Storage opens at drive-in site

Harlan Douglass might be called the sultan of storage units.

The 73-year-old commercial and residential property developer recently doubled the number of units in his North Side storage complex on Foothills Drive to more than 1,000.

This week, Douglass opens the doors to his newest, biggest storage facility.

Self Storage at 214 S. Eastern Road in Spokane Valley has roughly 1,200 units, with space ranging from 3-by-4 feet up to 21-by-46.

The new Valley complex has seven buildings on six acres protected by fencing; some inside units are wired and protected by sprinklers for optional use as offices.

The property is the former site of the East Sprague Drive-In Theater. For part of the 1960s it was the area’s largest outdoor drive-in.

Douglass said his own construction company did the work, estimated at about $13million.

This month Douglass got permits to start building 16 apartment buildings in the Valley. He said his company cross-promotes to storage customers and renters, giving discounts both ways so people moving into those 256 units next year know they can store items about six miles away, or vice versa.

He’s also found inspiration from studying what other storage facilities have. The Valley complex has a heated runway leading from ground level to a second level building. The ramp warmers turn on when temperature drops below freezing, Douglass said.

The main building also offers a business center with computer, phones, mailboxes and conference room.

Monthly rates range from below $10 for small units to $62 for larger spaces. Discounts are offered for longer rentals.

Miller Paint to open Spokane store

Miller Paint Company of Portland will open a store in Spokane June 28.

It will be the employee-owned company’s 36th retail store and the first company-owned store east of the Cascades, President and CEO Steve Dearborn said Thursday.

The Spokane store will open in a building formerly occupied by ICI Paints at 7 E. Third Ave. Miller Paint is leasing the 7,000-square-foot space.

“This is an exciting addition for the entire company,” Dearborn said. “We have been looking east of the Cascades for quite a while but have not had the right opportunity present itself. This Spokane location is the right opportunity for us.”

Miller Paint carries architectural and light-industrial paints for commercial painters and homeowners. Miller carries its own line of paints, including Devine Color, plus industrial and high-performance lines from Devoe Coatings and PPG, a full architectural contractor line of Glidden Pro, stain and clear lines of Sikkens and Olympic, and a full line of Rudd Co. lacquer products.

“We are a one-stop shop when it comes to your paint and coating needs,” Dearborn said.

The store will open with four employees. Hours will be 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.

Forest Service office LEED certified

Sandpoint Ranger District has moved into its new office building at 1602 Ontario St. in Sandpoint.

The building is described as the first U.S. Forest Service building in the northern Rockies that meets the LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standard for energy efficiency.

Worley Fire combines two stations

The new Worley Fire District fire station, at 31541 S. Highway 95 south of Coeur d’Alene, will have an open house Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The district closed two older stations and recently moved into the 12,000-square-foot structure designed by Lindquist Architects, of Spokane.

The project cost about $1.4million and was built by Blews Construction of Spokane.

Worley Fire District covers about 121 square miles and serves roughly 2,500 residents, according to Fire Chief Daniel Sneve.