Plans for a $50 million, 19-story office tower in downtown Spokane havent been pushed off schedule by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks or the nations slide toward economic recession, a project spokesman says.


Larry Soehren, vice president of Kiemle & Hagood Co., which will act as leasing agent and property manager for the building, says, From the developers side, there is nothing to stop us from moving forward but a lack of tenants, and negotiations with two potential lead tenants are continuing. If anything, falling interest rates only enhance the feasibility of the big project, Soehren says.


A development group that includes downtown landowner K. Wendell Reugh formally unveiled plans for the building about three months ago. The group said construction of the building is scheduled to start early next year and to be completed in the summer of 2004.


Plans call for the building to have 232,000 square feet of office space atop a five-story parking garage and a main floor of retail shops and restaurants. The building would occupy most of the block bounded by Howard and Stevens streets and Riverside and Sprague avenues. A spire extending up from the buildings Riverside roof line is expected to make the high-rise the tallest structure in downtown Spokane.


Thompson Vaivoda Associates, of Portland, designed the building, and Hoffman Construction, also of Portland, will be the general contractor on the project. Madsen Mitchell Evenson & Conrad PLLC, of Spokane, will oversee interior design work.