Spokane-based Vandervert Developments LLC has found its footing again following the unexpected loss of company owner Dick Vandervert in January 2023.

Debbie Cozzetto, Vandervert's daughter, says, "We really felt strongly about keeping things going as they were ... for the first year, which we did."

Now, the company's employees are taking small steps forward as they navigate without guidance from their beloved founder.

Richard "Dick" Vandervert, former owner of Vandervert Developments who also was known for founding and operating Vandervert Construction Inc. for nearly 30 years, died unexpectedly of heart failure at 78 years old. 

Reflecting on the last 20 months at the commercial development and property management company, Cozzetto says her father had trained his team well enough to continue operations without a hitch.

Cozzetto also gives credit to Vandervert Developments' 14 employees for stepping up as they were needed.

"A lot of our investors were probably a little nervous when Dick passed away," she says. "I think we've restored their confidence in us ... because things just continued on as they had been."

Vandervert Developments has been busy this year, having been involved in six construction projects, she notes. 

If the current pace of work continues into 2025, Cozzetto says she'll need to hire a few more people to help in property management, property management administration, and construction liaison roles. 

"My dad left everything really well set up for us to continue on," says Cozzetto. "Even though it was probably the hardest year of my life—and probably for most of the team as well—everyone was amazing and took on additional duties because nobody wanted to see anything fall through the cracks."

Cozzetto joined Vandervert Developments in the early 1990s, when she was responsible for marketing and advertising for the company's hospitality division. Later, she transitioned to the commercial real estate side of the business, where she took on leasing responsibilities. 

Cozzetto says she's uncomfortable giving herself an official title at the company. Her duties have evolved since she was thrust into a leadership role to a point where she's essentially helping where she's needed now. No longer involved in marketing duties, Cozzetto says most of her work still involves leasing. 

Additionally, she says she's been more involved in the financial details and decisions at the business.

"I just do whatever is needed," Cozzetto says. "The banking portion of the business has taken a lot more time than I thought it would. I think moving forward, I'll start giving up some things that I do so I can concentrate more on future development."

Chris Bornhoft, founder and designated broker at Spokane-based Bornhoft Commercial, says he's worked with Vandervert for 10 years as a commercial broker for the company's properties and was mentored by the late Spokane businessman.

Bornhoft still handles a portion of Vandervert Development's property listings, including the Village Center Cinemas listing in Airway Heights, where the property is available for sale or lease, he says.

"I still spend a lot of time out on the West Plains, and it's neat to see his touch between the Village Center Cinemas and Crosspointe Plaza and his other developments in the (Pacific Northwest) Technology Park. It gives me a daily reminder of him," Bornhoft says of Dick Vandervert.

While Cozzetto and her team consider which direction to take the company's future, Vandervert Developments will keep busy with about $1.75 million in tenant improvement projects for two tenants at the Trent & Argonne Plaza, in Spokane Valley.

Construction began in April on a $1.1 million, 2,200-square-foot retail shell building for Starbucks at the site of a former Mobile gas station, at 8915 E. Trent, says Chris Barker, director of real estate operations at Vandervert Developments.

Spokane-based Yost Gallagher Construction LLC is the general contractor, and Press Architecture LLC, also of Spokane, designed the building shell for the project.

In September, the single-tenant structure will be turned over to Starbucks to complete interior improvements including furniture, casework, and specialty equipment installation. Outside the building, Starbuck's tenant improvement plans call for adding signage, drive-thru equipment, and patio furniture, according to permit information on file with the city of Spokane Valley.

Associated Construction Inc., of Spokane, is the contractor for Starbuck's tenant improvements, Barker says.

The project is valued at $350,000, according to permit information.

A new $300,000, 1,600-square-foot Wingstop restaurant also is under development at the east end of the Trent & Argonne Plaza in an old video store space, located at 8901 E. Trent, Cozzetto says.

"The old Scollard's Cleaners unit, which is a small 1,200-square-foot unit, will go away and become a community-shared bathroom hallway for two new tenants," she says. "One of which is Wingstop, the other is yet to be determined." 

Hopkins, Minnesota-based Wilkus Architects PA is the architect for the chicken wing restaurant. No contractor has been selected for the project, permit information shows.

Barker says the Trent & Argonne Plaza will get an exterior facelift to modernize the property next spring—a project that would have appealed to Vandervert, who enjoyed maintaining his properties.

"He just had a really good eye and he really cared about how his properties look," Bornhoft recalls. "To this day, it's like I want my projects to look good. They're a reflection of me, just like his shopping centers were a reflection of him."

Established in the early 1970s, Vandervert Developments has grown its portfolio to 23 properties and manages over 2 million square feet of commercial real estate in Spokane County; Pullman, Washington; Tri-Cities, Washington; and North Idaho, according to its website. 

Some of the company's notable properties include the Pacific Northwest Technology Park, at 1515 S. Technology Blvd., on the West Plains; the Near Northtown retail center south of the mall, at 4610 N. Division, in North Spokane; Liberty Lake Plaza, at 1235 N. Liberty Lake Road, in Liberty Lake; and Wandermere Business Park, where the company headquarters is located, at 12906 N. Addison.