Mike McLean

Second new hotel planned near Spokane International Airport

Timeline similar to that of nearby La Quinta project

March 16, 2017

For the second time in a few weeks, plans have emerged for a new airport hotel on the West Plains. In the latest hotel plan, the Sleep Inn/Mainstay hotel chain plans to erect a $6.3 million, 87-room hotel east of the airport, near the Geiger-Interstate 9

Two sporting goods retailers coming to Spokane Valley

Big 5, Sportsman's Warehouse plan outlets

March 16, 2017

Mike McLean

Two sporting goods store chains are planning to open outlets within a mile of each other in Spokane Valley. One of them, Midvale, Utah-based Sportsman's Warehouse, has leased 32,400 square feet of retail space at the former Sports Authority site, near

Ridpath project is jelling, developer Ron Wells says

Work could start this spring, pending approval of loans

March 16, 2017

Mike McLean

Spokane developer Ron Wells says financing is coming together for acquiring and converting the long-shuttered Ridpath Hotel complex into downtown housing. With final loan approval appearing close at hand, work on the $22 million project could start as ea

New boutique real estate agency opens downtown

Brokerage to focus on remodeling, flipping market

March 2, 2017

Mike McLean

Scout Real Estate, a new Spokane real estate agency, has opened downtown, says owner and managing broker Brian Bean. The agency occupies 800 square feet of office space on the main floor of a historic three-story building at 101 S. Stevens, where it hope

Real Estate Roundup: Solderer now independent after parent-company sale

CTS moves to quarters in Valley industrial park

March 2, 2017

Mike McLean

Component Tinning Services Inc., a recent independent spinoff of Spokane Valley-based ACE Production Technologies Inc., has moved to new quarters in the Spokane Business & Industrial Park. CTS now occupies 1,300 square feet of space at 3020 N. Sullivan,

More construction anticipated on WSU Spokane campus

University also preps for first medical school class

March 2, 2017

Mike McLean

Washington State University Spokane will be humming with new activity this year, both in construction and in medical education, on its health sciences-focused campus in the University District east of downtown. On the construction side, Garco Constructio

Blue Water Technologies' new owner moves office to Post Falls

Nexom keeps engineering operations in North Idaho

March 2, 2017

Mike McLean

Nexom Inc., a Wisconsin-based wastewater treatment technology provider, has moved the former Blue Water Technologies Inc. office to Post Falls, says research and development manager CJ Strain. The Nexom office now occupies 1,900 square feet of leased spa

SBA-backed lending starting strong in the Inland Northwest this year

Loan volume decreased by 5.2 percent last year

March 2, 2017

Mike McLean

U.S. Small Business Administration-backed lending has started strong in 2017, and demand for the guaranteed loans looks to remain steady, some top SBA lenders here say. Ted Schinzel, SBA's Spokane branch manager, says, however, that although 2017 has s

Business-class drones to take off

Commercial use of UAVs found to improve efficiency

March 2, 2017

Mike McLean

Commercial drone use is taking off, and soon more Spokane-area industries and businesses big and small are likely to see and hear what the buzz is about, some drone users here say. Robert Rees, owner of Rees Aerials LLC, of Spokane, has been flying drone

Big Avista-led project to serve as catalyst near East Sprague

Project proposed near planned University District Gateway Bridge

March 2, 2017

Mike McLean

An affiliate of Spokane-based energy company Avista Corp. has entered the early land-use planning stage with the city of Spokane for the first phase of an ambitious development concept for the area near the south landing of the soon-to-be constructed Univ