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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Valley Mall Construction Crews Racing Winter Weather

Jennifer Plunkett Staff Writer

As winter approaches, contractors building the Spokane Valley Mall are feverishly racing to get as much work completed as possible.

“Right now, everybody’s in a rush to get things done,” said Mark Holman, assistant director of county building and planning. “The weather is catching up with them faster than anyone expected.”

Compared to work on the mall’s other anchor store buildings, Sears is far behind. Because of delays involving the selection of a general contractor and the architectural planning of the building, only foundation work has begun at the Sears store.

No permit has been issued for work beyond that, Holman said. A foundation permit was issued on Sept. 3. Holman’s office received Sears’ complete plans Oct. 8, he said. Some corrections had to be made to the company’s original plans, Holman said.

Another county planner, Jeff Forry said Sears has “got a ways to go.”

Rex Frazier, president of JP Realty of Salt Lake City, the mall’s developer, said the mall will open in August of 1997, no matter whether the Sears store is completed.

In the main mall area, work is moving along well, Frazier said.

“We’re just about to the point where the structural steel is almost complete,” he said. Crews are currently installing heating and ventilation, electrical and plumbing equipment. He said the main mall area will have a roof on it by late November.

Construction of the Sears automotive center was not included in the plans the retailer initially submitted, Forry said. Now, Sears officials have decided to expedite the planning process for the auto center by using the county’s fast-track program, Forry said.

By fast-tracking the plans, companies can submit partial plans for the project rather than the entire plan. The county then approves the project piece by piece. Construction can begin on a section as soon as it’s approved, Forry said.

J.C. Penney submitted complete plans in July, Forry said. The Bon, which is fast-tracking its entire project, delivered plans for the first phase of work on Aug. 20, he said.

“It can certainly help expedite the process,” Forry said. “But we charge double the going rate for it.” It took Sears two months longer than the other anchors - The Bon Marche and J.C. Penney - to select a general contractor for the construction of its 126,000-square foot, two-story building.

“All we can say is we’re mobilized,” said Sears project manager Steve Goebel of Spokane’s Robert B. Goebel General Contractor Inc.

As for the building permit, Holman said it “looks just about ready to go” and should be issued in the next few days.

The Sears store will be at the west end of the mall and will use colors “compatible with the rest of the mall,” said project architect, David Hoffman.

Hoffman, who also designed the mall’s J.C. Penney store building, said the Sears building will be “substantially different” from the other anchors in design.

In addition to the auto center, there will also be optical and photo centers and tax services inside the store.

The Bon Marche’s project manager, John Carlson said his crew will begin next week to put a roof on the 120,000-square foot, two-story building that will house that store.

“To be honest, we’re ahead of everyone else,” he said.

Structural steel work and the exterior masonry walls are 95 percent complete, Carlson said. Crews already have started underground mechanical and electrical work.

In addition to starting on the roof next week, workers will pour concrete for the first- and second-floor slabs.

“Everything’s been going along smoothly, except for some close calls with the weather,” said Carlson.

Last week’s unexpected hail storm and intense rain slowed construction slightly, he said.

Work on the J.C. Penney anchor is progressing but is a little behind that of The Bon building.

At J.C. Penney, Lydig Construction’s workers still are erecting structural steel. Project manager Vincent Campanella said the steel work will be done in the next two weeks.

Work has been completed on the masonry wall separating J.C. Penney from the main mall area. The lower foundation walls around the store’s perimeter are also finished.

Next week, Campanella said they’ll start underground electrical work on the store’s main level and they’ll begin to pour concrete for the first- and second-floor slabs.

, DataTimes