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The Marshall-Wells Hardware Company, a wholesale hardware firm, commissioned the Spokane architect Albert Held (b. 1866) to design this graceful six-story warehouse in Spokane's Riverpoint district, just east of Downtown. In 2012, Riverpoint was home to four state-funded universities and one state-sponsored high-tech corporate campus: the Washington State University Spokane (WSU Spokane), Eastern Washington University, and branches of the medical and dental schools at the University of Washington, and Sirti, "...a Washington State economic development agency that accelerates the development and growth of innovative technology companies in the Inland Northwest." (See "About SIRTI,"Accessed 01//26/2012.) In addition, private Gonzaga University had its campus just across the Spokane River.

The Jensen-Byrd BUilding occupied a 64,500 (1.48-scare) and contained 177,181 square feet.

Endangered. The Washington State University sought to tear down the large warehouse/office building in 2011-2012. An email from the Spokane Preservation Advocates dated 01/26/2012 said: "Support our preservation comrades in Spokane in their efforts to save the historic Jensen-Byrd Building! This significant warehouse built in 1909 and designed by Spokane architect Albert Held for Marshall-Wells Hardware Co. is owned by Washington State University which plans to sell the property to Texas-based Campus Advantage for the purpose of demolition. New student housing would be built on the site. What is astounding about this predicament is that WSU has chosen to sell the property to an out-of-state entity with no appreciation of Spokane's heritage when there is an alternative to sell to a Spokane-based developer who has a proven track record of rehabilitating historic buildings and would approach the project as an adaptive re-use rather than demolition and new construction." The Washington State University Regents sold the building to Austin, TX-based Campus Advantage development company for $2.85 million in mid-12/2011. This Texas company sought to build a new 425-bed dormitory for the WSU's new Riverpoint Campus in Spokane, WA. Chris Moore, of the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation called the Jensen-Byrd Building "National Register eligible." (See Knute Berger, "Heritage Turkeys of the year," Crosscut, 01/09/2012,Accessed 01/25/2012.)

PCAD id: 17488