February 2019
Volume 18 • Issue 2
Construction begins on Kennewick’s new $3.4M ice plant BY JESSICA HOEFER
for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
Diversity
Tri-City leaders offer tips to foster inclusivity Page 11
Real Estate & Construction
Gesa Credit Union to open branch on Road 100 in Pasco Page 21
Manufacturing
Manufacturing jobs on the rise in Benton, Franklin counties Page 39
he Said It “I have four kids, and there’s not much to do in the winter, so I wanted to bring something like that to the Tri-Cities.” - Will McKay, co-owner, Launch Trampoline Park
Page 9
Mother Nature recently shared her wintry mix with the Tri-Cities, but the Three Rivers campus wants to be able to create its own ice year-round. Construction of a new $3.4 million ice plant is underway at the Kennewick campus, which is home to the Toyota Center, Toyota Arena and Three Rivers Convention Center. The Toyota Center is home to the Tri-City Americans hockey team, while the arena is used by amateur hockey teams, public skating, Zamboni school and a figure skating club. The center and arena have ice-making equipment, but Corey Pearson, executive director of VenuWorks, said business is being held hostage by the 30-year-old ice system. “There was a new chiller put in about 20 years ago, but the system is outdated, so we’re replacing all that equipment,” Pearson said. “During a (Tri-City Americans) game last year, a couple of shiny lines showed up on the ice. You lose a hockey game or two (because equipment is down), and it hurts. With new equipment, we’ll be able to save that sheet of ice and operate no matter what happens.” VenuWorks is contracted by the city of Kennewick and the Kennewick Public Facilities District to manage the facilities on the Three Rivers campus. VenuWorks hired KDA of Yakima to design the 30-by-70-foot building. Kennewick-based O’Brien Construction Co. is the general contractor. Pearson is the project lead. Oregon-based Apcco will provide and install refrigeration equipment. Construction began in December and was ahead of schedule until the cold snap at the beginning of February slowed down work. “The masonry walls were three quarters up but they had to stop when it got cold,” Pearson said. “It’s scheduled to be done in June.” Once completed, the building will house a system that will create and maintain ice in the arena and center. There also will be room to add a compressor, which would cost an additional $100,000 but would allow for operation of a third rink. uICE, Page 37
Hundreds of apartments are planned for this large expanse in the Badger Mountain South area of Richland, a project valued at $43.7 million. The complex will include 276 units for low-income tenants at 2555 Bella Coola Lane, south of the Country Mercantile.
Low-income apartments moving ahead at Badger Mountain South BY ROBIN WOJTANIK
for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
Building permits and financing are in place for the first apartments at Badger Mountain South in Richland. The complex will include 276 units for low-income tenants at 2555 Bella Coola Lane, south of the Country Mercantile on Ava Way, near Trowbridge Boulevard. The city of Richland has issued grading and building permits to Nor Am Investments, which is listed as the owner of the project. The general contractor is Inland Construction, a Spokane-based company, which also built the Badger Mountain Ranch apartments near the Westcliffe neighborhood in south Richland. The apartment complex will be called Copper Mountain and is valued at $43.7 million. It is described as a multi-family housing facility, with all 276 units desig-
nated for tenants with incomes up to 60 percent of the area’s median income, as published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, guidelines. HUD lists the annual median income for a family in the Richland-Kennewick area at $72,800, which means families would have to earn $43,680 or less annually to qualify for housing in the new complex. Twenty percent of the units, or 55 in all, will be set aside for people with disabilities. To qualify for a home at Copper Mountain, tenants would need their income verified in advance. “Affordable housing is extremely important to every community in this region and across the nation,” said Kerwin Jensen, community development director for the city of Richland. “The more we have, the better it is for all residents.” uAPARTMENTS, Page 37
Tidying up craze sweeping the nation leaves Tri-Cities in the dust BY ROBIN WOJTANIK
for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
The life-changing magic of clearing personal clutter hasn’t hit the Tri-Cities in quite the same way its effect has been felt nationally. Cities across the nation are citing overwhelming donations at thrift store and reseller sites, thanks to people inspired by the popular Netflix show, “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.” The reality series, inspired by Kondo’s book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” encourages people to critically survey their clothing and personal belongings, thank them for their service, and then only retain the items which spark
joy in their lives. “We have seen a slight increase in clothing and books — those two items in particular are increasing here,” said Greta Dority, store manager for Repeat Boutique at 22 W. Kennewick Ave. in Kennewick, where store proceeds benefit Chaplaincy Health Care. “Since the beginning of the year, after the holidays, there’s always kind of that ‘clean out attitude’ anyway,” Dority said. “But compared to last year, there’s been an increase. We’ve also had more ‘new with tags’ stuff.” While Dority has seen a small uptick in donations, the region’s largest thrift stores and donation sites cannot confirm the same effect. uTIDYING, Page 4
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