Port to Purchase Building 2 at Blue Mtn. Station

DAYTON—During a special meeting last week, Port of Columbia commissioners voted to move forward with purchasing Building No. 2 at Blue Mountain Station in Dayton. Port officials say they have determined that owning the building will assist in the continued development of businesses at the BMS.

The Port’s Executive Director, Jennie Dickinson, and private developer Colby Litzenberger have negotiated a purchase price of $264,000. Dickinson said the building was recently appraised at $270,000.

Kathryn Witherington, the Port’s Economic Development Coordinator, said there have been six serious inquiries about leasing space in the building in the last 10 months.

“The risk is it is sitting there and us not being in control of it,” Dickinson said. “This is an economic tool we would like to have.”

Because the 6,000 sq. ft. building is only about one-third finished, Dickinson said she brought an architect on board to discuss additional work needed. That work includes installing concrete floors, finishing the plumbing and electrical work, adding insulation, constructing bathroom walls, and adding trench-style floor drains. All of that will add an additional $135,000 to the Port’s cost.

This additional work will meet the basic requirements for occupation of the building by food and beverage businesses, she said.

Commissioners Earl Marvin and Fred Crowe voted to authorize a resolution to move forward with the purchase. Commissioner Gene Warren abstained. Warren said he was unhappy with the amount of the entrepreneurial incentive in the agreement.

Dickinson said she will notify the developer and get in touch with Banner Bank to secure a $360,000 bond. She will also get bids from contractors to do the additional work on the building.

Also in August, the Port commissioners signed a 5 year lease agreement with the owners of The Club, for port space at 519 Cameron St to be used as an indoor court by its members and by members of the public.

The building will need some improvements, which the Port will make, Dickinson said. This will include installing an HVAC unit.

The Port commissioners are also allowing Dickinson to explore the idea of selling seven acres of Port-owned land adjacent to Blue Mountain Station for new housing.

Stakeholders attending an Aug. 7 Economic Development Steering Committee meeting delved into the subject of the lack of good housing options in Dayton, and how the high cost of construction is making it difficult for new home prices to match workforce needs.

People are being pushed out of the Walla Walla market, and Columbia Pulp will employ a significant number of people, Dickinson said.

“I’ve been thinking about this a lot over the last couple of weeks, she added. “It seems short-sighted for us to not consider it a really important economic development issue.”

Several options should be explored, including condominiums and apartment homes, as well as infilling on vacant lots in the city, said Witherington.

Dickinson said that while she prefers the idea of infilling with houses on vacant lots in the city, she thinks the time is ripe for building new houses, and would like to pursue the idea of selling the seven acres.

Steve Tapio, a developer with New Tradition Homes, of Vancouver, Wash., was also at that meeting.

A 1,350 square foot home on a standard lot in the Tri-Cities is selling for about $190,000, he said.

Tapio said he thought a contractor trade base would be attracted to work in Dayton, if enough business building houses or condominiums could be identified.