Spokane-based developer GVD Hospitality Management Services Inc. plans to start work this month on a $1.5 million renovation project at the vacant Music City Building downtown, continuing work at its properties along the 1000 block of west First Avenue. 

Last April, the Journal reported the company was working to complete renovations at the historic Montvale Hotel, updating its lobby and common areas, and had just begun renovations at the Oddfellows building, which included transforming its first two floors into a new event center space. 

Since then, GVD has completed both of those projects and now is focusing on renovating the Music City Building, at 1011 W. First.  

Predevelopment plans on file with the city show a $1.5 million project that would convert just under 27,000 square feet of the five-story building’s total 35,000 square feet into commercial space and living units. 

Mauer Construction Inc., of Spokane, is the contractor on the project, which was designed by Uptic Studios Inc., of Spokane.

Jared Mauer, of Mauer Construction, says the company is waiting on final permits for the project, but it should be able to start construction in the coming weeks and complete the improvements in six to eight months.  

Mauer says the building’s first floor and its second-floor mezzanine level will each be converted into 3,000-square-foot commercial tenant spaces, while its three upper floors will be renovated to accommodate a total of 14 apartment units. 

He says the apartments will be a mixture of one- and two-bedroom units, with larger units have between 1,500 and 1,600 square feet of floor space. 

Mauer says plans also call for additional tenant amenities, including a rooftop patio and a basement exercise room. He says the project also will update the building’s elevators and stairs, as well as its fire safety and sprinkler systems.

In addition to its properties on the 1000 block of West First, GVD Hospitality owns Hotel Ruby, at 901 W. First; Ruby Suites at 1120 N. Division; The Bing Crosby Theater, at 901 W. Sprague; and the former Dempsey’s Brass Rail building, at 909 W. First, where its offices now occupy the second floor.

The company has plans to renovate additional areas within the former Dempsey’s building in the coming months, with Mauer Construction set to update its façade and first floors.