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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Modern apartment units rising in Peaceful Valley

Architect Chris Olson and his wife, Misty, are building a 4-unit apartment project, snuggled away in the middle of Peaceful Valley. It’s not your typical design. “We were trying for something a little different,” Olson said. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)

Spokane architect Chris Olson wasn’t afraid to try something different with his first residential apartment building.

A principal with the Spokane firm nystrom olson collins, he’s a month from finishing a four-unit apartment complex in Peaceful Valley he’s dubbed “C4” and which has a design look that’s modern and slightly edgy.

C4 is two nearly side-by-side, three-level buildings, each with two 830-square-foot units.

This week the siding went on the buildings, which were erected on a vacant lot at 1607 W. Clarke, directly south from the landmark Cowley School, now a private residence.

That neighborhood is a hodgepodge of Victorian and turn-of-the-last-century wood frame homes. C4 (the C stands for Clarke Street), by contrast, has 23-foot-high, flat walls and starkly simple windows.

Olson said he’s talked with the neighbors and found nobody who finds his C4 project off-putting.

“They are very open to what we’re doing there,” said Olson, whose project partner is his spouse, Misty Olson.

The Olsons plan to have the units ready in mid-November, renting them for $1,300-$1,500. Each unit has two bedrooms and one bath. While the apartments are not large, the complex has a common courtyard and amenities, Olson said.

He estimates the project value at roughly $500,000.

C4 is Olson’s first development. He’s convinced the modern look was the right choice for the location.

“We were trying for something a little different. It’s more intact, and it’s more progressive than just trying to copy something else that’s already there,” Olson said.

For further information on the units, Olson’s e-mail address is C4housing@gmail.com.

Adult day care in business

Renee Rinderknecht has opened All Families Adult Day Care Center at 13111 N. Boston Road in Mead.

She said the business is the first state-approved adult day care center offering extended help, drop-in care or evening care six days a week.

The facility staff provides elder care and support services for special-needs visitors.

Drop-in care can be arranged by calling (509) 939-5561.

Rinderknecht said a grand opening will be Oct. 24 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Thrift store benefits program

Idaho Youth Ranch recently opened its 27th thrift store at 317 E. Seltice Way in Post Falls.

Besides the sale of used donated items, the Post Falls thrift store sells new items that include furniture, knickknacks, grandfather clocks, jewelry and accessories.

It’s open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Proceeds from sales help support Idaho Youth Ranch’s substance abuse treatment program at Anchor House in Coeur d’Alene.

New physical therapy location

Youthful Horizons Physical Therapy intends to make a splash when its new Spokane Valley office opens this winter.

The new, two-level commercial building, at 325 S. University, has an indoor therapy pool measuring 14 by 24 feet.

Owner David Owan said the building, the new office for Youthful Horizons, should be ready by mid-December.

Following a leaning toward green design, the building will also have geothermal heating and air conditioning, Owan said.

Owan’s physical therapy office will take about 15,500 of the building’s 22,500 square feet. A group of area counselors and psychologists will lease the other 7,000 square feet.

Owan said his 24-worker clinic has outgrown its leased building at 13607 E. Sprague.

The new building is valued at $2.5 million. Baker Construction is the contractor.

Health products store opening

Meditech Mobility, a Moses Lake-based independent seller of health products, will open its first Spokane store next week in NorthTown Mall.

Owner Greg Foryan explains Meditech Mobility’s business plan:

“If you’re disabled, we’ll get you from point A to point B with the least amount of trouble.”

It sells equipment only, from wheelchairs and vehicle lifts to scooters and a fully equipped mobility van.

The NorthTown location, on the main floor, will have a lift-equipped van inside the store. People can get up in it and test it.

“Or anyone can buy it right there, if they want to,” said Foryan.

The store will be open seven days a week; the mall location has five employees.

In the spring Foryan and Spokane manager Randy Brooks will open a service center-garage on East Sprague. The launch date for the Valley center hasn’t been set.