Buyer Sought For Patsy Clark’s

Patsy Clark’s Mansion, the 97-year-old Victorian home-turned-posh restaurant in Browne’s Addition, is up for sale.

“The owner’s had heart problems and is looking to retire,” said Chris Mueller, general manager at Patsy Clark’s, 2208 W. Second.

The sale of the restaurant, open since 1982, is not tied to rumors of weakened profits, Mueller said in a telephone interview. Negotiations with an undisclosed buyer are pending, and Patsy Clark’s will likely stay open with the same name and reputation for service, Mueller added.

Seattle restaurateur and Patsy Clark’s owner Chuck Quinn could not be reached for comment this week.

The mansion - included in the national registry of historic buildings - specializes in continental cuisine and often features French classics.

More than ever, Americans are shunning new homes in favor of residential jalopies requiring maintenance and money, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

Although this often means leaking ceilings and sagging roofs for homeowners, the news is a boon for remodeling contractors.

“Because of the aging housing stock and the large number of baby boomers who are living in homes built in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s and can afford to remodel, there will be more demand for remodeling over the next 10 years,” said NAHB president Jim Irvine, a home builder from Portland.

In fact, the growth rate in the remodeling market from 1984 to 1994 surpassed that of new residential homes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. During that decade, total expenditures on upkeep and improvements increased 65 percent, from about $70 billion to $115 billion.

During that same period, the value of new residential homes built increased by 47 percent to $168 billion.

Roofs are the most common remodel. Between 1984 and 1994, Americans repaired or replaced 47 million roofs, according to the Census Bureau’s American Housing Survey. Another 40 million had storm doors or windows installed and 24 million had kitchens remodeled.

TRANSACTIONS:

Attorneys Keefe, King & Bowman leased 1,124 square feet at 601 W. Main. Agent: Larry Soehren of Kiemle & Hagood.

Computech leased 310 square feet to expand its telecommunications switchroom at 422 W. Riverside. Agent: Craid Soehren of Kiemle & Hagood.

Arthritis Northwest leased 2,700 square feet at 105 W 8th in Sacred Heart Medical Center. Agents: Jim Hawley and Larry Soehren of Kiemle & Hagood.

Nancy and Dave Skeman of World Wide Plastics leased 3,000 square feet at 5825 N. Florida. Agent: Jack Carroll of Jack Hatch Co.

Flashback Photo Works leased 800 square feet at Sandpoint Bonner Mall. Estep’s, a fabric, crafts and appliance store, also leased 5,200 square feet in the mall. Agent: Machelle Dinneen of R.W. Robideaux & Co.

Legends Authentic Autographs leased 405 square feet in the Flour Mill. Agent: Machelle Dinneen of R.W. Robideaux & Co.

Spokane Medical Systems, home-care and respiratory products, leased 536 square feet at the 5th and Browne Medical Center. Agent: Lynn Davis of R.W. Robideaux & Co.

All World Travel leased 525 square feet on the first floor of the Paulsen Center. Thavis Optical leased 754 square feet on the skywalk level. Agent: Lynn Davis of R.W. Robideaux & Co.

The Tux Store Inc. leased 1,280 square feet in Sterling Square at 30th and Grand. Agents: Shaani Claypool and Gary Clarke of R.W. Robideaux & Co., Tom Cartarphen of Kiemle & Hagood Co.

Tusberg & Associates leased 1,003 square feet in the Paulsen Center. Agent: Shaani Claypool of R.W. Robideaux & Co.

State Farm Insurance leased 650 square feet at 15407 E. Mission. Agents: Shaani Claypool of R.W. Robideaux & Co. and Pat O’Rourke of O’Rourke Realty.

MAVIGA N.A., an agricultural trading company, leased 1,202 square feet at the Paulsen Center. Agents: Shaani Claypool and Denise Harfield of R.W. Robideaux & Co. and Carl Stejer of American West Realty.

Northwest Fair Housing Alliance expanded to 1,620 square feet in the Rookery Building, 14 N. Howard. Max Graphics, screen printers, leased 385 square feet. SCORE, Spiritual Commitment of Recovery Experience, leased 715 square feet. Agent: Denise Harfield of R.W. Robideaux & Co.

Big Mamu Burrito Co. leased 900 square feet in the Rookery Building. Agents: Denise Harfield and John Stejer of R.W. Robideaux & Co.

Ben Taylor of Cleancare Corp., a storage facility for petroleum, antifreeze and related chemicals, leased 7,736 square feet for a new branch headquarters at 1815 S. Lewis. Agent: Tracy Lucas and Mark Lucas of Kiemle & Hagood Co.

, DataTimes