Baney Corp., a Bend, Ore.-based hotel developer, has begun construction of a new Oxford Suites hotel along the north bank of the Spokane River near downtown Spokane.


Bruce Sleep, a project supervisor for Baney, says that the hotel, which is being built along North River Drive between the WHC Building and the Pier 1 building, will be a five-story structure with a basement and will include 126 guest rooms.


He says the $5.8 million project is expected to be completed next September.


Guest amenities at the hotel will include an indoor pool and an exercise room on the first floor and a conference room and dining area in the basement, Sleep says.


Baney is the general contractor for the project, and Fuller Designs & Engineering Inc., of Portland, is the designer.


Baney broke ground about four months ago on a 127-unit Oxford Suites hotel just east of the Spokane Valley Mall near the south bank of the Spokane River. That hotel is expected to open next April, Sleep says.


The two Oxford Suites hotels will be the first ones bearing that brand in the Spokane area. Baney first announced plans to build the two hotels in November 1998.


Sleep deferred questions about why it took so long for Baney to start the downtown project to corporate officials, who couldnt be reached for comment.