Construction is underway on a new warehouse and office building for Spokane-based trucking company S. R. Sicilia Inc., says controller and project manager at S. R. Sicilia, Sheila Selder.

Plans call for office space in the front of the structure and shop space in the back of the building to service and clean the company’s fleet of freight trucks, she says. 

The facility is the first of a handful of structures planned at the property, which is located at 4998 N. Florida, west of Havana Street and south of Queen Avenue, in Spokane's Hillyard neighborhood, Selder says.

“This is going to be the big test model,” Selder says.

The new 6,800-square-foot building is valued at $500,000, permit information on file with the city of Spokane shows.

Preliminary plans for the additional warehouses are currently underway. Five more warehouse buildings are expected to have a 5,700-square-foot footprint, and a sixth warehouse could have between 10,000 and 15,000 square feet of space, she says.

S. R. Sicilia and Colbert-based Dieter Construction LLC are the contractors for the development, Selder says. Spokane-based Trek Architecture is designing the facility, and Spokane Valley-based Umlauf Engineers PLLC is providing structural engineering services.

Infrastructure work has been completed at the property for the installation of water, sewer, and fire hydrants. Additionally, the building's footing and walls have been completed at the site, Selder says.

S. R. Sicilia was founded in 1946 by Sandy Sicilia and operates in the Clearwater Summit building at 4228 N. Wellesley, Selder explains, adding that Sandy's son, Gregory Sicilia, currently owns and operates the company.

The company's seven-truck fleet hauls sand for Spokane Valley-based Central Pre Mix Concrete Co. and Inland Asphalt Co., both both of which operate under Spokane Valley-based CPM Development Corp., Selder says. The trucking company moves sand from two sandpits to four different locations owned by Central Pre Mix. All freight stays within Spokane County, she adds.

S. R. Sicilia is a union employer with Teamsters Local Union No. 690 and has 11 employees.