Plans made for site near interchange
Considering that the Northwest Boulevard interchange with Interstate 90 is probably the busiest entrance into Coeur d’Alene, not many businesses take advantage of it.
That’s going to change – soon.
Two “coming soon” signs are now erected in the northern corners of that intersection. And that’s about all that can be developed because the southern corners already are occupied.
A little more than 17 1/2 acres in the northwest corner are labeled The Crossing. A preliminary commercial plat approved by the city planning department reveals a 13-parcel development.
The plan for a three-parcel piece just west of the existing convenience store/gas station is penciled in for eateries, evidently two sit-down restaurants and one fast-food place. Dennis Cunningham, who owns the property with partner Will Gustafson, said name-brand places have indicated strong interest in the locations, which would be between Appleway and the I-90 westbound on-ramp.
The Crossing’s primary acreage (in the northwest corner of the Appleway-Ramsey Road intersection) would be divided by a new north-south road connecting Appleway with Golf Course Road.
The three parcels on the west side of the new road are slated for a hotel, another restaurant and an office building. Cunningham said one of the interested occupants might want more land than penciled into the current plan so the property could be divided into two parcels instead of three.
The Crossing’s third portion, between the new road and Ramsey Road, is penciled for office buildings, including a bank. The Bureau of Land Management is interested in a large parcel to the rear of that portion.
“They’d be looking at a 60,000-square-foot headquarters building,” Cunningham said. “That location would provide them with a nice campus atmosphere, with businesses and restaurants nearby.”
The infrastructure of the development, especially the new road, would be under construction in 60 days, Cunningham said. The first building may be started in the fall. All 16 mobile homes now on the property have found new locations, he said.
Two businessmen who met in California, Cunningham and Gustafson purchased the land from Coeur d’Alene’s Goodlander and Lee families. Originally from Grant County, Ind., Cunningham was educated at Purdue University and came to Hayden Lake three years after discovering North Idaho while on vacation. Gustafson is from Santa Barbara, Calif.
Parcel sizes and other details are on the Web site at www.thecrossing-cda.com. Phone (800) 515-7172.
Meanwhile, on the same intersection’s southeast corner, a “coming soon” sign for a Jifi Stop has been there a long time – and the Jifi Stop isn’t coming soon.
Kerr Oil spokesman David Patzer said plans for a gas station/convenience store/car wash at that location are quiet for now. The company owns slightly more than an acre there and will watch while the rest of the intersection develops before deciding what to do with it.
Lack of street markings hurt
With Coeur d’Alene’s annual biggest weekend on tap, it’s too bad the city has never marked curving lanes at the intersection of Northwest Boulevard and Mullan Avenue. Too often northbound cars on Northwest Boulevard turn too soon onto Mullan and suddenly face oncoming traffic. It could be so easily avoided if the turning lane was marked.
Meanwhile, headed out from the college, the center lane should be marked to allow a left turn onto Northwest Boulevard or a straight-ahead to Government Way. Two left turns there would really help traffic flow leaving the college, especially following an event. Just mark the curving lanes.
And the pedestrian crosswalk under the skybridge connecting the Plaza Shoppes to The Coeur d’Alene Resort should be marked. Someone’s going to get creamed there.
This weekend has Art on the Green at NIC, Taste of the Coeur d’Alenes in the park, the street sale downtown and the beginning of the Parade of Homes at 15 houses. Enjoy!