Beauty treatment in store for big eyesore

A large, mostly empty building on downtown La Conner’s waterfront boardwalk could get a facelift this winter, if plans to enlarge and renovate the landmark “Lighthouse” building on First Street move forward.

Construction that will significantly alter the building that used to house Palmer’s Restaurant is planned to begin next month, with completion anticipated by next spring.

According to project manager David Elling, the building, which had been bank-owned and mostly vacant since 2010, was purchased by California businessman Michael Girdner, who is in the process of obtaining permits to begin...