Dishman Dodge plans new service, sales area

Dishman Dodge has started construction on a new vehicle service and sales building in Spokane Valley, according to city permit records.

The nearly 4,500-square-foot building at 7701 E. Sprague Ave. will be open by the beginning of 2018 and will include five bays for vehicle service and two for detail work, according to Mark Waltermire, one of the dealership’s owners and its general manager.

“We’re trying to free up some space because we’re so busy,” Waltermire said.

The 55-year-old, family-owned Dodge, Ram, Jeep and Chrysler dealership has a 10-acre campus in the Valley that includes a showroom, service department and body shop. The dealership has been in its current location since 1968.

The $770,000 project was designed by LABAR Architecture, of Spokane. Davenport-based Halme Builders is the general contractor.

Residential facility

to open for Jesuits

Gonzaga University unveiled a new $13 million, 36,000-square-foot residential facility for Jesuits serving Gonzaga and Gonzaga Preparatory School. The facility will serve primarily as a residence for people teaching at the schools, but also will house Jesuits working in other ministries around the area.

The Della Strada Jesuit Community of Spokane, 1207 N. Astor St., is a home and “spiritual haven for Jesuits” and will open later this fall. Twenty of its rooms are for Jesuits, with another two rooms for visitors of the residents.

Pete Tormey, associate director of public and university relations, said the new building is a way for the university to “reaffirm the centrality of the Jesuit identity for Gonzaga.”

“That’s a big part of creating this building,” said Tormey, adding the building also will have “reflecting space” and office space.

The building’s name is Italian for “our lady of the way” and refers to a specific artistic representation of the Madonna and child.

The new structure was designed to tie in with the look and feel of the rest of campus. Its facade is made of stone and brick.

“It’s in a prominent part of campus. It’s real close to St. Al’s,” said Tormey, referring to St. Aloysius Catholic Church, the landmark church on campus that was built more than 100 years ago.

BAR Architects, of San Francisco, and Bernardo|Wills Architects, of Spokane, designed the building. Walker Construction, of Spokane, was the general contractor.

Local running store Fleet Feet plans Kendall Yards location

Fleet Feet, a Spokane-based athletic store, has been issued permits to begin tenant improvements at its new location in Kendall Yards.

The running- and walking-shoe store is currently located at 1303 N. Washington St., but is moving to a new building at 1315 W. Summit Parkway.

The store’s new space will be nearly 4,700 square feet. The permit is for $100,000 in improvements.

The two-story building is between two existing structures. One is shared by Spa Paradiso, Paper and Cup cafe and The Inlander. The other houses Veraci Pizza and Nectar Wine and Beer.

Fleet Feet’s building will also hold Maryhill Winery and Umi Sushi.

Kilgore Construction was the project’s general contractor. Uptic Studios did the design. Both companies are based in Spokane.

Verizon installing tower atop Crescent Building

Verizon Wireless is installing a cell tower on downtown Spokane’s seven-story Crescent Building, according to permits filed with the city.

The work, estimated at $110,000, is part of a push by the Manhattan-based telecommunications conglomerate to expand its wireless network.

In April, the company struck a deal with Corning, a manufacturer of industrial and scientific materials, to purchase up to 37.2 million miles of optical fiber, which will be used to boost capacity and lower latency in its wireless network. In a statement, the company said it planned to purchase up to 12.4 million miles of optical fiber each year from 2018 through 2020, with a minimum purchase commitment of $1.05 billion.

T-Mobile, a Verizon competitor, is a first-floor tenant in the historic Crescent Building, which was a department store until its closing in 1992. It now houses office and retail space.