Ironwood Drive to get new medical building
What has been one of the most noticeable vacant parcels on Ironwood Drive won’t be empty much longer. Construction of a 100,000-square-foot, four-level medical building will start soon at 980 W. Ironwood Drive (in front of Ironwood Athletic Club).
Being developed by a group of local investors using the business name of Chinook Properties, the building will contain 15 to 20 condominium-style suites that will be owned rather than leased. The exact number of suites will depend upon the aggregate sizes of all the units purchased. Most will be 3,000 to 6,500 square feet.
Architect Gordon Longwell said each unit will be custom designed according to the needs (and funds) of each owner/occupant. The basic structure will cost about $7 million; Longwell estimates another $4 million to $7 million will be spent by the owners.
The lower level will include about 8,000 square feet in condo space and an indoor parking garage for 24 cars. The building will have open staircases, elevators, an entry canopy and the most up-to-date technology capabilities. The outside will have brick veneer and a pitched roof. Outdoor parking will accommodate 300 cars.
With nearly 50 percent of the building spoken for, owners include Drs. Randel and Anthony Henneberg, Lakeside Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine and the Women’s Clinic of North Idaho. Bids will be due the second week of March. It should be completed by January.
Wild Idaho Chocolate Co. opens
With special candies available by the piece, weight or in gift baskets, Wild Idaho Chocolate Co. opened this week in the southeast corner of Government Way and Locust Avenue, Coeur d’Alene.
The chocolates here are as beautiful as they are delicious as each is individually made and decorated. This includes 40 types of truffles, carmels, seafoams and fudges as well as specialty pies with carmel apple, Irish cream, chocolate and peanut butter, chips and wafers, crème brulee and a four-layer chocolate cake.
“We even have one- and two-pound truffles for parties and a special steamed pudding,” said Carol Rosanova, who owns the business with her husband Richard. They also have caramel popcorn and a variety of espressos and coffees.
Originally from Indiana and New Mexico, the Rosanovas were in Arizona and California and on Whidbey Island, Wash., before coming to the Inland Northwest, which they discovered on a vacation.
A portion of their profits goes toward helping injured animals. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Phone 676-9290.
Presentations at Fleet Feet gala
In-store presentations by health and fitness professionals and special sales and prizes will highlight the grand opening of Fleet Feet Sports Saturday through Monday. The running-and-walking specialty store is at 511 Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene.
Physical therapist Gary Bartoo will discuss “Running and Walking and Injury Prevention” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Chiropractor Mark Cochran will present “The Tao of Wellness” at 1:15 p.m. Saturday. And physical therapist Tom Lamphier will offer “Triathalon & Marathon Training” 4 to 6 p.m. Monday. Vicki Hall of the Personal Training Center will discuss personal fitness solutions throughout the holiday weekend.
Owners Garth Merrill and Nancy Ulrich operate the store 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 10 to 6 Saturdays and 11 to 4 Sundays. Phone 765-7604.
Main Street tidbits
If a proper crosswalk was marked with signage and paint under the Coeur d’Alene Resort skybridge, pedestrian danger would be greatly reduced. Then this would no longer be a reason to even think about abandoning Front Avenue from Second to Third streets.
Road paint also is needed to mark the lanes where Northwest Boulevard turns northwest into Mullan Avenue and North Idaho College. Many unwary, westbound cars go to the left side of the divider. Yikes! The wrong way!
And the intersection of Mullan Avenue heading east onto Northwest Boulevard ought to have turn lanes marked with the left one heading northwest, the middle one either left or straight (onto Government Way) and the right one to the right. That way heavy traffic leaving the college after an event would disperse twice as fast.