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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Public Employees Credit Union Breaks Ground For Building

Nils Rosdahl The Spokesman-Revie

Perhaps the expansion will provide a windfall with their water-wall.

The Public Employees Credit Union broke ground Tuesday on its new building in Coeur d’Alene. The facility triples the previous size and adds amenities such as a drive-through window and a night depository. The one-level building, to be completed in February, will be on the previously vacant northeast corner of Government Way and Walnut Avenue (just north of the St. Vincent dePaul store).

The changes should encourage an expansion of business as well as convenience for customers and staff.

One amenity of comfort will be a waterwall with glass blocks on one end of the lobby. Designer of the 3,080-square-foot building is Tim Wilson of Momentum Architecture. He also designed The Depot complex that just opened on the north side of the block, which housed the Great Northern Railroad switch yard at the turn of the century.

The Idaho-chartered company, not related to other public employee credit unions around the nation, will be moving from its 1,000-square-foot Credit Union Center at 1839 Government Way.

The customer-owned cooperative, which began in 1961, offers savings and checking accounts and loans. It plans to add credit card and ATM services and expand staff from its current five employees.

Eligible customers include public employees (national, state, county, city), health-care providers and electronic firm employees who reside or work in Kootenai County. Manager is Diane Larson, a Boston native.

Another financial institution, PNC Bank Corp., is checking out office spaces in Coeur d’Alene for a future branch of its mortgage company.

Spokesman Mark Farley, from his regional office in Bellevue, Wash., said the office would begin with three employees now in the Spokane office. Decisions will be made in the next 90 days.

Named from a merger of Pittsburgh National Corp. and Provident National Corp., the 125-year-old company has opened 11 branches in the Northwest in the last year. One of the nation’s largest financial services companies, its net income for the first quarter of 1997 was $266 million.

Zuka Juice, a fruit smoothie company that has opened 54 outlets in its two years of existence, is expanding to Coeur d’Alene in December. The Salt Lake City-based franchise will occupy 1,750 square feet next to the Mattress Outlet in Ironwood Square.

Employing up to 25 people, the Coeur d’Alene store is owned by long-time residents Mic and Lauri Armon, Mic’s sister, Jan Armon and her husband Richard King. Jan and Richard came north from Utah. Mic is from Fort Benton, Mont., and Jan Armon is from Havre, Mont.

Using an opportunity to cultivate their special interest, Tom Bacon and Judi Horton have purchased The Plant Mill at 1616 E. Seltice Way (across from McDonald’s) in Post Falls.

Coming from Houston, they planned to retire in North Idaho, but decided to get into this business venture before they “were too old to do anything,” Bacon said. He is a former broadcast and print newsman, and she is an attorney.

“It’s the ideal thing,” he said. “We have a record of trying and succeeding in new things.”

They plan to add gardeners’ gift items to bolster winter sales. Their stable fare includes trees, shrubs, perennials, Grade 1 roses, bulbs, fertilizers, supplies and gifts.

“Now, before the ground freezes, is a great time for planting,” Bacon said. “The dormant season is less demanding on the roots.”

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 to 5 on Sundays. Phone 773-7130.

Taking advantage of Prairie Shopping Center opening across the street, Prairie Plaza is a new six-building, five-acre development under way in the southwest corner of Government Way and Prairie Avenue in Coeur d’Alene.

Several potential buyers and leasees have shown interest in the property, said Monte Risvold of Tomlinson Black North Idaho. Possible occupants include a lube center, bank and national fast food restaurant.

The development has a new signaled intersection, curbs and gutters. Phone 666-6203.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Nils Rosdahl The Spokesman-Review