Here’s the dirt: Sunset Hill condos proposed

A Sunset Hill landowner is proposing a 400-unit, seven-building condominium complex near Interstate 90.

Set on about 17 hilly, partially forested acres along West 14th Avenue, the phased project would include “mid-range” condos in an “urban set of buildings” that includes a clubhouse, said Stefani Randall, a project manager with Steven Meek Architects. The land is owned by Grandview-Washington LLC, a company with ties to Seaside, Calif.-based DYI Properties.

The proposal calls for four- to seven-story buildings. The developer will ask for a height variance for part of the property, because multifamily zoning limits structure height to 35 feet, said Tami Palmquist, city planner.

A community meeting on the proposed project, which falls within the Grandview-Thorpe Neighborhood, is scheduled for May 6.

The architect will aim to create a distinctive neighborhood that ties in with downtown and fits in with the area, Randall said.

“We’re really trying to work with the topography,” she said. “We just think it’s an exciting, unique new project.”

Investment group DYI Properties LLC in summer 2004 paid $6.4 million for Solar World Estates, a Spokane company that offered apartment-style living to business travelers. Solar World Estates at the time had 93 units in Airway Heights and 32 in north Spokane.

Most of DYI Properties’ real estate holdings were in California, and the company discovered Spokane through friends who live here, Galen Ishii, vice president, said at the time.

Ishii and family members are among the governing people of Grandview-Washington LLC, according to state records.

Canyon Bluffs expansion

Just south of the Grandview-Washington LLC project, construction is slated to start in this summer on a two-building, 48-unit expansion of the Canyon Bluffs Apartment Homes.

Owned by California-based Feature Realty Inc., the existing 192-apartment complex and 10,000-square-foot recreation building were completed in 2005, said Bob Townsend, managing agent for contractor Canyon Construction NW Inc. The developer probably will start about 19 of 44 planned townhouse-style condos in August, he said.

The apartment buildings will cost about $3.44 million, according to Spokane building permits. Offering upgraded appliances and features, the studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments should be finished by May, Townsend said.

“All of the future condos and apartments will have just dynamic views of the valley looking south as well as the city,” he said.

The Spokane City Council in spring 2005 settled a lawsuit arising from a 1995 vote to block permits for the initial project.

Post Falls Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart this week closed on about 17 acres at The Pointe at Post Falls for a second Wal-Mart superstore in the city.

Construction on a roughly 200,000-square-foot store might begin later this year at the Foursquare Properties Inc. development, which is anchored by outdoor mega-retailer Cabela’s. Foursquare Properties expects the new store will open next year, said President Jeff Vitek.

“The project is performing very well,” Vitek said. “Our retailer interest is beyond what we had expected.”

Wal-Mart hopes to start construction on a Hayden, Idaho, location this summer, pending city approval, she said.

North Spokane carwash

Vandervert Construction Inc. has started work on a new north Spokane carwash.

Lyons Park Car Wash Plaza will have five self-serve bays, two that are automatic and two for washing dogs, said John Hansen, who owns the business with Barbara Chisholm. The partners, both Spokane natives, opened Wandermere Car Wash Plaza, next to the Fred Meyer on U.S. 395, earlier this year. Fred Meyer also is building a gas station there.

“They’re state-of-the-art touchless carwashes,” said Hansen, who plans to open six more area carwashes in addition to two he and Chisholm own in North Idaho.

The carwash, 6804 N. Nevada St., is expected to open in August. The project will cost $468,790, according to a Spokane building permit.

Oil Can Henry’s

Fast oil change and auto maintenance provider chain Oil Can Henry’s broke ground on its first Spokane-area franchise Wednesday adjacent to the Wandermere Car Wash Plaza.

Spokane residents and franchisees Bob and Barbara Davisson will run the new center, 12108 N. Division St., according to a news release.

It will take about three months to build the Craftsman-style building, said Justin Gray, a project manager for Vandevert Construction.

Oil Can Henry’s quick-lube locations are franchised by Portland, Ore.-based OCH International Inc. It has more than 75 Oil Can Henry’s across seven states.