Market has high aspirations
Twenty years ago, construction of high-end homes in the region was about as common as Hawaiian shirts during the gray of winter.
But in the past decade, Sullivan Homes Inc. has managed to carve out a niche catering to a growing market of homebuyers who can afford to pay a half-million dollars or more for a house.
“We’ve really positioned ourselves as that high-end supplier of not just residential units, but developments,” said Todd Sullivan, vice president of construction for Sullivan Homes. The venture includes family members Jim, Kathy, Brett and Lori Sullivan.
Construction Monitor recently ranked Sullivan Homes second among Inland Empire homebuilders for total volume of permitted projects last year. Sullivan’s projects totaled $23.3 million, coming in second to Viking Construction, which had $39.3 million in permitted construction.
What makes Sullivan Homes stand out, however, is that company’s average value of permitted projects totaled $235,104, tens of thousands of dollars more than the other top 10 builders.
Sullivan Homes has 18 development and building sites throughout the Northwest, including The Idaho Club, an upscale golf community in Sandpoint, and Legacy Ridge in Liberty Lake. The company is also slated to build homes in Liberty Village, a 100-acre, mixed-use community proposed for Liberty Lake.
“The core building has changed in a sense that we’ve really come of age,” said Sullivan, adding that demand for high-end homes took an upturn in 2002 and 2003.
Last year the company had about 100 homes in the works at any given time, he said, and now 70 percent of the projects fall within the $450,000 and above price range. The company employs about 58 people.
As the family business has succeeded in the high-end, it has also donated time to makeover projects benefiting low-income people in the area through its Extreme Team.
“ To see a list of builders and where they ranked by Construction Monitor, visit spokesmanreview.com/blogs/dirt.
Luxury apartments planned for Michael Building
Apartments inside the building that houses the Bluefish restaurant could become luxury rental units in the next couple of years.
Plans are under way to transform 28 units in the four-story building at the northeast corner of Sprague Avenue and Lincoln Street into high-end apartments, said Steve Burke, vice president of West & Wheeler, the Seattle-based property division of Diamond Parking Inc., owners of the building.
“Our objective here is to really provide a new product for downtown Spokane,” Burke said.
Two years ago Diamond Parking purchased the 32,000-square foot building from its longtime owners, the Travo family, for $1.7 million.
Although it’s too early to say what specific improvements will be made and at what costs, Burke said the developers hope to get started on renovation of the lobby sometime this spring. The lobby is planned in the retail space that was formerly occupied by Metro Hair.
Fairview Assisted Living Inc. to expand
A north Spokane assisted living center is building a $3.4 million addition that will create 36 new apartments.
“We’re adding one full top floor,” said Heidi Bozett, who owns and operates the facility with her husband, Dave.
The business, at 1617 N. Calispel St., offers assisted living service along with a secure dementia unit that accommodates residents with special needs (call 509-325-7339).
Apartments will range from 450- to 600-square-feet in size, with monthly rates starting at $2,315.
Bozett expects construction to take about 10 months. When completed, the facility will have rooms for some of the people who are on a waiting list.
Sam’s Club before hearing examiner
A proposal for a zoning change that would pave the way for a Sam’s Club to open near the Spokane Valley Costco is before a hearing examiner.
The change would designate the land as commercial instead of industrial.
Carolbelle Branch, public information officer for Spokane Valley, said the city expects hearing examiner Michael Dempsey to issue a decision within a week. Afterward, there is a two week window for appeals. If the change is approved, the developer would set up a pre-application meeting with the city to move forward.