No, there won’t be any new cafes or wine bars. Instead, it looks like some new retail shops, office suites and apartment units could fill an empty lot near downtown.

“It’s been vacant for a couple years,” said Tami Stroud, Coeur d’Alene’s associate planner. 

Coeur d’Alene’s Design Review Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved a design proposal for a one-story, 6,156-square-foot mixed-use building eying 923 E. Sherman Ave., on the street’s north side. The site, about 8,538 square feet, previously had a similar building that was demolished after catching fire in early 2025.

The proposal, which includes three commercial suites on the ground floor and two one-bedroom apartments on the second floor, comes from Smock Family Investments LLC.

It falls within what's called downtown overlay east side zoning, which transitions the downtown core and commercial settings between the city’s eastside residential neighborhoods.  

“I think we’ve come up with a really nice-looking building,” Architect and Smock Investments spokesperson Tim Wilson said. “It has a little residential flair to it, but we also have commercial on the main floor.”

Proposed facade materials include corrugated metal siding, metallic wall panels in colors like slate gray and deep ocean, and stone veneer panels. Driftwood and black metal railing will make up the balconies, while common patio areas will encase the building’s south face. 

Standard weathered wood-colored shingles are planned for the roof, which will vary in two pitches. The primary pitch rises 8 inches vertically for every 12 inches of horizontal run (8/12), while its west slope provides a secondary slope of 4/12. 

“I'm excited to see the material choice,” Design Review Commissioner Kori Keller said. “You guys have done a really thoughtful job about doing metal and stone. They are not the most cost effective, but they definitely have good quality.”

Maureen Hogan, who lives near the proposed site, joked that it’s a "disappointment" the building will not include a cafe but praised its design.

“It’s beautiful, I love it,” she said during public comment. “I think it’s great.”  

Eight off-street parking spaces are expected to be constructed on the building’s north side, adjacent to an existing alleyway that flows into 10th Street, while an enclosed trash area will be placed on the east end of the parking lot, near 10th Street. The proposal originally included 10 off-street parking spaces; however, the city is allowing a 20% reduction due to spatial constraints.

Instead of two extra parking spaces, the project will include bicycle accommodations.

While the commission reached consensus on building design, it still discussed parking and potential traffic issues on 10th Street, which is used primarily for foot and bicycle traffic.

“I’m not a fan of parking in-lieu of anything, for any reason downtown,” Design Review Commissioner Denise Lundy said. “I worry about cars being pushed into those residential neighborhoods, but this is a good project and upgrade.”

Meanwhile, not all neighbors notified of the proposal supported it.

Barb Crumpacker, in an email opposing the project, expressed parking and traffic concerns caused by nearby existing businesses. She also touched on affordable housing needs.

“I would support a building that was completely affordable housing which is needed so desperately here & would fit the neighborhood much better than introducing another commercial use,” she said in the email. “It feels like being ‘squeezed’ with the huge condos and houses being approved by the design folks.” 

Construction for the building, which will also have a 10-foot setback, as well as landscaping and trees around its frontages and parking lot, is expected to begin anytime between fall and next spring, Wilson said.

Design Review Commissioner Kevin Jester concluded, “This is a great upgrade to what was there.”

    Architect Tim Wilson speaks at Coeur d'Alene City Hall, alongside Merle Van Houten, on Thursday.