A few months after finishing work on a 140-unit student-housing facility to serve Eastern Washington University, ConoverBond LLC, a Spokane development company headed by Rob Brewster Jr., is eyeing more projects in Cheney.


Brewster says the company has started design work on a four-story, $4.5 million building that would include five retail bays and housing for 80 students. The structure would be located two blocks from the EWU campus on land Brewster owns next to Dorothy Brewster Hall, the four-story, $5 million structure ConoverBond completed earlier this year at the corner of Second and F streets. Brewster named that building after his grandmother.


As is the arrangement with the first hall, Brewster would own the planned 40,000-square-foot building through a separate limited-liability company, and EWU would lease the housing within it and use it as student housing. Whether the project moves forward is contingent upon EWU receiving additional funding during the upcoming session of the Legislature. Brewster says, however, he might move forward with that project later next year even if EWU doesnt secure the additional funding. Two prospective tenants already have expressed interest in leasing retail spaces in the proposed building, and he likely would open a restaurant and pub there on his own, Brewster says.


ConoverBond also is considering developing a 40-unit market-rate apartment building on land he owns across Second Street from the Dorothy Brewster Hall, Brewster says. Brewster would rent those units directly to tenants, and the building wouldnt become part of EWUs student housing. Brewster hasnt decided when he might start that project, but says ConoverBond might speed up the project if it opts not to move forward with the proposed student-housing and retail building.


Long term, he envisions developing townhouses and additional retail space in Cheney, Brewster says.


In general, Brewster says, his development activity in Cheney is aimed at creating more of a college-town atmosphere.


The university is a huge asset for that community, and I think its starting to see that now, he says.


EWU has experienced seven consecutive quarters of record-breaking growth in admissions, says school spokeswoman Stefanie Pettit. During fall quarter, EWU enrolled nearly 9,200 students, up from about 8,900 students a year earlier. The universitys incoming freshman class this fall included almost 1,300 students, which also was a school record.