Mike McLean

Six-month foreclosure filings jump

Further rises said likely to push default level here near or over 2002 peak

July 30, 2009

The Spokane County Auditor recorded 378 foreclosure filings here in the first half of this year, up 49 percent from 254 filings in the year-earlier period.If that rate were to continue, total foreclosures here for the year would reach 834, which

Farm management firm here upbeat despite down market

Sharp & Hatley handles more than 100,000 acres for 140 property owners

July 30, 2009

Mike McLean

When the region has a big wheat crop, and prices are high, John Sharp and Allen Hatley naturally are happy, they say. This year, though, an average crop is expected, and they're merely upbeat.The farm-bred executives of Sharp & Hatley Inc., of I

Work stacks up for design firm here following slow year

Leaner L&S Engineering sees growth potential in energy savings

July 16, 2009

Mike McLean

L&S Engineering Associates Inc., a longtime firm here that designs high-efficiency mechanical and electrical systems in commercial and public buildings, struggled through slow times last year, but now its workload is the heaviest that Dale Shafer,

New owner of assisted-living center plans August opening

Beulah House to operate in former Heritage House building near Division 'Y'

July 16, 2009

Mike McLean

A Spokane man says he has bought a former assisted-living center on Spokane's North Side and plans to reopen it under a new name.The new owner, Emmanuel Connor, says the 9,600-square-foot facility at 9626 N. Colfax, just north of the Rosauers in

Business park secures three more tenants

Wine supplier, office-panel maker open new centers; hydraulic vendor moves

July 16, 2009

Mike McLean

The Spokane Business & Industrial Park, in Spokane Valley, says it has landed three new tenants that have leased a combined 25,600 square feet of floor space in its big complex at 3808 N. Sullivan.One tenant, Young's-Columbia of Washington LLC,

STCU buys South Hill site, is planning additional branch

Credit union says new outlet's opening could be two or more years away

July 16, 2009

Mike McLean

Spokane Teachers Credit Union says it has bought a vacant 1.5-acre parcel for a future second South Hill branch.The site is located at the southeast corner of Hailee Lane and 57th Avenue, just east of the Cedar Canyon Villas apartment complex, a

Sterling eyes branch site in Walla Walla

Spokane-based bank asks FDIC to approve outlet at new retail center there

July 16, 2009

Mike McLean

Spokane-based Sterling Savings Bank says it's considering opening a second branch in Walla Walla, Wash.The bank has filed an application with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to establish a branch there in the recently developed Rose Street

Waterfront sales sink to new depths

Lake home prices here drop as pool of affluent buyers dries up

July 16, 2009

Mike McLean

The market for lakefront and riverfront homes is in uncharted waters—and they're rough, real estate specialists here say.Bill Fanning, broker at Century 21 Beutler-Waterfront, in Spokane, says lake home prices are spiraling downward, and a

St. Vincent de Paul chapter leases former Cd'A library

Social-service providers to create one-stop help center for homeless there

July 2, 2009

Mike McLean

Coeur d'Alene-based St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho has leased the former Coeur d'Alene Public Library and says it and other social-service providers are moving into the 13,000-square-foot structure.The agencies plan to collaborate in a one-stop

Idaho's labor agency buys land for Post Falls building

Agency plans $4.3 million structure there, will move from leased offices in Cd'A

July 2, 2009

Mike McLean

The Idaho state Department of Labor says it plans to move its Coeur d'Alene offices into a $4.3 million structure it will build on 2.8 acres of land it has bought in Post Falls.The planned building site, which the state agency bought for is just