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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

The Dirt: Whitworth University moves forward with new health sciences building; permits filed for Spokane County mental health crisis stabilization facility

Whitworth University is moving forward with plans to build a new health sciences building, according to an environmental review recently filed with the Washington state Department of Ecology.

The university is building a three-story, 38,000-square-foot health sciences building at 300 W. Hawthorne Road., No. 35. The health sciences building will replace an existing facilities services building and garages on university property, according to the environmental review.

Construction is expected to be complete by November 2021, according to the environmental review.

The building, when finished, will be home to undergraduate health sciences, the master’s in athletic training program and the planned doctoral programs in physical and occupational therapy, according to the university.

The Washington Higher Education Facilities Authority issued $19.5 million in bonds to assist Whitworth in building the health science facility. The financing is estimated to save the university almost $500,000 in interest over the life of the bond on a present-value basis, according to the university.

Spokane-based Walker Construction Inc. is the project contractor.

Permits filed for mental health crisis stabilization facility

Spokane County has filed a permit with the city to renovate its current motor pool building into a mental health crisis stabilization facility.

The facility, at 1302 W. Gardner Ave., will provide substance abuse and mental health treatment for those who would otherwise wind up in jails and hospital emergency rooms.

The more than 18,800-square-foot facility will include a medical clearance unit, 16 withdrawal management beds and 16 mental health crisis stabilization treatment beds, according to county documents.

The project architect is Spokane-based NAC Architecture. The project valuation is $6.6 million, according to an application filed with the city.

Maverik coming to north Spokane

Maverik Inc. is continuing expansion in the area with plans for a new gas station and convenience store in north Spokane.

The Salt Lake City-based company filed a preliminary application with the city to build a more than 4,500-square-foot convenience store and gas station at 6710 N. Division St.

Spokane developer Harlan Douglass is the property owner, according to the Spokane County Assessor’s Office.

The project valuation is $1.4 million. The project architect is Utah-based JZW Architects, according to the application filed with the city.

Maverik was founded in 1928 by Reuel Call, who used money earned from renting roller skates to open a two-pump gas station in Afton, Wyoming. The company has since grown to more than 350 convenience stores in 11 states with more than 5,000 employees.

Maverik has eight locations in the Spokane area and one in Post Falls.