The Dirt: Catholic Charities plans second Father Bach apartment building

Father Bach II planned downtown

Catholic Charities Spokane plans to build a second apartment building that matches the design of its 2012-constructed Father Bach Haven Home located downtown. Father Bach II will be built on a vacant lot at 201 W. Second Ave.

The 35,300-square-foot transitional housing project is in the plan review stage with the city of Spokane. It’s designed to have four stories and 51 units in a mix of studio and one-bedroom floor plans. Inland Group of Spokane Valley is the contractor.

In January 2013, Catholic Charities opened Father Bach Haven at 108 S. State St. to provide housing aimed at getting chronically homeless individuals off the street and into a place of their own.

Etailz leases space in Valley park

Etailz Inc., a Spokane-based e-commerce retailer, has leased about 7,200 square feet at the Spokane Business & Industrial Park in Spokane Valley. The new space is primarily for use as a warehouse processing facility.

Etailz’s headquarters remain in the McKinstry Innovation Center, at 850 E. Spokane Falls Blvd.

The company, which originally launched under the name GreenCupboards, operates five e-commerce websites that offer environmentally friendly products. It also runs two Spokane brick-and-mortar stores: Wollnick’s General Store, at 421 W. Main Ave., and Coy Beauty, at 227 W. Riverside Ave.

Blackbird gastropub construction begins

Construction began earlier this month for interior work on a restaurant, The Blackbird, a new gastropub in the lower level of the Broadview Dairy building, at 905 N. Washington St.

Patrick McPherson, who launched the South Hill’s Manito Tap House in 2011, plans to open this second 7,000-square-foot eatery in June with 110 seats inside and about the same number for a patio area. It also will have two banquet rooms.

Ginno Construction of Coeur d’Alene is the general contractor for the project, which is listed with the city as having an estimated project value of $300,000.

McPherson said the work is incorporating some of the original dairy interior materials. Revival Lighting of Spokane is refurbishing original lights.

Offering a wide selection of beers and wines, The Blackbird will be slightly more upscale than Manito Tap House, McPherson said, and will have a wood-fire grill and smoker. It also will offer charcuterie, French-style preparation for making exotic cured meats, he said. The Blackbird is expected to have about 60 to 70 employees.

Treva Lind, correspondent