Shea Wins Davenport Contract

Shea Construction Inc. will start remodeling the Davenport Hotel early next year, the landmark hotel’s executive director said Thursday.

Jeffrey Ng said the Spokane contractor was selected from among a dozen builders who submitted bids for the project, which has tantalized city residents since the former owners locked the doors in 1985.

“It was a very tough decision,” Ng said, because several of the bidders came highly recommended.

The contract could be worth as much as $20 million, he said.

Ng said the hotel officials would meet with their consultants and contractors next week to begin updating engineering drawings first prepared three years ago.

Final configuration of space for hotel, office and retail use will not be decided until a market survey has been completed, he said, although he added that the ground floor will be dedicated to shops.

He said financing should be in place by the end of September, together with an agreement with the city on construction of a new parking garage.

The number of spaces, Ng said, will depend in part on the requirements of whatever hotel chain the Davenport joins.

Shea Vice President Dick Lopes said the company was elated to get the hotel contract because of President Dave Shea’s long-time interest in seeing the historic structure preserved.

“It’s too good to be true, almost,” said Lopes, who also praised the Ng family’s dedication to seeing the Davenport restored to its former glory.

From an engineering standpoint, he said, the biggest challenges are the electrical and mechanical systems in the 83-year-old building, designed by Spokane architect Kirtland Cutter.

Ng said completion of the project is expected in the second half of 1999.

, DataTimes