_{Housing update for May 2023 shows dips}

_{The Tri-City Association of Realtors recently released a housing update for May 2023.}

_{The report covering the greater Mid-Columbia region shows some significant differences when compared to statistics from May 2022.}

_{Here’s the breakdown:}

• _{The average sold price was $435,600, down from $471,500 in May 2022.}
• _{The median sold price was $415,000, down from $438,500 in May 2022.}
• _{The total number of homes sold was 279, down from 410 in May 2022.}
• _{The average days on market was 41, up from 22 in May 2022.}
• _{The total number of active listings was 589, up from 387 in May 2022.}
• _{Pending residential listings were at 339, down from 423 in May 2022.}

_{The report covers Richland, West Richland, Pasco, Kennewick, Basin City, Benton City, Burbank, Connell, Eltopia, Finley, Kahlotus, Kiona, Mesa, Paterson, Plymouth and Wallula.}

_{New taphouse planned for downtown Kennewick}

_{A new taphouse called Blackthorne Neighbourhood Pub is planned in the former David’s Shoes store at 201 W. Kennewick Ave. in downtown Kennewick.}

_{Building permits filed with the city of Kennewick show architectural plans for a pub featuring more than 10 tables, a bar and a sitting area facing Kennewick Avenue.}

_{Faram LLC plans $400,000 in tenant improvements. JNM Construction is the general contractor.}

_{The company bought the building in February 2022 for $470,000 from Loren and Jamie Wikstrand, who bought it a year prior.}

_{Blackthorne Neighborhood Pub LLC applied for a liquor license earlier this year to serve beer, cocktails and wine. Shane Dozhier and Neil Darwen are the LLC’s registered agents.}

_{The owners say on their website that they visited ancient pubs and castles in England to create a place where customers can “enjoy flagons of ale and be merry together.”}

_{Their goal is to honor the “rich architectural saga” of downtown Kennewick, describing the future pub as cozy and family friendly.}

_{A soft opening is planned for this year.}

_{Go to: blackthornepub.net.}

_{New pickleball court billed as state’s biggest}

_{Kennewick is celebrating the completion of what it’s billing as the largest outdoor pickleball complex in the state at Lawrence Scott Park.}

_{The city added 12 new championship quality courts to the three existing courts at the park at 6020 W. Quinault Ave.}

_{A 74-by-45-foot picnic shelter pavilion and new restroom complement the new courts.}

_{The $1.5 million project was partially funded with American Rescue Plan Act dollars, but the city noted it is a true community partnership with funding coming from Toyota of Tri-Cities, Retter & Company | Sotheby’s International Realty and Club 509 Pickleball.}

_{The city plans a grand opening from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 17. The first 100 people get their choice of two free tamales from Miss Tamale or a shaved ice cup from Kona Ice.}

_{The public also can learn the basics of pickleball with Club 509 Pickleball offering free instruction.}

_{Mayor Bill McKay, alongside sponsors and city staff, will play the first game, and officially open the complex for play after a short speaking agenda.}

_{Richland reopens Bateman Island to public}

_{Bateman Island is open and on its way to recovery.}

_{After a lightning strike ignited a 2.5-acre fire in early May, Bateman Island has reopened to the public, the city of Richland announced.}

_{Prosser receives grant to develop long-range park plan}

_{The city of Prosser has received a $162,708 grant to develop a long-range parks, recreation and open space plan from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office.}

_{Historically, Prosser has relied on a single data collection method – a survey posted on the city’s website – for updating its plan, which city officials said is not robust enough to fully explore Prosser’s diverse recreation needs, nor does it enable city leaders to identify and eliminate access barriers for underserved populations.}

_{The grant will allow Prosser to create a plan using multiple data collection methods, including multilingual online surveys, canvassing, focus groups, and public meetings, to ensure optimum public input.}

_{Prosser’s parks plan was last updated in 2018 and an update is due in 2024.}

_{The state awarded more than $4.7 million in grants to help communities plan for outdoor recreation facilities in 19 counties, ranging from $12,927 to $250,000.}

_{Goodwill opens new employment center in College Place}

_{Goodwill of the Columbia recently celebrated the opening of its new Employment Connection Center in College Place.}

_{The 3,000-square-foot center at 1017 NE C St. will employ six staff to assist those looking for employment in the surrounding area.}

_{The free walk-in job search assistance program helps job seekers create resumes, prepare for interviews and access community resources and information.}

_{The employment center also provides access to a computer lab, computer tutorials, skills assessments and internet job-search services designed to improve job-seeking skills.}

_{Go to: goodwillotc.org.}

_{Senske Services acquires pest control company}

_{Senske Services has acquired Barnes Quality Pest Control of Bend, Oregon.}

_{“We are so excited to be expanding into Oregon,” said Casey Taylor, Senske’s chief executive officer, in a statement. “As we continue to grow Senske nationwide, we seek out partnerships with successful companies such as Barnes Quality Pest Control.”}

_{Barnes Quality Pest Control has served customers since 1983. The acquisition is happening because owner Corey Thompson decided to retire and was in search of a partner to take over.}

_{“Our customers have high standards, and I trust Senske to meet those. Joining Senske also provides career growth opportunities for our employees,” Thompson said in a statement.}

_{Senske, a residential lawn care, pest control and home services company, started in Spokane in 1947, eventually expanding into Kennewick, Yakima and beyond.}

_{It now has locations in Washington, Idaho, Utah and Colorado.}

_{U.S. housing market is short affordable homes for middle-income buyers}

_{The U.S. housing market is short more than 300,000 affordable homes for middle-income buyers – and the nationwide housing crunch affects those buyers more than any other bracket.}

_{Those were the results of an analysis by the National Association of Realtors, or NAR, and Realtor.com.}

_{“Middle-income buyers face the largest shortage of homes among all income groups, making it even harder for them to build wealth through homeownership,” said Nadia Evangelou, NAR senior economist and director of real estate research, in a statement. “A two-fold approach is needed to help with both low affordability and limited housing supply. It’s not just about increasing supply. We must boost the number of homes at the price range that most people can afford to buy.”}

_{Listings valued up to $256,000 are considered affordable for households earning up to $75,000. Those middle-income buyers can afford 23% of listings in the current market, the analysis found.}

_{The median price for homes sold in the Tri-Cities in May was $415,000.}

_{Five years ago, that group could afford half of all available homes.}

_{Spokane made the list of the metro areas with the fewest affordable homes for middle-income buyers.}

_{Port installs wayfinding signs at Columbia Gardens}

 _{New signage at Columbia Gardens Wine & Artisan Village aims to showcase the wineries, food, art and recreation amenities to help guests find their favorite places or activities.}

_{Port of Kennewick contractor Poland & Sons recently installed a large monument-style sign and several directional-panel signs to help with branding and wayfinding. The monument sign is along Columbia Drive near the Cedar Street entrance to Columbia Gardens and consists of Corten steel, real stone and red signboards.}

_{In addition, there are three directional signs within Columbia Gardens and two along the Duffy’s Pond pathway near Clover Island Drive. The directional signs are Corten steel with arrows indicating the way to food, art, wine, recreation and Clover Island.}

_{Meier Architecture | Engineering designed the port’s signs to complement city of Kennewick signage in Columbia Park, Columbia Drive and Historic Downtown Kennewick. The port’s signs incorporate the same Kennewick “red” identified within the Tri-Cities’ regional wayfinding plan.}

_{There are six food trucks, four winery tasting rooms, two wine production facilities, three public artwork installations and a paved waterfront path at Columbia Gardens. In May, food truck tenant Swampy’s BBQ broke ground on a restaurant and commissary kitchen building there.}