Articles by Laura Kostad
Hot Tri-City housing market showing signs of slowing down
The Tri-Cities’ red-hot housing market is beginning to show signs of cooling. After a multi-year trend of rapidly appreciating home values, the construction labor force is stretched thin, interest rates are on the rise and building material prices are up due to new tariffs. But that’s not to say new housing projects have ground to…
Legal Aid group honors area attorneys’ contributions
Each year about 4,000 people reach out to the Benton-Franklin Legal Aid Society for legal assistance. And each year Tri-City area attorneys donate their time to help those they can. The nonprofit society recently held its annual awards luncheon to recognize attorneys who significantly contributed to the organization’s efforts to find pro bono legal representation…
Red Mountain pioneers collaborate on Cabernet for a cause
Two Red Mountain wineries are collaborating on a special vintage this year in honor of their 40th anniversary. In 1978, Barnard Griffin’s founder Rob Griffin produced the first Red Mountain commercial wine using grapes grown by John Williams and Jim Holmes at their Kiona Estate vineyard outside Benton City. Forty years later, their kids and…
Tyson announces $36M expansion during statewide manufacturing tour
As an Association of Washington Business bus rolled into the parking lot of Tyson Fresh Meats bright and early on a recent morning in Wallula, many of the cattle slaughterhouse and beef processing plant’s 1,400 workers were arriving for work. Even more people will be joining them at their job site next year when a…
Commercial real estate: local businesses drive development
Despite quick turnover of limited commercial real estate inventory and an ongoing demand for construction services, the Tri-City commercial real estate market continues to boom. “There is definitely a steady volume of construction that doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon,” said Scott Howard, executive director of the Tri-City Construction Council, the region’s plan…
Port of Kennewick: progress continues on Columbia Gardens, Vista Field
The Port of Kennewick’s two biggest development projects aim to turn high-profile properties into thriving, multi-use areas that offer a sense of community. The port plans to seek bids by the end of 2018 for the first phase of the Vista Field redevelopment project, while the construction of infrastructure to support the second phase of…
Vista Arts Center: group envisions dedicated place for arts
A 23-year-old group has stepped into the spotlight to raise money to open the Tri-Cities’ first performing arts center at Vista Field. The group has long said that the Tri-Cities doesn’t have a suitable, designated performance space to hold symphonies, Broadway shows, plays and ballets. “The idea is that Vista Field will become an arts…
Port of Pasco: new development projects in works, on horizon
Over the past year, the Port of Pasco has been paving the way forward — in some cases, literally — on several new projects. Responsible for most of Franklin County, aside from the northeastern region, which is managed by the Port of Kahlotus, the Port of Pasco owns more than 3,000 acres and expects to…
Port of Benton to buy 71.5 acres of light industrial land in north Richland
The Port of Benton celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2018, but Stuart Dezember, the port’s director of finance, said the real celebration will be after the completion of several projects currently underway. Those include the completion of Chukar Cherries’ expansion and second phase of Vintner’s Village in Prosser, purchase of 71.5 acres in north Richland…
D’s Wicked Cider’s serving up barbecue as part of expanded menu
What do you get when you cross apple cider brews with an open pit barbeque? A new dining experience at d’s Wicked Cider House & Tasting Room in Kennewick, that’s what. Located at 9312 W. 10th Ave., d’s Wicked Cider recently introduced a full-scale restaurant menu to its offerings, providing visitors a full meal deal…
