Downtown construction projects continuing

My cousin once joked with us when we visited her in Honolulu many years ago. “The state bird of Hawaii is the crane,” she said, gesturing widely to all the gigantic construction cranes putting up high-rise hotels and condominiums.

We almost can say that about all the cranes in Coeur d’Alene.

The Lake City cranes are most obvious downtown and at the Riverstone complex off Northwest Boulevard.

Downtown, the major project is the Parkside condominium complex. When complete next spring, Parkside will have 20 stories with the first five floors being retail and office space.

Half of the fifth floor will be residential – and it is sold, as are most of the building’s 53 living units.

When complete, Parkside will be the highest building downtown in elevation from lake level. The Coeur d’Alene Resort, although it has “only” 18 stories, will still be higher in building size because of some higher ceilings and its peaked roofs.

Offices on Parkside’s second through fifth floors are taken.

North Idaho Title and Miller-Stauffer Architects (which designed the building) will occupy the second floor with 10,000 and 3,500 square feet, respectively.

Nighthawk Radiology Services will occupy the third and fourth floors and half of the fifth with about 24,000 square feet.

About 3,000 square feet of office space remain available.

Meanwhile, all the retail space on the first floor is still available.

About 3,000 square feet is penciled in for a restaurant- bar, which would seat 104 customers inside and 74 on an outdoor plaza. Three other shop spaces range from 1,000 square feet to 2,400 square feet.

Miller-Stauffer also owns four lots on the northwest corner of the Parkside block, which it is using as a construction staging area. It has no other plans for this property.

For more information on available space in Parkside, call 664-1773. Or check out www.millerstauffer.com and click on “Projects” and then on “Parkside.”

Columbia Paint plans new building

Vacant property east of the Top of China Buffet building on Appleway in Coeur d’Alene will become a new location for Columbia Paint and Coatings.

The Spokane-based company is building an approximately 6,000-square-foot store there and hopes to occupy the space in January.

Eight employees in Columbia’s 3,700-square-foot store at 2801 Government Way will move to the new place.

Originating in 1947, Columbia now has 41 stores in eight Western states.

Check out www.columbiapaint.com.

World Gym expands in Post Falls

Construction began last week on an 11,200-square-foot addition to the World Gym at 927 E. Polston Ave. in Post Falls.

A basketball court, tanning rooms, cardio deck and a new women’s locker room are being added.

World Gym occupied its 21,000-square-foot space in 2003, but about 7,000 square feet are leased to another business.

With 1,750 members, the Post Falls facility is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. It has 40 employees, including instructors and trainers.

Phone: 773-0601.

The company also has the World Gym in Hayden and Ironwood Athletic Club in Coeur d’Alene.

Check out www.worldgymnorthidaho. com.

This week’s tidbits

“Best Tire and Auto at 3020 Government Way has added a “new” used-car lot on the north side of the building. It’s nice to see the hometown little guy hold its own against the big boys.

“Woodland Realty has opened in the northwest corner of the former Wild Geranium building at 501 W. Appleway (and U.S. Highway 95).

Owner Dirk Koenings is a member of the Coeur d’Alene Multiple Listing Service and the Realtors Association.

Phone: 664-8866.

“Rumors that Trader Joe’s is coming to the Riverstone complex evidently are only rumors. Rats.