A Coeur dAlene development group says it hopes to undertake about $60 million in commercial development near the new Wal-Mart store in Post Falls and the site where another Wal-Mart is proposed at Hayden, Idaho.


The group, which includes Coeur dAlene developer Steve Ridenour, Coeur dAlene neurosurgeon Dr. Bret Dirks, and Southern California developer Gerald Vance Jerry Dicker, is planning about a dozen projects, including several that are under way or set to start this month, says Ridenour.


Other deals might be close, he says, including two that could involve construction of new big-box retail outlets, he says. Such outlets, built by noted retailers such as ShopKo, Fred Meyer, Home Depot, or Wal-Mart, can include 90,000 square feet of floor space or much more.


There are so many opportunities because this area has never experienced growth like this, says Ridenour. When we started, we looked at the A-1 properties and were able to acquire about 70 acres from Idaho Street to state Highway 41 in Post Falls. Much of that land is in the area just north of Interstate 90 and Mullan Avenue in Post Falls.


The trio, who own a handful of development companies between them, currently have projects totaling about $10 million under way or about to start near the Post Falls Wal-Mart, including a duplex complex, a shooting range and gun store, and a retail center, plus a Del Taco fast-food restaurant in Coeur dAlene.


The projects in Post Falls are just west and just north of Wal-Mart, which is at 3000 E. Mullan. Just to the west of the Post Falls projects, one of the groups companies, North River GVD LLC, owns another 20 acres, and Ridenour says North River is negotiating to sell some of that land to one of two big-box retailers that are interested in it.


He declines to name the retailers the company is talking with, but says the discussions are going well and that he hopes to secure a commitment from one of them in the next five months.


Construction of a big-box retail store there could start as early as next year, Ridenour says, adding that the property likely will be subdivided so that perhaps a dozen smaller retail businesses also could be developed.


Ridenour is expecting about $22 million in development on that property.


Its a perfect location for a large retailer, he says.


A home-improvement store or discount retailer would be logical users of the property, Ridenour says. Home Depot, Lowes, and Target all currently operate stores in Kootenai County. Contacts at Home Depot and Target couldnt be reached for comment, but Lowes Cos. Inc., the Mooresville, N.C, home-improvement giant, says it is evaluating additional opportunities in Idaho.


Were looking to expand across the United States, including further into Idaho, says spokeswoman Chris Ahern. Its on our radar. Our policy is not to comment on any specific sites until we have closed on a property.


Ridenour has experience dealing with national chains. He was involved in selling 20 acres of vacant land to Wal-Mart for its Post Falls store about four years ago. He says he also was involved in establishing portions of whats become an automobile-dealership row along the north side of Interstate 90 in Post Falls.


The development business has been a long hard road, he says. Weve been getting things ready for the last four or five years, and were at the point where we can announce them to the public.


Ridenour says he and California developer Dicker have a combined more than 60 years of development experience, his both in North Idaho and California and Dickers largely in Orange County and Los Angeles County, California.


Jerry has developed more than 6 million feet of retail floor space in Southern California, Ridenour says. Ive probably done about 4 million feet.


Meanwhile, Pines Road Center LLC, of Coeur dAlene, which is owned by Ridenour and Dirks, the neurosurgeon, and Danny Campbell, a local real estate investor, built and own the Plaza at Post Falls, a 21,600-square-foot retail and office complex located across North Cecil Road, west of Wal-Mart. The plaza includes a Dollar Tree store, and a Toro Viejo Express restaurant.


Pines Road Center now is adding 28,000 square feet of space to the Plaza at Post Falls in a $4 million project slated to be done by the end of summer. The work is being done by an affiliated company called North River Construction LLC, of Post Falls.


GameStop Corp., a Grapevine, Texas, video-game and entertainment-software retail chain with more than 1,600 stores, and Payless ShoeSource Inc., of Topeka, Kan., will anchor the new building, Ridenour says. He says there are two additional spaces available for lease.


North River Development LLC, of Coeur dAlene, which is owned by Ridenour and Dirks, is developing a 32-unit duplex complex, called Forsythia Place, just north of the Post Falls Wal-Mart. The five-acre development site can be accessed from Forsythia Street.


The $3 million project is scheduled to be finished by the end of August. The work is being done by North River Construction.


The 1,300-square-foot duplex units will rent for $750 a month, and will have three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The exterior of the duplexes will be painted vibrant colors.


The complex will have a large common area of grass for residents.


We want to stand out, Ridenour says. We want to have a sense of place.


North River Development also plans to build a 14,000-square-foot retail structure near the duplexes. It will house Center Target Sports, a gun store and indoor shooting range. The $1.5 million project is scheduled to start later this month and be finished this fall, says Ridenour.


In Hayden


In Hayden, North River GVD is planning to develop a $30 million retail project, to be called Cornerstone Towne Center, on a 22-acre parcel near U.S. 95 and Prairie Avenue, on the southern edge of Hayden, says Ridenour.


The property straddles Prairie Avenue, which is the border between Hayden and Coeur dAlene. The 12 acres on the north side of the street, in Hayden, are adjacent to property where a Wal-Mart store has been proposed to the north. The other 10 acres are south of Prairie Avenue in Coeur dAlene.


An active contingent of Hayden and Coeur dAlene residents have fought the proposed Wal-Mart. The large retailer has modified its plans somewhat, but the issue hasnt been resolved.


Ridenour says North River GVD would go ahead with its plans even if the Wal-Mart isnt built.


Overall, Cornerstone Towne Center is envisioned to have as many as 20 stores, offices, and restaurants, and parking for more than 1,200 vehicles, Ridenour says.


Working with two different cities on the same development is difficult, says Ridenour.


It poses some interesting challenges as far as dealing with permits and subdivision ordinances, he says.


Already, the group is building a 2,300-square-foot Del Taco restaurant at the southwest corner of U.S. 95 and Prairie Avenue. It should be open by the end of July, Ridenour says.


Work on a 6,000-square-foot commercial building is planned to get under way this fall next door to the Del Taco, he says, though he hasnt signed any tenants for the building.


There could be two national food establishments in that building, Ridenour says. We hope to have that decided in the next 30 days.


Also, North River says its negotiating with a large national retailer to occupy a planned 90,000-square-foot building nearby.


I cant say who it is because its in the critical stage right now, Ridenour says. He says construction of the building could start later this year.


The portion of Cornerstone Towne Center north of Prairie Avenue is expected to have between 12 and 20 buildings. The buildings will be close to one other or connected. Shoppers would be encouraged to walk along a path in front of the stores.


There will be offices on top and stores below, Ridenour says. We dont know what they will be yet.


Work on that portion of the development could start later this year or in early 2005.


Separately, the group hopes within the next three years to develop about seven acres of mostly vacant land northeast of the Northwest Boulevard-Interstate 90 interchange in Coeur dAlene.


The plans for that property havent been completed, and it could be several years before its developed, Ridenour says.