New owners of a downtown Coeur d’Alene retail and office building known as the Dingle Building plan to convert and expand the structure into a boutique hotel to be named CDA Grand Hotel, planning information on file with the city of Coeur d’Alene shows.

The historic Dingle Building, which was constructed in 1891 and named for the family that owned it and operated retail businesses there, is located at the southeast corner of Sherman Avenue and Fourth Street, in the heart of the downtown business district. The three-story building currently has 40,000 square feet of floor space, including the basement.

Craig and Debbie Ward, of Harrison, Idaho, who recently purchased the Dingle Building, couldn’t be reached immediately for comment.

Planning information shows the Wards plan to rebuild the fourth floor of the building. The original fourth floor was destroyed in a fire decades ago, and what was left of the floor was removed during repairs.

The second and third floors will have a total of 30 300-square-foot rooms and four larger suites, and the new fourth floor will have 14 to 18 suites with kitchenettes, planning information shows.

A 3,000-square-foot hotel lobby, a 1,450-square-foot restaurant, a 150-square-foot gift shop, and a 150-square-foot coffee shop are proposed to occupy main-floor space formerly occupied by the Sports Cellar sporting goods store, which closed its doors last week.

A new elevator also is planned for the lobby.

Johannes & Co. jewelry store, which is owned by former Coeur d’Alene Mayor Sandi Bloem and has occupied a portion of the main floor for 32 years, is closing this week. That space is designated to remain commercial lease space, plans show. 

Tiffany Blue II, a women’s fashion boutique in the middle of the main floor, will remain open during the hotel conversion.

H2A Architects PA, of Coeur d’Alene, is designing the project, which has a preliminary construction cost estimate of $750,000. No contractor is listed yet on preliminary information submitted for the project.