Stocktons break ground for project
Matilda Building to have 57 apartments, retail
Members of the Stockton family turned out in force on Wednesday to support the latest Stockton venture next to Gonzaga University.
John Stockton and his oldest son, Houston, are heading up the Matilda Building construction with its four stories, 57 apartments and street-level retail spaces.
They were joined by Nada Stockton, John Stockton’s wife and mother of Houston Stockton.
Watching them at a ceremonial groundbreaking was a large gathering of extended family. Seated in a car was Jack Stockton, father of John Stockton and longtime co-owner of a tavern that came to be known as Jack & Dan’s.
The 88,000-square-foot project at 1002 N. Hamilton St. involves nearly a full city block.
“This has been a long road for us,” John Stockton told the gathering. “The genesis is this is our neighborhood. I grew up a couple of blocks from here.”
The building was named to commemorate Nada Stockton’s mother, Matilda Stepovich, who died in 2003.
John Stockton, former Gonzaga and NBA basketball star, said that working with his son has been one of the best aspects of the project for him.
Houston Stockton is a 2011 graduate of the University of Montana with a degree in business management and marketing and manager of the LLC ownership group for the Matilda project.
He takes his name from his great-grandfather, Houston “Stocky” Stockton, an All-American football halfback at Gonzaga in the 1920s.
The Stocktons are working with longtime Spokane developer Kent Hull.
“They’ve got a lot of deep roots in this neighborhood,” Hull said of the Stocktons. “I’ve been really impressed with their dedication to their project and the neighborhood and making Spokane a better place.”
Other nearby Stockton projects are the Warehouse athletic facility, 800 N. Hamilton St., and Clementine Square, named after John Stockton’s mother, at Hamilton and Boone Avenue.
The Matilda Building will include a geothermal heating and air conditioning system as part of its energy efficiency.
Hull said work will start in a few weeks. DIVCON is the general contractor. Completion is expected next year.