New housing development for homeless veterans to break ground in Spokane

 A new housing development for homeless veterans is set to break ground in Spokane, providing 12 one-bedroom units designed to offer permanent supportive housing for local veterans. The project is nicknamed Vets on Lacey will be located in North Spokane in the 6200 block of N. Lacey St.

Courtesy image of the project site plan

This important project was initially a Spokane Housing Ventures initiative but found its new home in the portfolio of Volunteers of America (VOA ) Eastern Washington & North Idaho after Spokane Housing Ventures merged with Catholic Charities to form Catholic Housing Ventures. This project combines HUD'S Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, helping veterans move from homelessness to stable housing. 

Designed with a cottage housing feel, the development will feature 12 one-bedroom units that focus inwards toward common areas, fostering a sense of community for its residents. Construction is expected to begin in February with Kilgore Construction acting as the general contractor, ZBA Architecture doing the architectural design work and Kiemle Hagood doing property management and acting as a development consultant / owner's representative. 

The project will share driveway access with Jayne Auld Manor, a 48-unit family housing complex managed by Kiemle Hagood and owned by Empire Health. The site plan for the development also identifies amenities such as gardens, BBQ with seating area, laundry, bike storage and a veteran's memorial.

Frontier Airlines to return to Spokane International Airport

 

Courtesy photo

The Denver based ultra-low fare carrier, Frontier Airlines, has announced they plan to return to Spokane International Airport with a new flight connection to Denver coming later this year. Frontier Airlines will begin the service on May 20th 2025 with service three times a week. A special introductory fare of $29 for the flight is being offered with some restrictions, for exact prices and details on the flight contact the airline.

The new Spokane to Denver flight is one of 14 new flights announced today by the budget airline. They are also planning to relaunch air service to Boise in May as well, also with a flight to Denver. The company operates 159 A320 family aircraft and has the largest A320neo family fleet in the US. Frontier Airlines continues to expand with many more Airbus planes currently on order with flight offerings to cities in the US, Mexico and the Carribean. 

For more information on Frontier Airlines and to book the new flight from Spokane to Denver, visit their website at https://flyfrontier.com

Move Northwest is our newest sponsor of Inland Northwest Business Watch

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Move Northwest has kept Washington moving for over 120 years. Formerly known as Bekins Northwest, we continually strive to raise the standard to provide our customers with the best possible service in the moving industry. Our highly qualified staff of movers, packers, & drivers are some of the best in the business and your satisfaction is guaranteed. Specializing in full service moves, warehousing, office moving and installations, international crating, and corporate relocations. 

 

Move Northwest looks forward to continuing to serve the Spokane community and is happy to be the #1 local full service moving company in Washington. Yes! We move that. 

 

To get moving, visit their website at www.movenw.com and follow them on IG @movenw

Northeast PDA planning new mixed-use building with childcare center

 The actual project might still be a few months out but planning work is going full steam ahead for a new mixed-use development at the northeast corner of the Wellesley and N. Haven St intersection in Spokane's Hilyard neighborhood. The project is being led by Northeast Public Development Authority (PDA) and is planned to offer 30-40 units of new affordable housing atop a 6,500 square foot childcare facility, with approximately 100 slots and open until 11pm on weekdays and weekends.

Courtesy photo of the project's site plan

The Northeast PDA acquired the subject site in 2023 via the city's PDA asset-transfer process. The vacant site has been deemed a blight on the neighborhood since 2017 and sits predominantly at the gateway to the Hillyard district's commercial core. The total project cost is estimated to be $12.5 million with construction currently anticipated to begin by the end of the year, 2025 and a delivery during the last half of 2026. 

The building will be four stories tall, including the ground floor childcare space. The project will also include substantial site improvements such as sidewalks, landscaping, seating areas, public art,etc. and will be located near high frequency transit stops. Bouten Construction Company will be the general contractor for the project and architectural work will be done by Architects West.

For more information on the Northeast PDA, visit their website at https://northeastpda.com/

Bella's Cafe & Cocktails opens in the University District

 A new eatery and bar is now open in Spokane's University District, on the ground floor of the Catalyst Building at 601 E. Riverside, just off of E. Sprague. The new place is called Bella's Cafe & Cocktails and replaces the Cole's Cafe that had been operating in the space their prior.

Courtesy photo

Bella's Cafe & Cocktails serves a menu of espresso drinks, delicious food and craft cocktails. Similar to Cole's , Bella's does offer gluten free options with the food menu consisting of breakfast items, sandwiches, panini's, bowls, personal pizzas and more, including occasional specials. Beer, wine and cocktails are also on the menu with a "happiest hour" currently available from 4-6 on Mon-Thurs as of my writing this.

While the new restaurant is already open they plan to host an official grand opening soon. For details on this and more information on Bella's Cafe & Cocktails, give them a follow on social media via Facebook or Instagram

Downtown Spokane Partnership to host 2025 Best in BID Awards and Annual Meeting

 

Courtesy photo- Lydia Cowles , owner of 27th Heaven Bakery and winner of most inspirational business owner

All Downtown Spokane stakeholders and fans will want to take note of the upcoming presentation of the winners of the third annual "Best in BID Awards" by the Downtown Spokane Partnership on Thursday, February 20th. In January, the public was invited to vote for their favorite businesses within an 80-block area of the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) in a number of categories. Thousands of voters, voted to determine this year's honorees, who include:

Best new business in 2024: Press Pickleball Club

Best local collaboration: Heritage Bar & Kitchen / Whistle Punk Brewing

Most inspirational business owner: Lydia Cowles of 27th Heaven Bakery

Best place for wellness and relaxation: Anam Cara Healing Center

Best social media presence: Rencorp Realty

Best place for a quick lunch break: Soulful Soups

Best locally owned fashion spot: Garland Resale Boutique

Best spot for a study session or work meeting: Indaba Coffee

Best place for a first date: Wooden City

Best place to take your out-of-town guests: Numerica Sky Ride

Courtesy photo of the Wharton Building in Downtown Spokane, a redevelopment project of Rencorp Reality. Who won the Best in BID award for best social media presence. Once complete the building will house Jupiter's Eye Book Cafe (now open!) a new restaurant called Gangnam Style and residential lofts on the upper floors

The Best in BID Awards are held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the DSP and the Downtown Spokane Business Improvement District. Leadership and representatives will present accomplishments from 2024 and goals and objectives for 2025 to continue building a dynamic, welcoming and vital Downtown.

Courtesy photo of Soulful Soups & Spirits, Best in BID award winner for best place for a quick lunch break.

DSP'S annual meeting is open to members and ratepayers to attend for $10 and $25 for the public. Networking will begin at 3:30pm with a program at 4:00pm, followed by a social hour with entertainment. The event will be held at nYne Bar & Bistro at 232 W. Sprague Ave, tickets are being sold online via https://downtownspokane.org

Inlander Restaurant Week menus to be released this week

Spokane foodies get ready, because it's almost Inlander Restaurant Week time again. Restaurant Week itself will be from Feb. 27th - March 8th, with more than 125 of the region's top restaurants will offer specially curated three-course menus at $25, $35 and $45 price points. The event is presented by STCU with the menus due to be released tomorrow, Thursday Feb 6th 2025.

Starting Thursday, diners can explore participating restaurants and menus at http://inlanderrestaurantweek.com. Site visitors can search for restaurants offering their three-course menus at lunch, in addition to dinner, as well as filter by neighborhood, cuisine and price point. The official event guide will also be available starting Thursday at STCU branches, participating restaurants and Inlander Community Centers inside more then 50 grocery stores including Rosauers, Yoke's, Safeway, Albertson's and Super One. The event guide will also be inserted in the Feb. 27th edition of The Inlander.

"Now in its thirteenth year, Inlander Restaurant Week is the perfect excuse to explore every corner of the Inland Northwest and finally check out that restaurant you've been eyeing - all while giving local eateries a boost during a slower time of the year" said Tamara McGregor, event director of Inlander Restaurant Week. This year, diners can once again support hospitality workers through partnerships with Big Table and CDAIDE. Every menu will feature a QR code for easy donations. Thanks to the generosity of STCU's Here For Good Foundation, donations will be matched up to $10,000 total during the event.

For more information on Inlander Restaurant Week, check out their website at http://inlanderrestaurantweek.com

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Chavelitas Pub Grill & Cantina coming to Liberty Lake

 After months of negotiations and deliberations by city council, the City of Liberty Lake has agreed upon on a new restaurant tenant lease for their Trailhead Golf Course clubhouse building at the corner of Country Vista Blvd. & Liberty Lake Rd. . The tenant of the space will be a new locally owned and operated restaurant called Chavelitas Pub Grill & Cantina.

Courtesy photo of the concept design for the new Chavelita's Pub Grill & Cantina, the end product might differ some from this image.

Chavelita's is a new concept from the same family that owns Las Chavelas in Coeur d' Alene and Casey's Place in Spokane Valley. They say the new restaurant concept is to combine both restaurants to create and American fusion with Mexican food. The menu will be heavily inspired by the menu at Casey's Place offering an array of salads, soups, and sandwiches but will also have a selection of Mexican dishes as well. Additionally, the new place will also have a full bar for beer, wine, cocktails and mocktails as well.

The new restaurant space will be renovated to suit the new tenant, with Chavelita's hoping to open there around June of this year. Catering will also be made available once the business is open.