Port-owned Vista Field was booming this year, with its first few groundbreakings taking place and forward progress on a housing project that could bring 300 homes to the former airport.

But the path forward remains uncertain as the port awaits guidance from the state after completing additional chemical testing at Vista Field.

Projects at Vista Field

In November 2024, dirt began moving for Kuki Izakaya Japanese restaurant, the first private development to break ground at the 103-acre former airport. 

It was soon followed by Blueberry Bridal and Columbia Point Eye Care, which broke ground in spring 2025.

Other projects planned for Vista Field include a five-story mixed-use building, which would total 40,000 square feet and cost $8 million, spearheaded by Camas-based Akula Group. 

Meanwhile, the port also has made an agreement with BlueChart LLC to bring upwards of 300 single-family homes to Vista Field. Construction could begin as soon as the summer of 2026 on the project.

Work also has wrapped up on Vista Field’s Southern Gateway project, which transformed two airplane hangars into open-air pavilions with a walkway and a statue of a paper airplane. 

Before opening up the pavilions to public events, the port wants to complete work on a supporting parking lot, planned to have 133 stalls and 26 EV charging stations. Work on that parking lot, along with two others planned, has paused due to the reports of chemical findings this summer. 

Work has wrapped up on Vista Field’s Southern Gateway project, which transformed two airplane hangars into open-air pavilions.

| Courtesy Port of Kennewick

PFAS pause

The port received reports in June of synthetic chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, at Vista Field that might stall development. 

“It’s a bit of a conundrum, because we were racing, we got stuff going,” and now the port has to take a timeout, said Tim Arntzen, Port of Kennewick’s CEO. 

The initial testing took place on a private lot at Vista Field and reported PFAS levels above the limit set by the state Department of Ecology. 

The port followed up on the reports with its own round of testing, conducted by Landau Associates, which has extensive experience in testing for PFAS, Arntzen said.

The process required following strict protocols because the chemicals are so widespread. “They’re in raincoats, they’re in cosmetics, they’re in candy wrappers, they’re everywhere,” he said. “So you have to be very, very careful when you’re doing the sampling.”

The additional testing showed minor amounts of PFAS in one of the 47 samples taken. Landau is preparing a report to share results with the state Department of Ecology and the port is awaiting direction, port officials said during a Sept. 23 meeting.

In 2014, the port conducted an environmental assessment at Vista Field that included extensive evaluation for all pesticides, insecticides, petroleum products and other chemicals listed by the Department of Ecology as hazardous substances. That assessment identified no conditions of concern, the port said in a July news release. However, Ecology has since expanded its list of hazardous substances to include PFAS.

The port has currently paused its work on parking lots and other amenities during the testing, though private development is able to continue moving forward. Kuki Izakaya and Blueberry Bridal are both expected to complete construction by the end of 2025.

The port also is working with the city of Kennewick to determine if anything used at the former airport could have led to the presence of PFAS in the soil. 

The state’s review of the new testing results will help determine the port’s next course of action.

Currently, the port has worked to be transparent with the community, as well as those who have bought lots or are considering buying lots at Vista Field. The port continues to get phone calls from those who are interested in properties. 

“And then beyond that, the larger question, the larger vision, if you will, is to do the right thing, and the right thing is to protect the public if there’s a risk,” Arntzen said. “The other right thing to do is to protect the environment.”

Creating vibrancy

The port also is continuing work in other areas while movement is paused at Vista Field.

The Clover Island Inn at 435 N. Clover Island Drive has changed hands and its new owners are working on renovations with the hope of meeting the standards to become a Spark by Hilton hotel. 

Arntzen said half of the rooms are already renovated, and the hotel continues to operate as it works on its remodel in sections.

Last year, the port also helped buy a new stage for the hotel, which is in the 20th year of its concert series. In the past year, the port has done maintenance work throughout Clover Island, including adding security cameras and improving the walkways and boardwalk and refreshing some of the artwork. 

It’s “all about creating vibrancy for this end of town, reminding people that they’ve got a beautiful waterfront,” said Tana Bader-Inglima, the port’s deputy CEO. 

Nearby, at the Columbia Gardens Wine & Artisan Village at 325 E. Columbia Gardens Way, the port recently celebrated the opening of a new food truck, La Bahia, which serves up Mexican-style seafood. Columbia Gardens is also home to food trucks Bobablastic Tri-Cities, Botanas Culichi, Frida’s Mexican Grill and Nana’s Kitchen, as well as permanent restaurant Swampy’s BBQ. Bartholomew Winery, Monarcha Winery and Gordon Estate Winery also have facilities there.

The port is working to fill a vacant space at the gardens, and Bader-Inglima noted that their investments have begun to spark other interest in the area. 

“All of the little spots and places that used to be empty are now getting what they call infill development, which is great to see,” she said.  

The new owners of Clover Island Inn at 435 N. Clover Island Drive are currently renovating it in hopes of meeting the standards to become a Spark by Hilton hotel.

| Courtesy Port of Kennewick

Maintenance work

The port has done a lot of maintenance in the past year, from renovating port-owned buildings on Oak Street to updating the industrial development facilities near Vista Field.

A fire damaged one leased building in the port’s Oak Street Industrial Park, and the port relocated the tenant and completed renovation work at the building. The port also renovated an empty Oak Street building to transform it into a home for the port’s maintenance team, consolidating the port’s staff and equipment into one space. 

The industrial development facilities at 415 N. Roosevelt St. also saw updates, including new paint, HVAC improvements, and interior and exterior improvements. The buildings aren’t a part of the old airport site, and part of each building is currently leased to tenants.

The port has an operating budget of $5.2 million, non-operating budget of $2.3 million, capital budget of $6.2 million and collects $5.2 million from property tax revenue.