WAM Enterprises Inc., of Spokane, has bought four acres of vacant land on Spokanes North Side and plans to develop a $3.5 million retail center on part of that property.


The land is located northwest of a Wal-Mart Stores Inc. outlet, at 9212 N. Colton, and is bordered by Holland Road to the north, Colton Avenue to the west, and Hoerner Drive to the south and east.


WAM Vice President Bruce Miller says the retail center will be located on the northernmost portion of that land and will include about 12,000 square feet of floor space.


Miller expects that WAM will start construction of that building in May, and says it likely will complete it in early September.


The company hasnt secured any tenants for the proposed building yet. Marshall Clark, of Clark Pacific Real Estate Co., handled the land transaction and is marketing space in the planned building.


Atwood-Hinzman Inc., of Spokane, designed the structure, and Panco Construction Inc., of Spokane, will be the general contractor on the project.


Miller says the retail center will be on just over one acre of land, and WAM currently doesnt have any plans for the balance of the property. He says two restaurant operators have inquired about portions of the remaining land, however.


The development will be the fourth WAM has undertaken on land neighboring a Wal-Mart store. It has other such developments near Wal-Mart outlets in Post Falls, Sandpoint, and Tucson, Ariz. Miller says the North Side retail center will be most similar to its property near the Wal-Mart in Tucson.