Vista Field groundbreaking set for new Japanese eatery

A groundbreaking event to celebrate the start of private-sector construction at Vista Field is set for 10 a.m. Nov. 22 and the public is invited.

The proprietors of Kuki LLC will break ground on a 3,500-square-foot, full-service Japanese restaurant called Kuki Izakaya at 697 Crosswind Blvd. in Kennewick.

Kuki Izakaya will be constructed on Lot 15, a 5,000-square-foot corner parcel with frontage on Crosswind Boulevard. The upscale Japanese restaurant will serve sushi rolls, sashimi, other Japanese cuisine, local wines and drinks, including Japanese sakis.

Kuki LLC also operates Ara Sushi & Grill and Chicken & Bowl in Richland.

Columbia Center mall welcomes new stores

A sushi restaurant and a popular brand selling running, yoga and other athletic gear have opened at the Columbia Center mall in Kennewick.

Lululemon opened Nov. 1 near the mall’s center court, and Golden Roll Sushi opened Nov. 2, in the food court, mall officials announced.

Golden Roll Sushi serves sushi rolls, poke and other Japanese fare.

The mall is at 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd.

WSU to launch environmentally-friendly construction degree

Washington State University is launching a new master’s degree program aimed at providing students with an understanding of environmentally-friendly construction practices.

The Energy Conscious Construction program is expected to start in the spring.

The program aims to train students in the design of more efficient and less carbon polluting homes. Washington state’s residential buildings account for 23% of the state’s energy consumption, and emissions from these buildings are the fastest growing source of greenhouse gases, according to a release from WSU.

The master’s program will offer a series of 10 courses and online learning modules. Students will earn a total of 30 credits through the program, following either a one-year or two-year path. The program, housed in the School of Design and Construction and offered through WSU Global Campus, is for students as well as for working professionals.

Interested applicants can apply at the School of Design and Construction website at sdc.wsu.edu/ecc-masters-degree.

Railroad receives $11.6M to boost rail capacity

U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, both D-Washington, have announced $115 million in total investments in the state’s rail system, including in a railroad that operates in the Columbia Basin. The improvements will boost railroad capacity.

The Columbia Basin Railroad Co. which operates between Moses Lake and Connell in central Washington, will replace about 10 miles of its railroad line and about 8,000 cross ties using $11.6 million in federal funding.

The railroad serves more than 50 businesses and is a lifeline for Washington farmers and exporters across Grant, Lincoln, Spokane, Adams and Whitman counties, according to a statement from the senators. It will contribute a 20% match to the improvement project.

Pasco receives $2.1M for intersection project

Pasco will use $2.1 million in federal funding to make some major improvements at the intersection of Sandifur Parkway and Road 76. 

The project includes installing a new traffic signal at the intersection and several pedestrian safety improvements, including marked crosswalks, sidewalk extensions and signal timing coordination with nearby Road 68.

The city said the improvements will make it easier for neighborhood residents to access the library, public transportation and businesses in the area.

The work won’t start right away; design is expected to start next year, with construction set to wrap up in 2027.

The funding is through the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Improvement Program.

Kennewick now offers virtual building inspections

Kennewick’s Building and Planning Department is now offering virtual inspection options for some residential and commercial work. 

Inspections are available for residential and commercial HVAC system replacements, residential and commercial water heater replacements and residential re-roofs.

These virtual inspections will be conducted via a Zoom call from the installation technician at the project location to an in-house inspector, who will be monitoring a Zoom meeting waiting room.

The inspection request process will remain the same as traditional requests, except the applicant will select “virtual” for their final inspection.

It is important to note that technicians performing the virtual inspection must have the Zoom link on their phone so they can call into the meeting and use their camera.

Pasco completes $17M water storage reservoir

Pasco has finished a new $17 million water storage reservoir, which it says will bolster the city’s infrastructure “by ensuring a reliable water supply to meet the community’s growing needs.”

The project was funded in part by a $10 million low-interest loan from the Public Works Board.

Constructed using a design-build approach, the project allowed the city to complete the reservoir on an accelerated timeline while maintaining quality standards, the city said in a release.

Officials will celebrate the completion of the 3.5 million-gallon reservoir at a public ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. Nov. 19 at 6701 Road 90.