MetroSpokane

For Sale: Cutter's, er, Brett's Sumner Masterpiece

Ok, so it wasn't owned by Kirtland Cutter, but it was designed by the well known Spokane architect.  This gem is pretty much as far from average as you can get.  The place has only had three owners since it was originally built in 1917 for TJ Humbird who was the president of Weyerhaueser Lumber Company.  Now owned by the Brett family it's on the market for a reasonable $3,250,000.  To say "Downsizing" would be a serious understatement.

By the numbers:

• 20,000 square feet of living space
• 7 beds, 8 baths
• 3 floor elevator
• 2 acre parcel
• 6 marble fireplaces
• ...and a bowling alley
• sheeeesh!

View Larger Map

For Sale: Casa Don's Condo for $275K

We have no idea who the Don in Casa Don is, but he sure could design a helluva good looking building.  Built in 1938 this place is a charmer if your tastes are old world Spanish eclectic.  Besides all the nicely aged brick, terracotta, and views of the apartment building roof to the north it's the location that sold us.  Walking distance to Lindamen's, Bittersweet, Blockbuster, Manito, Qdoba, and hell if you feel like taking in a little Sunday service, St. John's Cathedral is across the street.  NOTE: Must like the color orange.

• Listing - Casa Don [Keller Williams]
• 1107 S Grand Blvd [GMAP]

For Sale: 2 floors of the BlueRay Building-any takers?

It's been a rough few months for BlueRay Technologies.  The latest wrinkle in the ongoing BlueRay soap-opera shows that the top two floors of the company's building at 1111 W. 1st Ave are up for sale.  No less than a reasonable $1.5 million gets you close to some of that sweet Blu-Ray action at The Commercial Building.  The turn-of-the-century brick eye-candy is a nice looking piece of work and in a great location given the level of reinvestment in the surrounding area (Railside Center, the Fox, the Otis/Norman/Madison)  Go on, what are you waiting for?

• For Sale:  Commercial Building (Floors 2 &3) [NAIBlack -pdf]
• Commercial Building 1111 W. 1st Ave [Birdseye View]

USA Today - Please. Stop. Don't.

Dear USA Today, 

Please, no more favors.

We read with great earnest your article on the housing and economic conditions in the Spokane area.  We've always been big fans of your cute little graphics/charts on your front page, however we think your in depth analysis should really stop there.  We're not quite sure what elite group of writers you have working on this drivel, but the comparison of the most expensive house for sale and a median-priced house was classic.  As one commenter put it, "A 1949 house with bars on the windows for $177,000. Hold me back."

Best Regards,

MetroSpokane

 

• Diversified Economy helps Spokane home prices hold up [USA Today]

Breaking: Burgan's Furniture Block Sold

Breaking news people:  The Spokesman Review is reporting that the Burgans' Block, that amazing collection of early 20th century warehouse buildings between Ruby and Division on Desmet has sold to a 'mystery buyer'.  Given the dramatic changes of the area brought on by Gonzaga's investment of millions in residential development nearby this was bound to happen.  Add to it their recent purchase and rehab of the Fuller Building across Ruby and this place is on it's way.  Next up:  Ye Old CompUSA, and the mill buildings. Dibs on the huge F-U-R-N-I-T-U-R-E sign.

• Touching Base:  Kennedy Anchors Ruby [MetroSpokane]
• Touching Base:  Fuller Academic Center gets glassy [MetroSpokane]
• 44 E Desmet [GMAP]

Spokane Raceway Park - not quite a fiasco...

Better than a made-for-TV movie the drama surrounding Spokane Raceway Park continues to build.  It's unclear what the fallout will be now that the Spokesman Review revealed the private investor who was hopelessly bidding for Spokane Raceway Park against the County, is really kind of ticked off about the whole thing.  And the word is he had plans for NASCAR.

BREAKING: County bids highest for Spokane Raceway Park & 3 parcels for over $4 million

Congratulations Spokane County.  You are now the highest bidders on one raceway track plus 3 parcels for the tune of roughly $4.3 million including a 10% buyers premium.  In a process that lasted 2 1/2 hours and was reminiscent of the 29th round of a Fantasy Baseball League draft Spokane County bid for parcels 1, 5, 10, & 11 totalling 314.7 acres of nitro-fueled property.  See red $$$ above.  As they say, "You pay for the whole seat, BUT YOU'LL ONLY NEED THE EDGE!!!"

MLS Deathmatch: Trulia Streetview Vs.Windermere Birdseye

The world of online realestate continues to get better and better.  Via the Seattle PI this morning, the latest enhancement comes from Trulia.  They've officially integrated Google Streetview with their real estate listings in those cities that Google currently has photographed.  In total that's 40 metros where streetview is available. 

For Sale: Hutton and 319 Riverside

DOWNTOWN - It's a two-fer-Tuesday this week and we have to wonder what's the deal with all the commercial properties on the market in downtown Spokane?  Seriously.

Hutton Building - First there was the Habitat Building, then we heard The Montvale was up for grabs, and now the Hutton?  Sweet mother it's a clearance sale.  All seven-stories and  77,000 sqf can be yours for just shy of $4.95 million.

• Listing - Hutton Building [NAIBlack]
• Hutton Building - Streetview [GMAP]

319 Riverside - Dania's always been the closest we'll ever get to having an IKEA downtown...a tall, pale, characterless IKEA.  However, the descriptive title on the flyer for 319 Riverside leaves us a bit puzzled and wondering if we're all looking at the same building.  $3.2 million.

• Flyer - 319 Riverside - pdf - [Tomlinson]
• 319 Riverside - Streetview [GMAP]

For Sale: Pacific Ave's Sylvan Warehouse

West Pacific Ave is gradually developing into a funky and unique collection of buildings and businesses.  So we were pleasantly surprised to hear from a tipster that one of our all time favorite warehouses (that was still being used as a warehouse) down there was finally on the market. 

The longtime Sylvan Warehouse at 116 W. Pacific is a gem, and it has the three critical amenities that make any warehouse ripe for a conversion to some other use: