Construction Of New Homebase On Newport Highway Delayed

Construction of a HomeBase home and garden store, planned in conjunction with the proposed Wal-Mart project on the Newport Highway, has been postponed.

“We’ve evaluated the market, and decided to put it on hold,” said Stephen Gale, real estate manager for the Irvine, Calif.-based business.

Gale said delays in Wal-Mart’s plans figured into the HomeBase decision.

“That had a major impact on our decision, co-tenancy is very important to us,” he said.

HomeBase was planning a 110,000-square foot store with an outdoor garden shop. It would be the second HomeBase for the Spokane area; the other is in the Valley.

Wal-Mart has applied to change the zoning for the 40-acre parcel from urban residential (allowing 3.5 houses per acre) to regional business. Nelson’s Landscape previously occupied part of the property.

Wal-Mart is addressing traffic and air quality issues. No hearing dates have been set.

New assisted living home

Heidi and Dave Bozett are planning to open Fairview Assisted Living retirement home this spring at 1617 N. Calispel, near North Central High School.

The facility will include a special care wing for Alzheimer’s patients.

Heidi Bozett’s parents, Ron and Joyce Knutson, have owned Fairwood Retirement Village for nearly 20 years.

Fairview will include private and semi-private apartments for up to 40 residents.

“I’ve lived in retirement centers run by my parents my whole life,” said Bozett. Her husband, Dave, worked in operations and management at Fairwood for seven years.

Bozett also has a degree in health-related science from Yakima Valley Community College and has taken courses in geriatrics.

Another Albertson’s planned

Spokane’s ninth Albertson’s store may be on its way.

Boise-based Albertson’s, which already has eight stores in Spokane, has a “strong interest” in building a grocery store at the corner of Highway 2 and Mount Spokane Park Drive.

“We’ve done extensive economic research, and this spot rated high,” said Jenny Enochson, Albertson’s spokesman in Boise.

Demographics, growth, traffic flow, competition and the community were researched, she said.

The site is zoned for business.

Enochson said it’s still too early to speculate on features of the proposed Albertson’s, but most new stores are around 50,000 square feet with at least 100 employees. New stores include a pharmacy, video department, bakery, deli and in-store banks.

, DataTimes