New Clarkston hotel may start taking shape soon

Construction crews may be building walls for a new 80-room Best Western Hotel in Clarkston as early as the week of Thanksgiving.

The city of Clarkston is expecting to receive architectural plans for the hotel at any time, said Clarkston Public Works Director Kevin Poole.

Once they arrive, the review could take as little as 14 business days, Poole said.

“Right now, we’ve issued them a permit to do site work and foundation only.”

The hotel is part of a Yakima-area developer’s plan for 5 acres of formerly vacant property in the 1300 block of Bridge Street that was unveiled earlier this year.

Tom Denlea of Grandview, Wash., is governing member of the Clarkston Lodging Group. His company purchased the Best Western RiverTree Inn, at 1257 Bridge St., in 2014. It will remain in operation as an independent hotel once the new Best Western opens.

Poole said he estimates construction will take six to nine months after the hotel building is started. Denlea and his business partners, who are not from the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley, also own and operate the Best Western hotels in Colfax, Prosser, Zillah and Sunnyside, Wash. One of the properties has an Outback Steakhouse on site.

A 100-seat restaurant and residences are part of later phases of the Clarkston project.

The restaurant likely won’t move forward until they identify a tenant, Denlea said.

“They’re still actively pursuing a national restaurant chain to see if there’s anybody interested,” Poole said.

The residences would be on the south side of the property and would be accessed on Poplar Street, Poole said.

A total of 36 apartments are planned, Denlea said.

“You’ll watch it unfold before your eyes.”

Williams may be contacted at ewilliam@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2261.