NORTH BEND – When Robert Yerkes passed his engineering exam in 1987, he decided to treat himself.
He headed east from his apartment in Renton, looking for property on which to build a house. He eventually came to North Bend, found some land by the Snoqualmie River and built the house he’s lived in to this day.
“It’s so beautiful here,” Yerkes said. “It’s like a postcard.”
He hopes others can find their home in North Bend as well. He just put the finishing touches on six studio apartments and 16 storage spaces in the McClellan Building on West North Bend Way.
Those who choose to live or store belongings in the building will have a small stake in Valley history. It used to be part of a larger structure that is on the northwest corner of North Bend Way and Bendigo Boulevard, which now houses the John L. Scott Real Estate office. In 1947, a section needed to be removed to make way for an expansion of the old Sunset Highway, presently called North Bend Way.
That section of the building was cut off and moved around back, but the similarities between the two separate structures is evident. Since then, the building has been home to the McClellan Motel, the Monogram Tavern and the North Bend Tavern. When Yerkes bought the building in 1999, he gutted the inside in order to build offices. When he realized there wasn’t much of a market for office space, he opted for the apartments and storage units instead. Dominos Pizza is in the building’s bottom floor.
All of the studio apartments will run $695 a month, with the exception of one larger one, which will cost $740.
The storage spaces range in space from 16 square feet to 45 square feet, with Yerkes charging $37 to $80 a month for them.
The inside has been completely remodeled, but Yerkes said the design was approved by a historical architect hired by King County.
Yerkes’ property is just one of several historic buildings that make up the charm of downtown North Bend. Yerkes has paid close attention to keeping his in top shape. To him, taking care of a building has less do with aesthetics than common sense.
“When you have something you’re supposed to take care of it,” Yerkes said. “That’s what I do.”
Yerkes will hold an open house for his apartments on Saturday, April 27, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
