Mike McLean

Central Valley School District reworks plans for Ponderosa Elementary

Entirely new facility would save costs over renovation

May 5, 2016

The Central Valley School District now wants to replace Ponderosa Elementary school rather than renovate and expand it-a move that district superintendent Ben Small claims would save on construction costs, speed up the project schedule, and eliminate th

Vandervert Construction builds, converts lube centers for Valvoline

Fast-lube concern to test newest store design here

May 5, 2016

Mike McLean

Lexington, Ky.-based Valvoline Instant Oil Change has selected Vandervert Construction Inc., of Spokane, to convert 70 former Oil Can Henry's Outlets to the Valvoline brand and to construct two new prototype lube centers in the Pacific Northwest, says A

Idaho selects design team for joint higher-ed facility in Coeur d'Alene

Three colleges will share use of $9.7 million building

April 21, 2016

Mike McLean

The Idaho Department of Public Works has selected a team made up of H2A Architects PA, of Coeur d'Alene, and Integrus Architecture PS, of Spokane, to design a planned $9.7 million North Idaho Collaborative Education facility in Coeur d'Alene, says Ela

Kiemle & Hagood creates scholarship fund for HVAC students

Program aims to promote building-maintenance skills

April 21, 2016

Mike McLean

Spokane-based commercial real estate brokerage Kiemle & Hagood Co. recently created the Ed Kiemle Memorial Scholarship Fund through the Community Colleges of Spokane Foundation Endowment Fund. The endowed scholarship program will award two $500 scholarsh

Vandervert begins work on Division Street Denny's

24-hour diner to serve customers this summer

April 21, 2016

Mike McLean

Vandervert Construction Inc., of Spokane, has started work on a new Denny's restaurant to be located at 3525 N. Division. The $825,000 project is scheduled to be completed this summer. Vandervert spokeswoman Andrea Barlow says the 4,400-square-foot re

Increasing efficiency through technology

McKinstry debuts 'robotic total station' to improve building system installations

April 21, 2016

Mike McLean

Construction and energy efficiency contractor McKinstry Co. is introducing a technology to the Spokane market that reduces installation time for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, says Gary McManus, a senior project manager for the Spokane oper

Moving on up at Summit

First Summit Tower living units ready to occupy

April 21, 2016

Mike McLean

As of last week Rockwood Retirement Communities representatives felt they were within days of obtaining occupancy permits to begin moving residents into the second through fourth floors of the new $51 million, 11-story Summit Tower on the Rockwood South H

Three Maverik c-stores planned here, filings show

Work proposed to start as early as this summer

April 21, 2016

Mike McLean

Maverik Inc., the Salt Lake City-based convenience store and gas station chain, plans to construct three new Spokane-area outlets as soon as this summer, preliminary applications on file with the cities of Spokane and Spokane Valley show. The Maverik out

Bobby Brett-led group acquires Madison Apartments in downtown Spokane

Plans to join improvement efforts for 'little arts district'

April 21, 2016

Mike McLean

A real estate development group led by Spokane sports team owner Bobby Brett has bought for $3.4 million the Madison Apartments building, at the southeast corner of Madison Street and First Avenue downtown. The five-story building has 68 apartment units

Inland Northwest ski resorts rebound

Adequate snowpack squelches slide in skier visits

April 21, 2016

Mike McLean

Five Inland Northwest ski resorts are coming off much-improved seasons following the disastrous 2014-15 snow-drought season. Brad McQuarrie, general manager at Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park, says the park 30 miles north of Spokane had many outstanding