SANDPOINT — Construction is set to begin on Tuesday, with First Avenue getting a makeover in the second phase of the downtown revitalization project.

As downtown business and property owners prepare for the next few months of noise, dust and disruption, a question was raised during a recent construction meeting regarding whether there were any plans for the site where two historic buildings were destroyed by fire in February.

“We do have a site design for the building on the corner of Bridge and First at the city now,” said City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton.

The building on the corner, which once housed Headlines Salon and The Hound, will once again be home to the restaurant. Building owner R.J. Wilcox said the layout of the new Hound building will be similar to what was there before — single story with a basement. They are also looking at putting in a rooftop deck, he said. Stapleton said it will be brick construction as well.

The plan, she said, is for the new restaurant to open in late spring or early summer.

“It is a priority for us with all of these buildings and reconstruction in downtown, and us getting through our reviews and expediting them as quickly as possible,” Stapleton said. “An architect team came in and met with us on the adjacent buildings, but that is still in early phases, so I don’t think we are in a position to really speak to timing on that or exactly what that project looks like.”

Another building on First Avenue, which once housed Arlo’s Ristorante and Blue Lizard Indian Art was closed in September by the city due to safety concerns regarding the foundation of the structure.

Stapleton said the building has sold and, as suspected, will need to be torn down. A structural engineer looked at the building, she said, and confirmed there was “no way to save any of it.” With the building situated on Sand Creek, Stapleton said the new owners will have to work the Army Corps of Engineers on the permitting process.

“We may see that be a much longer process than I think all of us hoped, because that is going to be far more complicated,” she said. “But I know that owner is committed to rebuilding there.”

The new owners are looking at a two-story structure, she said, again incorporating retail and restaurant businesses into the spot. They have also been meeting with the owners of the Cedar Street Bridge in order to be “complementary” of the businesses there, she said.

As for the downtown construction, the project focus is on First Avenue, from where crews left off at Second and Cedar in the first phase of the downtown revitalization last year, around the corner to First and down to Church Street. The second phase of the project includes wider sidewalks and bulbouts, seat walls and planters, stormwater improvements, new trees, bike racks, benches, lighting and more.

Starting on Tuesday the street will close on to motorists from Second and Cedar to First and Main. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times throughout the project. The rest of the project area on First Avenue, from Main to Church, will close to motorists on Sept. 15 after the Sandpoint Cornhole Classic, which will be held on First Avenue the weekend of Sept. 13-14. The northern section of the street will remain closed at that time as well. The roadway will reopen with single-lane closures on Oct. 30.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.