DuPree Inc., which does business as Window & Door Design, of Spokane, plans to restore the Hopson Building, at 1213 W. Railroad, into loft-style apartments, if it can arrange financing for the project.


Meanwhile, DuPree is remodeling the adjoining Gallagher Building, which houses the window and door retail store, into a design mall for upscale home-remodeling shops and services, says Dale DuPree, who owns the company and the two buildings.


Both structures were built around 1906. DuPree bought the 7,200-square-foot Hopson Building five years ago. It sits in the middle of the block bordered by First and Second avenues and Jefferson and Adams streets.


Were looking at leasing (out) the units at this point, DuPree says of the proposed lofts. That way we can control the space. We want to maintain the overall feel of the space.


The five lofts would range in size from 1,100 square feet to 1,300 square feet of space, and all would be on the two-story buildings second floor.


DuPree hasnt decided how much he would charge tenants to lease the units. He estimates the loft projects cost at roughly $750,000.


The first floor of the building will be used for parking, he says.


Nearby at 1220 W. Railroad, developers Steve Thosath and Susie Luby are converting an old building into loft-style condominiums. They expect that project, called the Blue Chip Lofts, to be completed by the end of August. DuPree doesnt know when the Hopson Buildings renovation might be completed, but hopes to begin work on it this year.


The restoration of the Hopson and Gallagher buildings is one of several projects that will beautify the west end of downtown, says DuPree, who has operated a window business in the Gallagher Building for 17 years.


New shops and offices in the Carnegie Square area, where First Avenue and Cedar Street intersect, along with construction of the KHQ building, at 1201 W. Sprague, and restoration of the Davenport Hotel, about four blocks from the Gallagher Building, have revivified that part of town, DuPree says.


DuPree expects the home-remodeling mall to open in the Gallagher Building this spring, with development continuing through the summer as tenants lease space. He says hes spending about $100,000 to renovate that building.


DuPree plans for the mall, which will be called the Design Center at the Gallagher Building, to have a mix of office, retail, showroom, and workshop spaces, all surrounding a central open area. He says he hopes to fill the spaces, which range in size from about 200 square feet to 800 square feet, with about 14 tenants, including architects, designers, cabinet shops, flooring retailers, lighting specialists, and other home-remodeling industry representatives.


Window & Door Design will continue to operate out of a 2,000-square-foot retail space and 1,800-square-foot shop space on the buildings first floor, DuPree says. He hopes businesses will lease the remaining 4,000 square feet on the first floor for retail and showroom purposes. About 6,000 square feet of floor space is available on the second floor, which will be used mostly for offices and conference rooms, he says.