Here’s the Dirt: Avista continues renovations

Avista continues renovations

Spokane utility Avista Corp. will launch a $6 million renovation of the five-floor north half of its corporate office at 1411 E. Mission Ave.

Starting in March, the work will include major renovations of heating and air systems, new carpets, ceiling fans, energy efficient lighting and other improvements.

The northern half of the Avista building was constructed in the 1970s; it’s roughly 42,000 square feet on five floors and a basement.

The project coordinator is Seattle-based McKinstry. That north-side work is expected to finish in May 2015.

Avista is also concluding a first phase of remodeling to the older, 108,700- square-foot southern portion of the building. That work, estimated at $21 million, includes energy upgrades and new fixtures. The south half of the utility campus building dates to the 1950s.

Food shops add CdA locations

The Pita Pit, Subway and Jack in the Box restaurants will go in next to Coeur d’Alene’s new WinCo Foods supermarket at Ramsey Road and Appleway Avenue.

The CrossRoads retail center also will have a Supercuts, an STCU credit union branch and a gas station, according to developer Hughes Investments.

The 17-acre site is anchored by Boise-based WinCo, which opened last month. Subway and Supercuts will be among the tenants in an addition on the west side of the grocery store.

The Pita Pit, a Coeur d’Alene-based franchise, will be in a four-unit building going up along Ramsey Road, and Jack in the Box and STCU will build on pads south of there.

Cheesecakes business moves

Spokane Cheesecakes, formerly in the Spokane Public Market, has moved into the Union Square Building at 1420 E. Sprague Ave., Suite 104B, in the East Sprague Business District.

The business and kitchen will continue making individual-size and full-size cheesecakes, including distinct varieties made with cookie crusts, along with unique holiday-blend cakes.