Suit seeks eviction of mental health service
The new owner of the Commercial Building in downtown Spokane has sued to evict a nonprofit community mental health service affiliated with the structure’s prior owner.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in Spokane County Superior Court, alleges that Pacific First West LLC purchased the building in April, but prior owners Otis Associates Limited Partnership, doing business as Hope Partners mental health agency, has not vacated the building within 20 days, as required by law.
A representative of Valencia, Calif.-based BlueRay Technologies Inc. has said the company recently purchased the building, located at 1115 W. First Ave., with plans to transform it into a $12 million Blu-ray disc manufacturing plant — necessitating eviction of 45 low-income residents living there in federally subsidized single-room units.
The relationship between Pacific First West and BlueRay Technologies was not clear Friday.
Jim Delegans, head of Otis Associates, previously said Hope Partners might continue to operate until June 30, when it might relocate to the Spokane Mental Health facility. Hope Partners provides mental health and substance abuse counseling, and its clients included building residents.
Delegans could not be reached for comment Friday.
Residents are not affected by the lawsuit, said Steven Schneider, attorney for Pacific First West. Northeastern Washington Housing Solutions is working to relocate tenants, some of whom are expected to receive federal vouchers good for one-bedroom apartments.
The lawsuit also seeks unspecified damages, due to Hope Partners allegedly occupying the building illegally, and attorney’s fees and costs.
A hearing is scheduled for June 14.
Delegans lost the Commercial as collateral on another project, the Carlyle Care Center downtown, after it went bankrupt. Pacific First West, a Washington corporation, bought the building at a trustee’s sale for about $1.2 million. Delegans recently lost an appeal in the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division III, to enter arbitration on the adjacent Otis Hotel, formerly owned by another nonprofit he headed.