The condemned 99-year-old building at 110 S. Lefevre St. in Medical Lake has received a reprieve after owner and Spokane investor Andy Louie successfully submitted required engineering documents to city officials that paved the way for rehabilitation of the crumbling structure.
Contacted by phone, Louie said the city was “still giving me some runaround, but it’s doable.”
Previously condemned after complaints by an adjacent business owner and local residents prompted an inspection, Louie continued to argue that he could make it safe.
After some back and forth between the city and Louie — including a hearing — the city agreed to delay the Jan. 1 demolition date pending receipt of an engineer’s report that assessed the integrity of the building. An appeal by Louie before the City Council fell on deaf ears at a council meeting that was monopolized by pro-fireworks aficionados arguing against a proposed fireworks ban.
Finally, the back and forth paid off and a complete engineers report was received by the city last month.
In a letter dated Aug. 16, city officials informed Louie the building could be rehabilitated rather than demolished, but with stipulations. First, Louie is required to submit construction plans, including construction costs, which include all structural elements cited in the earlier engineer’s report.
He must also obtain a building permit, and remove an addition that was constructed at the rear of the building, from which a bush is currently growing.
After receiving the letter, Louie again went before the council at its Aug. 16 meeting, this time expressing a sense of contrition and gratitude.
But the investor is still on notice, and must get his construction plans together, something he said he’s working on.
“Next week I’m getting plans to the building department for approval,” Louie said. “If they don’t approve I will go to the drawing board again.”
In the adjacent lot, meanwhile, Medical Lake investors Bob and Jennifer Maxwell are constructing a new building from the ground up.
Maxwell, a local real estate agent and property investor, said he reached out to Louie about purchasing the derelict building, but considered Louie’s price too high — over twice the $32,500 price Louie paid in March 2018, according to county records.
Louie claimed he had made a substantial investment in the property since he purchased it, and need to recoup his costs, and Maxwell’s $23,000 offer was “not going to make it.”
Maxwell said he abandoned the idea.
Of the building, Louie said he didn’t plan to make big changes, except to “make it livable and whatever the building department requires me to do.”
The outside, he said, was key, the “major thing” being the siding, which is currently mold-ridden and falling off in places.
“It will look much better,” he said. “The outside is more important than anything.”
Asked if he had an anticipated construction start, Louie said, “I want to start it yesterday,” but he’s waiting for his construction plans to be completed.
“I just want the project to go forward and get what needs get done,” he said.
Lee Hughes can be reached at [email protected].
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