Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington is set to begin $20 million in renovations at two low-income housing projects with a total of 158 housing units, says Matt Kilbourne, the organization's vice president of development and asset management. 

The contractor and architect for the project are Spokane-based Inland Washington LLC and Architecture All Forms Corp., respectively. Funding for the project comes from a Washington state low-income housing bond allocation awarded in 2023, Kilbourne says. 

Construction start is set for late August or early September, he says. 

The two low-income housing sites are El Estero Apartments, centered at 2130 E. North Crescent just north of the Spokane River in East Spokane, and Catherine Johnson Court, located at 6321 E. Fourth in Spokane Valley. 

El Estero Apartments consists of eight buildings and 122 living units, Kilbourne says. Five of those buildings, with a total of 90 units, will undergo interior renovations, including new finishes, maintenance, and replacement of fixtures, cabinetry and appliances, he says. Exterior work includes new paint, maintenance, and new roofing. 

“No tenants will be permanently displaced,” Kilbourne says. “All resident relocation will occur on-site.” 

The remaining three structures at El Estero Apartments include a pool house and two low-income apartment buildings that will undergo Americans with Disabilities Act improvements and renovations, he says. The pool house includes a central laundry facility and administrative offices. The agency is debating whether to expand the current structure to allow for more office space and clubhouse-like facilities or to tear down the structure and rebuild, he says. The swimming pool with be filled with concrete and paved over, he adds. 

Catherine Johnson Court has 22 low-income housing units that will undergo similar renovations, he says. 

The two properties were previously owned by Spokane Housing Ventures, Kilbourne says.  In December of 2021, Spokane Housing Ventures merged with Catholic Housing Services of Eastern Washington under a single entity called Catholic Housing Ventures, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Catholic Housing Ventures is the development and asset management affiliate of Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington. 

The two properties have not had any updates in about 20 years, Kilbourne says. 

“We’re excited to bring the properties up to our standards,” he says.