The Dirt: Major upgrade of historic Franklin Elementary nears
A major upgrade of the historic Franklin Elementary School will start mid-June.
The project, at 2627 E. 17th Ave., will include renovating the original 1909 structure, demolishing a 1950s addition and constructing more than 46,000 square feet of new space.
Renovation work will seek to preserve the historic character of the original building, which has two stories and a basement, while modernizing the interior. The older part of Franklin Elementary sits on the southeast portion of the property.
Garco Construction, of Spokane, is contractor for the $20 million job. Once construction wraps up – expected by December 2018 – the updated school will have just under 70,000 square feet, including a new gym and multipurpose room along with classrooms. ALSC Architects did the design work.
During construction, Franklin students will be at the old Jefferson school site at 37th Avenue and Grand Boulevard.
Garco also is the contractor for a separate education project to build a new gym and day care facility at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Catholic School, at 611 E. Mission Ave.
The city of Spokane issued a building permit for the $4.9 million construction of a 24,000-square-foot facility for St. Aloysius, which includes plans for future second-story classrooms for the school.
SCC old Main renovation set
Spokane Community College plans a $20 million renovation of its old Main Building, to include an upgrade of instruction spaces but also a 6,000-square-foot addition to the northwest corner.
The building is next to Mission Avenue on the southern end of campus, which has a general address of 1810 N. Greene St. Construction is expected to begin in late August and will continue through March 2019. The total project area covers about 83,900 square feet of the building.
NAC Architecture designed the facility upgrade.
Two lots, buildings sell at TAPA
Two lots with newly constructed buildings recently sold in the TAPA Business Park along Trent Avenue just east of Sullivan Road.
Home Staging Works, of Spokane Valley, purchased the first property at 16017 E. Trent Ave. for $750,000 for operations in the site’s building, which has just over 6,000 square feet of space.
S & L Properties LLC, of Newman Lake, purchased an adjacent lot with a similarly sized new structure for $775,000, as an investment property. S & L Properties plans to lease the structure to another commercial venture.
The seller and builder of both buildings is Bellevue-based TAPA Spokane LLC. TAPA owner Thomas Andersen plans to construct a total of 14 buildings in the business park when it’s fully built out. He has started construction on the third and fourth buildings, at 16105 and 16115 E. Trent Ave.
He is listing other lots as custom build-to-suit properties, while one at 16205 E. Trent Ave. is under a new agreement for construction of a $1 million building. Andersen didn’t disclose the client because arrangements are being finalized.
Boutique now in Garland District
Kiss & Makeup Beauty Boutique has moved to the Garland District.
Founded in December 2012 by owner Alexa Jourdan, the business had planned a grand opening for Friday at 920 W. Garland Ave., inside the Garland Theater building.
The 1,850-square-foot space provides an expanded area for several salon stations and a range of bridal and beauty services. Kiss & Makeup previously operated out of much smaller quarters in Spokane. At the new site, the shop currently has five stylists and two makeup assistants.