By Nina Culver/Spokesman-Review
Reprinted with permission
The Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary have finalized the sale of their former convent and some of their land on Fort George Wright Drive to Catholic Charities after first releasing details about the deal in January.
Catholic Charities intends to use the former convent for a new social services program called “Rising Strong” that aims to reduce the number of children removed from their homes by Child Protective Services, according to a news release from the sisters. The new program will be in partnership with the Empire Health Foundation, which provided $1.6 million to help purchase the facility. The overall purchase price has not been disclosed.
Affordable housing apartments are also planned for the site, which has long been zoned for high density housing. The purchase by Catholic Charities includes 34 acres of land and the Sisters of the Holy Names will be allowed to use office space and an on-site art studio rent-free.
The remaining 31 acres of property, including all the Spokane River frontage, will be sold to the Spokane County Conservation Futures program and protected from future development, the news release said.
