Nicholas Deshais

All Stories

News >  Spokane

ESD 101 conference center expansion finished

Sat., Jan. 5, 2019

An expanded conference center for Educational Service District 101, one of nine such districts statewide, is complete on Spokane’s South Hill.

News >  Business

Permits issued for crisis nursery’s new building on Sprague

Sat., Jan. 5, 2019

The permits encompass most work for the construction of the 32,000-square-foot, 40-foot-tall building at 2230 E. Sprague Ave. The structure’s foundation was laid this fall.

News >  Spokane

Wells stripped of Ridpath authority as investors vow to complete downtown Spokane project

UPDATED: Tue., Jan. 8, 2019

Investors behind the renovation of the Ridpath Hotel into affordable housing have stripped Ron Wells of his authority over the project in an effort to protect the project from recent charges that Wells defrauded insurance companies.

News >  Transportation

Getting There: Local transportation officials fear ‘ripple effect’ from ongoing federal shutdown

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 2, 2019

It’s been more than a week since the federal government went dark.

News >  Business

Additional $300,000 in improvements slated for Centennial Hotel Spokane

Sun., Dec. 30, 2018

Since its change in ownership in July, the Centennial Hotel Spokane has seen a number of improvements, and more are coming. Upcoming work includes the addition of four new meeting rooms, work valued at $300,000, according to permits issued by the city.

News >  Business

Additional $300,000 in improvements slated for Centennial Hotel Spokane

Sat., Dec. 29, 2018

Since its change in ownership in July, the Centennial Hotel Spokane has seen a number of improvements, and more are coming. Upcoming work includes the addition of four new meeting rooms, work valued at $300,000, according to permits issued by the city.

News >  Business

Spokane City Credit Union completes major renovation

Sat., Dec. 29, 2018

Work on the Spokane City Credit Union building, 1930 N. Monroe St., began in the spring. A complete renovation was done to the credit union’s 2,000-square-foot main building and 2,800-square-foot lower level.

News >  Spokane

Difference Makers: Taking art to the streets of Spokane

Fri., Dec. 28, 2018

Karen Mobley isn’t that well known to the general public, even though she was a longtime city department head. Her work remains on display all over town, even if it isn’t her work. As the city’s arts director, she helped bring numerous public art pieces to town, including the many murals brightening the city’s many underpasses, and the collection of sculptures in the city core.

News >  Spokane

Construction starts on Catholic Charities $4.48 million unit for homeless

Thu., Dec. 27, 2018

Catholic Charities, which runs the city’s largest homeless shelter and has built hundreds of permanent homes for chronically homeless people, has started construction on a four-story, 51-unit building on the east end of downtown that will house formerly homeless people.

News >  Spokane

Clean air agency says Otis Hotel developers violated asbestos rules

Mon., Dec. 24, 2018

Troubles continue to mount for the renovation of the Otis Hotel in downtown Spokane, as the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency issued asbestos-related violations to five companies working on the rehabilitation earlier this month.

News >  Transportation

Getting There: Ever wonder how Santa logs all those miles in a night?

Mon., Dec. 24, 2018

Christmas is upon us, and on this eve of all eves, there is just one question on everyone’s mind: What kind of rig does the man in red drive?

News >  Business

The Dirt: First permits issues for construction of U-District’s Catalyst Building

Sun., Dec. 23, 2018

The University District Gateway Bridge opened last week, which was quickly followed by the city issuing building permits to Avista Corp. at the bridge’s south landing.

News >  Business

$2.2 million remake, expansion set for downtown hotel

Sat., Dec. 22, 2018

Quinta Hotel, 211 S. Division St., formerly the FairBridge Inn Express Spokane has 79 guest rooms and 37,300 square feet. An addition will add 2,550 square feet to the four-story building, built in 1987.

News >  Business

First permits issued for construction of U-District’s Catalyst Building

Sat., Dec. 22, 2018

The University District Gateway Bridge opened last week, which was quickly followed by the city issuing building permits to Avista Corp. at the bridge’s south landing. The permits signal the beginning of construction for the five-story, 164,000-square-foot Catalyst Building.

News >  Spokane

Thanks to VW scandal, STA to add electric bus to fleet

UPDATED: Fri., Dec. 21, 2018

Spokane Transit Authority is getting its first fully electric bus, the first in what may be full electrification of its fleet, in the next one to three years, the agency estimates. A $500,000 state Department of Ecology grant, part of a

News >  Spokane

U-District’s $15.4 million bridge finished, but controversy over delays and bike landing continue

Thu., Dec. 20, 2018

Three months late, and on the chilly cusp of winter, the bicycle and pedestrian bridge in Spokane’s University District is finally open.

News >  Business

Wonder Building gains first tenant in Parametrix; Rover.com to follow

UPDATED: Fri., Dec. 21, 2018

A Spokane bread factory that once pumped out 5,000 loaves an hour will now be producing engineering schematics and dog walkers. The Wonder Building has its first two tenants following a $15 million renovation of the historic Wonder Bread bakery building on Broadway Avenue.

News >  Spokane

Spokane developer Ron Wells accused of insurance fraud

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 19, 2018

Ron Wells, a developer and architect whose decades-long work in Spokane includes renovations of numerous historic buildings, was indicted Wednesday in federal court for allegedly staging a car crash in an attempt to defraud insurance companies.

News >  Transportation

Getting There: The weird machines of Spokane’s past

Mon., Dec. 17, 2018

Now that Lime and its electric scooters have come and gone, Spokane is back to being overrun with boring, old vehicles. You know the type: Sedans. Trucks. BMX bikes.

News >  Transportation

Getting There: Near completion but yet unfinished, two major street projects go to rest for the winter

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 10, 2018

Next year, motorists and cyclists alike will have two new routes leading to Spokane’s core – one a revamped piece of history, the other a new road where none existed before.

News >  Business

Real estate firm’s renovation of downtown Spokane building will lead to move

Sun., Dec. 9, 2018

When complete, 4 Degrees Real Estate will consolidate its property management and real estate offices there. The real estate company purchased the building in July for $1.08 million through a subsidiary.

News >  Business

De Leon’s Taco & Bar to open third Spokane location

Sat., Dec. 8, 2018

The new location, anticipated to open in early 2019, will be at at 1801 N. Hamilton St. in the Logan neighborhood near Gonzaga University. Permits show $300,000 in work.

News >  Business

Real estate firm’s renovation of downtown Spokane building will lead to move

Sat., Dec. 8, 2018

The $1.2 million remodel of the 14,200-square-foot building at 915 W. Second Ave. also will improve the adjoining 45-stall parking lot to the south. When complete, 4 Degrees Real Estate will consolidate its property management and real estate offices there. The real estate company purchased the building in July for $1.08 million through a subsidiary.

News >  Transportation

Geiger Boulevard will get turning lane, new pavement, pedestrian and bike trail in preparation for Amazon

UPDATED: Sat., Dec. 8, 2018

The federal government awarded Spokane County $14.3 million Thursday for a project to improve Geiger Boulevard in front of the Amazon fulfillment center being built just west of the city.

News >  Spokane

With a doubling of traffic in 30 years, vehicles on I-90 in Spokane far exceed original design standards

UPDATED: Thu., Dec. 6, 2018

Interstate 90 was designed to carry 50,000 vehicles on an average day. Today the busy highway cutting through Spokane carries 120,000 vehicles a day.