Here’s the Dirt: Nursing home being converted

Community Frameworks Inc., a nonprofit housing development agency, is converting a former nursing home at 424 W. Seventh Ave. into 29 apartments primarily for lower-income residents.

The building, originally known as the Garden Terrace Manor, was built in the 1950s. It’s been vacant for several years.

Community Frameworks is using roughly $3 million for the project from a construction loan and funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington state and the city of Spokane, said the agency’s Max Benson.

The project will convert the 26,000-square-foot building into one- and two-bedroom units. It’s expected to be completed this year, Benson said. Spokane Housing Ventures will manage the building once finished.

Community Frameworks purchased the abandoned building earlier this year for roughly $1.4 million.

Clark General Contractors, of Spokane, is the general contractor on the project. Cortner Architectural Co., of Spokane, designed the building’s interior.

Froyo shops get new owners

Jim and Jennifer Heggenstaller, who operate a number of Blu Berry Frozen Yogurt shops in the area, have sold two of them to a partnership headed by Spokane resident Brad Damon.

The stores are at 3007 E. 57th Ave. and at 4727 N. Division St., in NorthTown Square opposite NorthTown Mall.

The new owners are buying all business assets but will not change the company name, said John Powers. Powers, of NAI Block, brokered the sales. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed.

The Heggenstallers continue to operate another frozen yogurt shop at 1802 W. Francis Ave. in the Five Mile area.