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Church-turned-events venue plans dedication, open house

Lincoln Center employee Tamara Cudney sets out fresh lilies on tables in the Lincoln Ballroom on Thursday. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)
By Tom Sowa toms@spokesman.com(509) 459-5492
Lincoln Center employee Tamara Cudney sets out fresh lilies on tables in the Lincoln Ballroom on Thursday. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)

As work is completed on a remodel of the Lincoln Center event venue in Spokane, owners and brothers Richard and Chris Heftel are preparing to celebrate with a public dedication, open house and tours starting at 3 p.m. May 1.

The former church, built in 1921 at 1316 N. Lincoln St., has been converted to a multipurpose facility.

“We retained much of the original art deco elements and expanded the building to encompass two large ballrooms, 29,000 square feet of event space, and two commercial kitchens for catered functions,” Chris Heftel said.

“We designed the space for flexibility of events, from an intimate board meeting all the way to a corporate event for 800 people,” he said.

The two-story building was the home of Harvest Christian Fellowship church. The company running the Lincoln Center purchased the building in 2006.

Information about the center is available at www.thelincolncenterspokane.com.

Tower proposed on Moran Prairie

Developers Dennis and Ben Swartout have asked Spokane County for a zoning change so they can build a 12-story, mixed-use tower on Moran Prairie. The 4.6-acre site is behind Regal Lumber on 55th Avenue.

Plans submitted to the county call for retail and residential use on the ground floor, two floors of office space, and residential space on the remaining floors.

There would be 37 surface parking spaces and 58 spots underground.

Planner John Peterson said the developers would contribute $35,104 toward the cost of new traffic signals on Regal at 44th and Palouse Highway. The zoning change would raise the allowed building height from 50 feet to 156.25 feet.

A public hearing on the application will begin at 9 a.m. May 6 in the Public Works Building, 1026 W. Broadway.

My Gym franchise closes

Spokane’s only My Gym franchise, 615 N. Sullivan Road, has closed its doors. Operated by Maria LaSeur, the kids gym’s last day was April 15.

Marshall Clark, who owns the 2,400-square-foot space, said he is ready to lease the location to anyone who wants to start another gym for young children. The offer includes the equipment, computers and a customer list.

Clark can be reached at Clark Pacific Real Estate.

Staff writer Bert Caldwell contributed to this report. Here’s the Dirt is a weekly report on new developments and business openings, closings or movement in the Inland Northwest. E-mail business@spokesman.com or call (509) 459-5528. Staff writer Bert Caldwell contributed to this report. Here’s the Dirt is a weekly report on new developments and business openings, closings or movement in the Inland Northwest. E-mail business@spokesman.com or call (509) 459-5528.