Mike McLean

â€”Rendering courtesy of NAC|Architecture

Lydig wins $26.9 million contract for middle school

NAC designed campus project for Selah district in central Washington

August 29, 2013

The Selah School District, near Yakima, Wash., has awarded to Spokane-based Lydig Construction Inc. a $26.9 million contract to build a new middle school, says Crystal West, a spokeswoman for the district.Lydig started work on the project this a

Spokane homebuilders eye drop in lot inventory

Lull in land development during market downturn might constrict recovery in coming years

August 29, 2013

Mike McLean

Just as the new-home construction sector appears to be strengthening, some homebuilders here worry that they'll face a shortage of land to build on in coming years, when a recession-related bottleneck in lot development could constrict market each

Phone store to move to new building at Argonne Village

Verizon retailer leases half of building planned to have two retail bays

August 15, 2013

Mike McLean

Cell Phone Outlet Inc., a Spokane-based Verizon Wireless retailer, plans to move its Spokane Valley outlet into a larger space in a building soon to be constructed at the Argonne Village shopping center, says Darrin Tawney, Cell Phone Outlet says a

Miller Paint plans to open store in Spokane Valley next March

Portland-based chain hopes to find additional locations for outlets here

August 15, 2013

Mike McLean

Miller Paint Co., a Portland-based paint-store chain, plans to open its fourth outlet in the Spokane-Coeur d'Alene area next spring, says Steve Dearborn, the company's CEO, who adds that by then the company hopes to identify more potential store a

Hayden homebuilder erects $7.4 million rental complex in Cd'A

Viking Construction starts work in Cd'A on 70-unit Fairway Meadows project

August 15, 2013

Mike McLean

Prominent North Idaho homebuilder Viking Construction Inc. has started work on a $7.4 million, 70-unit apartment complex in northwest Coeur d'Alene, says Scott Krajack, an executive with Viking Construction.The project site for the complex, to a

EWU eyes $25 million upgrade to student union building

Architectural, engineering firms sought for predesign of student union project

August 15, 2013

Mike McLean

Eastern Washington University is considering a $25 million renovation and upgrade of the student union building on its main campus in Cheney, says Troy Bester, senior project manager for the university.EWU, located 17 miles southwest of Spokane,

Scrutinizing the 4 percent rule

Prominent benchmark could disappoint some in extended downturn

August 1, 2013

Mike McLean

The 4 percent rule, which has become a benchmark for retirement planning since the 1990s, might not be so hard and fast after all, some financial advisers here say.For simplicity's sake, the 4 percent rule says a retiree with a nest egg of $1 of

Number of women using VA health care climbs here

Program aims to help more female vets gain access to benefits

August 1, 2013

Mike McLean

The Mann-Grandstaff Veterans Affairs Medical Center, in Spokane, is narrowing the gap between the rate of female veterans enrolled in VA health-care programs here compared with male veterans enrolled, but it still has work to do, says Julie Liss, 6

Union Gospel acquires site to expand auto sales facility

Increased space to allow easier customer access, more used-car inventory

August 1, 2013

Mike McLean

The Union Gospel Mission Association of Spokane, a faith-based nonprofit that provides services to the poor and homeless, has bought the former First Choice Auto used-car dealership property at 7103 E. Sprague and plans to expand its UGM Motors and

Spokane credit union plans to build new branch in Valley

United Health Services hopes third outlet leads to membership growth

August 1, 2013

Mike McLean

Spokane-based United Health Services Credit Union plans to construct a new branch office in Spokane Valley.Chuck Zeller, the credit union's CEO, says in a press release that the branch will be located at 16402 E. Sprague. The branch office will