SPOKANE-- Steel tracks and railroad cars crisscrossed over and covered Spokane’s waterfront.
It hid prime real estate, but that was nearly 50 years ago. Expo ’74 cleared the way for the Kendall Yards Development.
It’s been years in the making, but Spokane will see drastic changes to the north shoreline along the Spokane River. Commercial development is starting in Kendall Yards.
Crews broke ground on the first commercial building on the property Friday.
“I imagine once the building comes out of the ground there are going to be a lot of calls,” Project Manager Adam Jones said.
Jones, of the developer Greenstone Commercial, tells KREM 2 News the building will hold three tenants: a restaurant with water front views called Farm to Table Cuisine, a visitor’s center and possibly a pub. The almost 6,000 square foot building will be named the Cedar Park Commercial Building.
“The backside of the building is going to be a new restaurant in Spokane. It’s a great local chef. It’s going to be one of the most amazing restaurants in Spokane, and one of the most amazing locations in Spokane,” Jones said.
It's situated in the middle of the riverfront property, which equals nearly three football lengths worth of land along the river.
Building permits cleared the City of Spokane at the end of February.
Construction crews are near laying the foundation for the first building. The developer expects the restaurant to open around Sept. 1 of this year.
Tenants are interested in more proposed building, and the developer expects construction to begin on those commercial and residential buildings soon. A pathway through the property will also connect the Centennial Trail.
Jones said the views of landmarks like the courthouse will remain protected, but the potential is endless. Tenants will dictate what is built. They can lease or buy.
Jones anticipates adding two more buildings by the end of the year and expects others to follow as more tenants sign.
