Mike McLean

Low interest rates force strategy change

Financial advisers say even older clients should look beyond 'safe funds' in retirement planning

April 21, 2011

Exceedingly low interest rates on federally guaranteed savings can be hazardous for people who plan to rely on income from such safe funds in retirement, advisers here say.Traditionally, people at or near retirement age have been advised to of a

District awards construction contracts worth $12 million

Projects at six schools among those funded by levy passed in 2008

April 7, 2011

Mike McLean

Spokane Public Schools says it has approved four construction contracts totaling $12 million for roofing and mechanical-system projects at three elementary schools and athletic-facility improvements at three high schools.Work on the projects, be

Spokane Mental Health adds psychiatric center

Nonprofit's $3.9 million Calispel treatment facility to be completed in August

April 7, 2011

Mike McLean

Spokane Mental Health says it's converting a vacant two-story building on Spokane's North Side into an inpatient psychiatric facility.The total cost of the project will be about $3.9 million, including construction, equipment, furnishing, and &

Parker buys Post Falls Subaru dealership

Arrotta family scales back to concentrate on Chrysler, Nissan lines

April 7, 2011

Mike McLean

Parker Automotive Inc., the longtime Coeur d'Alene-based concern that owns the Parker Toyota dealership there, has bought the Subaru dealership in Post Falls and has renamed it Parker Subaru.The dealership, formerly Select Subaru, at 811 N. had

Drought ends at Riverstone

$22.7 million in projects slated at once-struggling development

April 7, 2011

Mike McLean

John Stone may have handed over the reins recently of Spokane-based SRM Development LLC, a real estate development company he cofounded in 2000, but before he retires, he says, he wants to see one more grand vision through: Riverstone.In recent

Large apartment projects eyed

Moran Prairie complexes would include 502 units

April 7, 2011

Mike McLean

Three apartment projects with a total of 502 living units and a combined construction value totaling at least $48.2 million are in various planning stages on the Moran Prairie atop Spokane's South Hill.The largest project, in terms of total is a

Community reinvested

Banks pursue lending targets despite declines in loan demand

March 24, 2011

Mike McLean

Though credit is tight and demand for loans is down, bankers here are looking for opportunities to ensure that they provide financial services fairly throughout their communities in accordance with the federal Community Reinvestment Act.The CRA

Less invasive hysterectomy procedures on increase here

Trend at Spokane-area hospitals said to climb ahead of national curve

March 24, 2011

Mike McLean

Spokane-area physicians are ahead of the national curve in employing minimally invasive techniques rather than open abdominal surgery when performing hysterectomies, two surgeons here say.About 55 percent of hysterectomies at the four major are

GVD to raze old Discovery School building

Commercial real estate concern wants to develop project there eventually

March 24, 2011

Mike McLean

Spokane-based GVD Commercial Properties Inc. says it intends this spring to demolish the former Discovery School building at 307 W. Fourth near downtown. It has no immediate plans for the property, but says it expects to develop a commercial there

Real Estate Roundup

March 24, 2011

Mike McLean

Leslie's Furniture & Framing, an upscale used-furniture and picture-framing shop, has leased 6,000 square feet of space in the Harbor Ridge retail center, at 1600 W. Seltice Way, in Post Falls, and has moved there from smaller quarters in Hayden. a