Empire Ford Inc., of Spokane, has begun a $1.1 million remodeling project at its dealership building in downtown Spokane, and says it will stay downtown rather than move to the West Plains as it once considered doing.


John Robideaux, a marketing consultant for Empire Ford, says that work on the downtown building, a four-story structure located at the southeast corner of Third Avenue and Stevens Street thats visible from Interstate 90, started last month and is scheduled to be completed in late May.


Mauer Construction Inc., of Spokane, is the general contractor on the project, and John Rovtar Design Inc., of Spokane, designed it.


A major part of the remodel is the planned installation of an elevator to make the dealership more convenient for customers, Robideaux says. The dealership keeps in-stock vehicles on part of the second floor and all of the third and fourth floors. Its upper floors are connected by a series of ramps. Currently, Robideaux says, salespeople typically use golf carts to drive prospective customers to the upper floors to see vehicles.


In addition to the elevator installation, office and showroom space in the dealership is being updated and will have more of a modern industrial look, Robideaux says.


The buildings exteriormainly its east, west, and north facesalso will be revamped, Robideaux says.


In 1998, Empire Ford owners Nate and Roberta Greene, of Spokane, discussed moving the dealership to a site along U.S. 2 on the West Plains to have more space for the operation. Robideaux says, however, Empire Ford has decided to keep its dealership downtown, in part because of the owners commitment to downtown.


Roberta Greene, a Spokane city councilwoman, has advocated downtown development and revitalization while in public office.