The Dirt: Townhouse development planned near Spokane’s Mission Park

A three-story townhouse with six large units will be built in Spokane’s Logan neighborhood near Mission Park, according to permits issued by the city.

The four-bedroom, four-bath units will be built on the site of a large, 120-year-old home that had been converted to a duplex but was recently demolished.

The owners, Gregory and Celestine Kuntz, purchased the home in July for $385,000 through their company, Columbus Rows. City documents value the townhouse project at nearly $1.23 million.

The home that was razed at 930 E. Sharp Ave. was 2,000 square feet and a block west of Mission Park.

The area around Mission Park has seen other recent development.

In September, residents of The Academy, a senior-living facility near Gonzaga University, were evicted by the building’s new owners, Utah-based Stellar Living, a family-owned and operated company that provides independent and assisted living as well as respite services at eight facilities in Western Washington, Idaho, Colorado, Utah and Arizona.

The Academy has more than 90 units in assisted- and independent-living facilities. Some residents have lived in the building for several years. – N.D.

Credit union to expand into Spokane Valley

Spokane Federal Credit Union is expanding its presence to Spokane Valley.

The credit union has filed plans with the city to build its first Valley branch at 13105 E. Sprague Ave. The location will include a cafe and 19 parking spaces.

Site plans show the branch office will encompass more than 2,500 square feet, with an adjacent 1,200-square-foot cafe, shared outdoor patio and two drive-thru lanes.

Spokane Federal Credit Union purchased the existing land and building – which at various times was a former car dealership and convenience store – for $687,000 in June from Snowbird Valley LLC.

The credit union, which began operations in 1956, has more than 12,000 members and holds more than $150 million in assets.

Spokane-based HDG Architecture is designing the structure. – A.E.

Coeur d’Alene Casino undergoing renovation

A major renovation is underway at Coeur d’Alene Casino to celebrate the North Idaho resort’s 25th anniversary.

More than 68,000 square feet of gaming and event space is being redone, with work expected to be completed in March. The $15 million construction project began last month.

When complete, the casino will have a redesigned gaming floor with new decor that reflects tribal designs. An LED “video chandelier” will display “an endless variety of patterns as well as moving imagery depicting fire, water, sunsets and more,” according to a statement.

The gaming space will also get an upgrade to its air-filtering system to maximize smoke removal. A new high-limit gaming area and corner bar are being built.

The casino opened in March 1993 and has more than 1,400 gaming machines. It employs more than 1,100 people and has 300 hotel rooms and six restaurants. Beyond gaming, the casino has the Circling Raven Golf Club, spa, entertainment venue and gas station.

It underwent a major $75 million expansion beginning in 2009.

The general contractor and architect of the current renovation is I-5 Design, a Lacey-based company that specializes in casino design. – N.D.