Here’s the dirt : Tomlinson Black splits into two companies

Tomlinson Black Real Estate, a regional brokerage with more than 500 agents, is splitting into two separate real estate companies.

NAI Black, headed by Dave Black, will handle commercial listings and property management, while The Tomlinson Real Estate Group, based in Coeur d’Alene and operated by Bob Tomlinson, will provide residential real estate services. Both companies are bolstering their services and networking ability through specialized global affiliates, representatives say.

“It’s not about splitting up and taking a step backwards, it’s about all of our companies moving forward,” Black said.

Tomlinson Black Commercial, Inc. and Tomlinson Black Management, Inc., which manages four million-square feet of commercial space in the area, are affiliating with NAI Global.The Princeton, N.J.-based network includes 5,000 agents in 350 independently owned commercial real estate brokerages in 45 countries.

Black said NAI offers the technology, education and networking to take the commercial real estate company to the next level. Clients will be able to go online and determine the latest status on listings, including how many times a property has been shown.

“We’re going to communicate with our clients instantaneously,” he said.

Earlier this year, Tomlinson Black announced that it was affiliating its residential real estate business with Parsippany, N.J.-based Realogy Corp., a global real estate services provider with a network of brands that includes Coldwell Banker and Sotheby’s International Realty.

Residential real estate services for the Spokane area will remain under the Tomlinson Black brand, said Bob Tomlinson.

“The whole idea is that we’ll have multiple brands all connected at the Tomlinson group level,” Tomlinson explained.

Black said he and Tomlinson have worked on this deal since a Sept. 11, 2001 meeting in New York City, when the terrorist attacks left them stranded and they rented a van to reach an Ohio airport to fly back to Spokane.

The friends, who joined their companies in 1995, will remain partners in investments and other real estate activities.

Staff will begin changing commercial real estate signs on 250 properties to NAI Black, and when people wake up Monday morning, Black said, “there will be a new sign in town.”

Focus group shows Spokane homebuyers ready for change — maybe

Spokane homebuyers aren’t thrilled with the idea of compact housing but could warm to it in time, a report by Michael Luis & Associates found.

The Medina, Wash.-based public affairs consultant conducted several focus groups, with a total of about 30 people who had recently purchased homes or were looking for houses.

The report, commissioned by Spokane Affordable Homeownership Task Force, found that affordability wasn’t at a crisis point, but people might not have gotten everything they wanted in a home and some purchased older houses needing upgrades because they wanted more space with bigger yards.

Participants disliked compact housing, or homes that have limited private yards, based on current projects in Spokane. However, the homebuyers warmed to the idea of compact housing when they were shown pictures of master-planned communities in Western Washington that featured cottage-like houses with park-like shared campuses.

Steve Taylor, government affairs director for Spokane Home Builders Association and task force member, said the group is working with legislators and developers to spur development of desirable communities with prices that people entering the market can afford.

“We want affordable options for everybody in the community.”

Great Harvest Bread Co. to open in Liberty Lake

The bakery is opening in a mini-mall in front of The Home Depot.

The new business will offer fresh-baked breads, rolls, muffins, scones and other baked goods along with coffee drinks, soups, sandwiches and other goods, said Ross Umbdenstock, who owns the business with Jacque Sanchez, owner of Great Harvest on 29th Avenue in Spokane.

Umbdenstock said they’re opening a Liberty Lake store because people there are health-conscious and have higher incomes than some areas.

“I think that Liberty Lake is really kind of the perfect place for us,” he said. The 1,500-square-foot store will have indoor and seasonal outdoor seating and open in November.