No mention of when construction might start, but Roasters does say that their store there should be opening this fall.
Flora Rd. Apartment buildings
Lots of new apartments are planned within a stones through of the Providence Health Park building in Spokane Valley. I won't mention each one, but one plan does stand out at 1215 N. Flora.
The plans there call for a large 375,000 square foot project with five story buildings and 300 apartments upon completion. The project also includes a 15,000 square foot area for commercial uses.
Olive Garden
Watch for demolition very soon of the former Hong Kong Buffet building by Spokane Valley Mall. After removing the building crews will be a new Olive Garden restaurant on the same site to open later this year.
Evergreen Crossing Shopping Center area
A small strip mall is going up out front of Hobby Lobby at Evergreen Crossing. Tenants will be a Comcast Xfinity store and possibly a new restaurants. Another new small strip mall is in pre-leasing a bit to the west, closer to the Total Wine & More store.
Tru by Hilton
Tru by Hilton is a new hotel already under construction now off of Mirabeau Pkwy, just off of Indiana in Spokane Valley.
Affinity at Mirabeau Point
Next to the Tru by Hilton construction project will be a new senior housing project, part of the Affinity brand of senior projects. Not much info on this yet, but it is shown as a 180,000 square foot development.
Burlington Coat Factory Spokane Valley
Tenant improvement work is happening now to turn the former Toys r' Us store at the corner of Broadway & Sullivan Rd. into a new Burlington Coat Factory store which will open later this year.
Euclid Logistics Center
Adjacent to the Spokane Business & Industrial Park , and ran by the same management ( Crown West Realty ) is a new warehouse / industrial development that will one day include 4 buildings and about 500,000 square feet of newly created space. One building is already going up with 120,000 square feet of space, that one is on track to be completed in April 2020.
Empire Eye Physicians
Empire Eye is planning to be a new 14000 square foot clinic and office building at 16010 E. Indiana, next to the My Place Hotel in Spokane Valley
Vivacity Care Center
With one location already open in North Spokane and another on the way nearby Gonzaga, Vivacity Care Center has chosen to build their regional flagship location in a stand alone new construction building at 16009 E. Indiana in Spokane Valley. Plans call for a 13000 square foot clinic.
Liberty Lake River District's first commercial component
Under the master plan of the River District development, an almost Kendall Yards like shopping center would be built along N Harvard Rd. in Liberty Lake. That, however has always been away's off. But developer Greenstone has broken ground on a small neighborhood style commercial building at Indiana & Harvest Pkwy across from Orchard Park. No news yet on tenants but restaurants and/or a bakery are very likely.
Chic fil a
Yes, Chic-fil-a is still coming to Spokane. The popular chicken resturant will be on Newport Hwy just north of the Y. They are working through permitting and the used car dealership that was on the site relocated a new site nearby just a couple of weeks ago.
Washington Trust / Thomas Hammer on the South Hill
Work is ongoing on a new building on S. Grand Blvd by the Manito Shopping Center. Washington Trust Bank opened a new branch on the lot not long ago and is now constructing a second building to the south of their main bank. The new building will house a Washington Trust branded community center and Thomas Hammer Coffee store location.
Industrial developments
There are a handful of spec. built industrial buildings in the works around Spokane, Huntwood Cabinets in Liberty Lake is planning an expansion, as is Exotic Metals and Collins Aerospace on the West Plains. Selkirk Pharma is also working on a new location planned to be built in Airway Heights. Before the pandemic at least industrial vacancies in the Spokane area we're running at historically low numbers.
Apartments, Apartments, Apartments
There are too many to list. New apartment complexes are going up all over the Spokane area, from a few new ones in the Valley, to new urban living places in Spokane proper and huge complexes like Beau West on the West Plains.
Did I forget something? I feel like i'm forgetting something big so feel free to reach out and remind me at inlandbusiness@yahoo.com
Have a new business? I also want to know, as aforementioned i'm temporarily a full time blogger, so I have plenty of time to share your story with the people of Spokane.
Many are just sitting at home, looking online as is, so why not market yourself to people who find themselves with extra time on their hands? contact me at inlandbusiness@yahoo.com , i'm not a salesperson just a guy with blog that a few people do read and a passion for helping our local business community.
