Today's business story on the timeline and plans involved in building a Trader Joe's store on Spokane's South Hill showed one key factor in the deal: "As part of the deal with Trader Joe’s, the property owner, Lincoln Heights Center, LLC, agreed to renovate the facades of the four adjoining spaces.

“They suggested it would be a good idea to update the look and feel of the area, and get away from the ’50s and ’60s look it has now,” said Chris Bornhoft, a spokesman for the developer, Vandervert Developments.  That company is a sister firm to the LLC set up by Dick Vandervert. Lincoln Heights Center LLC owns most of the south Spokane Center.

The rendition above comes by way of Bornhoft and the architects, Bernardo Wills, of Spokane. The lower image shows how the east buildings at Lincoln Heights will look after renovation. Top image is the current view.  CLICK on image for larger size version.

Trader Joe's' facade is at the far left; Coldstone Creamery is in the space on the far right.

Basically, the next five months will involve tearing down one building at Lincoln Heights, starting the shell for Trader Joe's, and then redoing the facades of the buildings alongside, to the right.

The expected timeline is: once permits are approved, demolition and construction will take about five months, said Bornhoft. 

Trader Joe's will move in and get it open before the end of the year, we're told.

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