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

WSU ends talks with firm developing plans for historic Jensen-Byrd building

The Jensen-Byrd building has stood since 1908. It is now owned by Washington State University. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)

Washington State University has stopped negotiations with the company given the green light to redevelop the historic Jensen-Byrd building near the downtown Spokane Riverpoint campus and will instead start over from scratch.

The university needs to “re-evaluate its campus plan” due to recent changes, including the addition of the new Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, according to a news release. The college will update the Spokane campus master plan, the news release said.

JB LLC, a new corporation formed by McKinstry Spokane and Trace Real Estate Services of Seattle, was selected in 2016 to redevelop the historic warehouse at 131 E. Main Ave. Their plans, which university representatives said a year ago could serve as a potential gateway into the thriving University District, included restaurant and retail space on the main floor with office space above. An athletic facility was also proposed for the site.

WSU has owned the Jensen-Byrd building since 2001. At one point the building was slated for demolition, but protests from preservationists convinced the university to scrap the plan.