Step into Desert Valley Eye Care in Kennewick and you will see lots of happy faces.
Optometrist Maureen Fahey and her staff are excited about their upcoming move into more spacious quarters in a new $1 million building west of Columbia Center Boulevard.
It will be quite a change from their office in Highland Plaza, off Highway 395 in Kennewick.
"We only have 1,800 square feet now and it's quite cramped. The new office will have 4,141 square feet," Fahey said.
In all, the one-story building going up at 8503 W. Clearwater Ave., measures 11,900 square feet.
Fahey is one of five partners in Ridgeview Real Estate, which owns the new building. Her partners are dentist Jared Despain, Dr. Kevin Gurney, accountant Darren Szendre and Josh Pratt, who owns American Media.
Fahey said she and Pratt are the only two putting their own offices in the building.
"I wanted the retail space in front. He wanted the loading dock in the back," she said.
Szendre said a massage therapy business also plans to lease 2,300 square feet, leaving just 1,800 to 2,000 square feet left to be leased.
Fahey has hired Wave Architects of Richland to design the interior of her new office. She hopes to move in by Memorial Day weekend.
"At least that's when we're planning to move. We're hoping the exterior will be done by April 15," she said.
When finished, Fahey said she will have an optical office like no other in the Tri-Cities.
"We'll have a stained concrete floor, a tin ceiling and chandeliers. There will be 80 feet of windows and hanging displays, colored boxes to hold the glasses," she said. "It'll be like a boutique in the optical area."
The building was designed by Jason Archibald of Archibald, Little, Dillman Architects in Richland, and Connor Construction in Kennewick is the contractor.
Szandre said they chose the site on West Clearwater Avenue for its location.
"It's definitely a big part of Kennewick's future growth with all the housing around Hanson Park and Cottonwood Springs. It's a convenient, easy-to-find, easy-to-get-to location, especially once Steptoe (Street) comes through," he said.
w Loretto J. Hulse: 582-1513; lhulse@tricityherald.com
