Vandermeer Forest Products Inc., a Lynnwood, Wash.-based wholesale lumber supplier, is preparing to move its Spokane Valley operations onto its own property in the Valley from leased office space and a third-party distribution facility, says Gary Bottler, a Spokane Valley-based account manager for the company.

Construction of a 2,400-square-foot office building is nearly complete, and Vandermeer has started erecting one of several planned warehouses on the 10-acre site that the company bought last year at 4516 N. Barker, Bottler says. The company plans to move its offices there this month from the CenterPointe Business Park, at 200 N. Mullan, he says.

Vandermeer Forest Products' Spokane Valley operations supplies lumber and construction materials to retail lumber yards throughout Eastern Washington, North Idaho, and western Montana, Bottler says.

The company has been reloading products for distribution here from the Inland Empire Distribution Systems Inc. facility in the Spokane Business & Industrial Park, at 3808 N. Sullivan, for 15 years.

Bottler says the company plans to have two enclosed warehouses and four open-front warehouses in all.

"We're developing the full 10 acres, and we hope to put in a rail spur in the next couple of years," he says.

Solid Structures LLC, of Spokane, is the contractor on the office part of the project, and Vandermeer designed the project in-house.

Bottler declines to disclose the value of the project.

Spokane County Assessor's records show the company bought the property for $312,500. City of Spokane Valley building permit records list the value of the office portion of the project at $273,300 and the 8,800-square-foot warehouse currently under construction at $449,000.

Vandermeer employs six people here now, and when the yard is in operation, at least 14 employees will be based here.