Valley Fire to get new building

The Spokane Valley Fire Department will break ground Monday on a $3.7 million project that includes a new administration building at 2120 N. Wilbur Ave. in Spokane Valley.

Meridian Construction, Inc., of Spokane Valley, is the general contractor for the new building and for remodeling and expanding the district’s training tower, at 2411 Pioneer Lane near Sullivan Road.

Designed by Arizona-based Lindquist Architects, the two-floor administration building will be completed by Thanksgiving. It will have about 22,600 square feet of space.

The administration building is on land the district bought in 2001 adjacent to Fire Station 8. The construction cost alone is roughly $3.4 million.

The department operates 10 stations. The present administration office shares space inside Station 1.

“We’ve remodeled it four times, but we’re just out of space,” Deputy Chief Larry Rider said.

Funds for the two projects come from a tax levy increase approved by Spokane Valley voters several years ago, Rider said.

The tower project is required after two of the training floors became unusable last year, Rider noted.

Initially the district planned $40,000 in tower remodeling, but the project evolved into adding additional burn rooms on the main level.

The tower expansion will come to $275,000, Rider said.

Work on the tower has been under way for three weeks with completion scheduled for late spring.

Jewelry store will open downtown

Ben Bridge Jeweler, a nationwide retailer, will open a downtown Spokane store this summer in River Park Square.

RPS is managed by Cowles Co., which also owns The Spokesman-Review.

Ben Bridge will move into the space on the first level occupied by The Walking Company, a shoe and footwear retailer. The Walking Company will move into a second-level space last used by the Sunglass Hut, which moved into a second-level kiosk.

Ben Bridge, founded about 100 years ago, operates across the country. It also has a store in NorthTown Mall.

Bates clinic moves to North Side

Bates Primary Care Clinic has moved to 3704 N. Nevada, inside Bates Pharmacy. The clinic relocated Jan. 31 from the East Central Community Center.

Bates providers manage chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and lung conditions; treat minor illnesses and injuries such as infections, colds and minor cuts; and perform minor surgical procedures.

In addition to seeing people in the clinic, Bates providers see patients in retirement centers with a goal of helping those people remain as independent as possible, said Jeanine Smith, Health Services Administrator.

The clinic is accepting new Medicare and Medicaid patients.

Bates is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call (509) 474-0259. Walk-ins are welcome.

Frame shop moves, adds furniture

Leslie’s Furniture and Framing has moved to Post Falls. It now occupies 6,000 square feet of leased space at 1600 E. Seltice Way.

Selling used furniture is a new focus of the business, which sold ready-made and custom-order frames the past three years at 9422 N. Government Way, Hayden.

Owners are Leslie Curran and Jesse Ojala, who are married.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.