Community housing needs survey underway 

The Tri-Cities HOME Consortium is putting together a plan that will help guide how federal housing and community development funding is used in the area over the next five years, and it’s looking for residents to weigh in on housing needs in a survey.

The funding is used to provide housing, suitable living environments and create economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income people and neighborhoods.

Go to: surveymonkey.com/r/RX525NJ.

Benton County property value appeals due by Sept. 30

If you own property in Benton County, you likely have already received the annual “change of value” notice from the county assessor’s office in your mailbox.

They were mailed Aug. 30 to property owners whose property values changed in 2024; the new values will be used to calculate property taxes for next year. The assessor’s office is required by state law to “revalue real property annually to reflect 100% of its market value based on its highest and best use,” the assessor’s office said in a statement.

People who receive a change of value notice and have questions or concerns can reach out to the assessor’s office at 509-735-2394 or 509-786-2046. 

They also can visit as assessor’s office location in person at: 7122 W. Okanogan Place, Suite E130, Kennewick, and 620 Market St., Prosser. (The Prosser office will be open through September and then by appointment only.)

Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Appeals can be made to the Board of Equalization by Sept. 30.

New food truck opens at Columbia Gardens

More breakfast and lunch options are now available at Columbia Gardens Wine & Artisan Village in Kennewick. 

The wine village’s newest mobile eatery, Nana’s Kitchen, plans to be open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. or until sold out. 

Nana’s Kitchen’s Facebook (Meta) page will list current days and hours of operation and specials.

Owner and Chef Chris Schwartz and Sous Chef Allan Nashion will offer unique variations on classics for breakfast and lunch, like a traditional Juicy Lucy burger served on a glazed donut with jalapeño pig candy and a house bangin’ sauce.

“I started cooking at 14 and haven’t stopped,” Schwartz said. “We love our new location to serve the Tri-Cities and people who work or commute between the bridges.”

Nana’s Kitchen joins mobile eateries Bobablastic Tri-Cities, Botanas Culichi, Culture Shock Bistro and Frida’s Mexican Grill. Other businesses at Columbia Gardens include Swampy’s BBQ restaurant and Bartholomew Winery, Gordon Estate Winery, Monarcha Winery and Muret-Gaston Winery.

Go to: ColumbiaGardensVendors.org for more information about the food trucks, eateries and tasting rooms. 

All businesses at Columbia Gardens set their own days and hours of operation.

New construction set to begin on Clearwater Avenue

J&S Property Management LLC has announced a new commercial construction project in Kennewick. 

Groundbreaking for the project at 10711 W. Clearwater Ave. was scheduled for Sept. 10. 

The two-story, 10,373-square-foot building will consist of office space and retail space. It will house DevFuzion Complete IT and Cybersecurity and offer two future tenant spaces, each with 1,526 square feet available for lease.

G2 Commercial Construction Inc. is the general contractor, and Draftco Designs LLC is the architect. 

Port, city initiate land exchange

The Port of Benton and the city of Richland plan to exchange industrial land in north Richland in a move billed as “an opportunity to align properties with the strengths of each jurisdiction.”

Port commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding in December 2023 and signed a resolution to complete the transfer at a public hearing on June 3. The Richland City Council approved the trade in December 2023 and adopted a corresponding resolution on Aug. 20, beginning a due diligence phase.

The land exchange will help to advance the implementation of the Northwest Advanced Clean Energy Park, development of an intermodal facility and facilitate a change for the partners to reimagine Port of Benton’s Richland Innovation Park as a multi-family housing and mixed-commercial/light-industrial neighborhood adjacent to Washington State University Tri-Cities and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

The port envisions using its portion of the property for an expanded intermodal facility adjacent to its existing industrial property and rail assets. 

The facility would provide multiple modes of transportation services to support the Tri-Cities region’s growing industries in getting their goods to market along with additional economic development. The exchange also is expected to benefit the Richland Airport and Horn Rapids Athletic Complex and provide an opportunity to reimagine the Richland Innovation property.

The port is seeking federal and state grants to help fund the intermodal facility’s planning, infrastructure improvements and development. To date, local legislators have helped secure a direct state allocation of $240,000 for the project that the port will leverage for additional federal grants and partnerships.

Tri-Cities project receives state grant

The state Department of Commerce has awarded $2 million in grants to eight projects that “will expand the state’s portfolio of project-ready industrial sites,” and a Tri-Cities project is on the list.

The state earmarked $200,000 for a Port of Benton-city of Richland project that focuses on site readiness planning studies and infrastructure planning for 837 acres of the Northwest Advanced Clean Energy Park. Engineering studies will determine whether infrastructure can accommodate large-capacity developments.

Tri-City early learning providers receive renovation grants

Early learning providers in Kennewick, Pasco and Prosser are among those sharing in more than $7 million in grants for minor renovations such as updated playground equipment, fencing and HVAC upgrades. 

Fun Kidz Daycare, Family Home Childcare, Little Stars Learning Center, all in Pasco; Family Home Childcare in Kennewick; and Island of Angels Child Care Center in Prosser received funding.

The state Department of Commerce announced the grant awards on Aug. 27.

Challenge underway to help build new $6M clubhouse

The fresh berry company Driscoll’s Inc. is matching up to $100,000 of community donations made through Sept. 30 toward funding construction of a new $6 million Boys & Girls Club clubhouse in Prosser.  

Officials say the new facility will ensure that kids and teens have access to high-quality programs and meaningful services in a safe place.

Currently, the Prosser clubhouse and Teen Center serve more than 300 youth each year, ages 5-18. The club runs programs each weekday after school, throughout the summer, and on no-school days.

On any given weekday, nearly 100 kids and teens walk through the doors of the Prosser clubhouse and Teen Center.

Port of Benton receives $2.7M grant

The Port of Benton will use a $2.7 million state grant to install shore power at its north Richland barge complex on the Columbia River – reducing air pollution and bringing other benefits.

The zero-emission shore power unit will power essential functions of marine vessels and cruise ships seeking to operate at the port’s high dock, allowing their auxiliary engines to be shut off instead of idling, significantly reducing air pollution. 

The port plans to begin infrastructure work next summer and anticipates completing the project by fall 2025.

The port was among 11 Washington ports to receive funding for electrification projects.

Richland announces roundabout construction

Construction is starting this month on a new roundabout at the intersection of Dallas Road and Trowbridge Boulevard in Richland. The project aims to enhance traffic flow and improve safety for residents and visitors, a city news release said. 

The roundabout will replace the existing two-way, stop-controlled intersection. 

“The Dallas Road and Trowbridge Boulevard roundabout is an important step to address the continued growth in South Richland,” said Public Works Director Carlo D’Alessandro in the news release. “This project will not only improve traffic efficiency but also enhance the overall safety and aesthetics of this key intersection.” 

Construction is expected to be done by next summer. 

Temporary traffic detours will be set up. 

The roundabout is being built and paid for by the developer of Badger Mountain South.

State joins feds in suit against of rental pricing software maker

Washington is one of eight states to join the U.S. Department of Justice in an antitrust lawsuit filed against RealPage Inc., arguing the company’s software has enabled landlords to coordinate in inflating apartment rent prices. 

The suit says the company contracts with competing landlords who share “granular rental data,” including information on prices in executed leases, renewals, and inquiries and applications from prospective renters. RealPage feeds this information into its algorithmic pricing software, which produces recommendations for rent prices and other lease terms. 

The lawsuit also argues that RealPage has monopolized the commercial revenue management software that landlords use to price apartments, controlling about 80% of the market. 

The Texas-based company rejected the allegations and said it would defend itself. 

An estimated 800,000 leases in Washington have been priced using RealPage revenue management software since 2017, according to the state attorney general’s office. The state agency began investigating RealPage last year following reporting by ProPublica about how the company’s software could contribute to rising rents. 

“RealPage colluded to fix prices and keep rents rising in order to boost profits,” Attorney General Bob Ferguson said in a statement. 

– Washington State Standard

Zillow rolls out improved AI-powered search

Zillow’s AI-powered search experience is getting an upgrade. 

Buyers and renters can search for their next home using simple, everyday language in even more ways, including by commute time, affordability, schools and nearby points of interest. 

Users can skip the filters and search in the Zillow app by simply describing their ideal home, just as they would when talking to a friend. They can specify details such as layout, location and style. Users also can save their searches and have Zillow notify them when new qualifying listings come online.

This upgrade is live on the Zillow app for iOS and Android devices and will be coming soon to Zillow.com.