A 48-unit mixed-income housing project under development by Thrive International will be ready for occupancy at the end of May, says Mark Finney, executive director of the Spokane-based nonprofit.

Upon completion, the workforce housing project, located on 1.6 acres at 6980 N. Nevada in North Spokane, will have two three-story apartment buildings with 24 units each. A community garden, a geodesic dome for long-term gardening activities, a 24/7 library kiosk, and a public event and learning space operated by Spokane Public Library are also included at the property. 

Each of the two apartment buildings has an 18,000-square-foot footprint, permit information shows.

Construction started in May 2025 and both residential buildings are nearing completion. Crews have installed windows and electrical systems in both buildings and are currently installing doors, trim, flooring, and other interior details. Once construction of the apartments wraps up at the end of May 2026, Thrive International plans to immediately begin moving residents in, Finney says.

The community garden, greenhouse dome, and library kiosk already have been installed at the site. 

The public event and learning space is located on the first floor of the north residential building. 

The development also features solar panels on the roofs of both residential buildings to save energy costs, which was supported by a $250,000 grant from Washington State University, says Finney.

Construction costs initially were estimated between $8 million and $9 million, but have since expanded to between $10 million and $11 million, he says.

Walker Construction Inc., of Spokane, is the contractor; Millennium Northwest LLC, also of Spokane, is the developer; and Spokane-based Bernardo Wills is the designer. Courage Housing LLC, a Spokane-area investment company, is supporting the development with financing and investment.

Washington Trust Bank provided additional financing and investment through a construction loan and a Community Reinvestment Act investment, Finney adds.

Half of the units will be reserved for tenants making up to 80% of the area median income. The other half of the units will be market-rate apartments, which will provide a return to investors.

“We’re calling it workforce housing,” Finney says. “We wanted to create a mixed-income community.”

Finney estimates monthly rents of $1,175 for a one-bedroom affordable unit and $1,375 for a two-bedroom affordable unit. Rental estimates are preliminary and subject change once Thrive International hires a property management company to manage the property, he notes.

The Spokane Public Library Board of Trustees voted in March 2024 to sell the vacant property to Thrive International for $10 in exchange for a no-fee, 50-year lease of the community space, garden space, and space for the library kiosk, he explains. The library used funds from a 2018 voter-approved $77 million bond measure to build the dome and parking spaces. 

Thrive International provides temporary refugee housing, education, and empowerment programs. The organization plans to buy back the apartments from investors after refinancing the property in 10 years and hold on to the property long-term.

—Ethan Pack