Habitat requests West Richland rezone for townhome project

Tri-County Habitat for Humanity is eyeing 2.5 acres in West Richland for its next affordable homebuilding project.

Habitat has asked the city to rezone the land to allow for a townhome development.

The vacant property is adjacent to Bombing Range Sports Complex, off Mt. Adams View Drive.

Klicker introduces bill to determine what drives state housing costs

The state’s ongoing affordable housing crisis could get some assistance from a new bill introduced by Rep. Mark Klicker.

The bipartisan legislation, House Bill 2008, which is co-sponsored by the House Housing Committee Chair, Rep. Strom Peterson, would create a legislative task force to analyze housing cost drivers.

“We have been talking about the state’s affordable housing crisis for several years, and some progress has been made. But there is still much work to be done to help those who can’t afford housing in Washington,” said Klicker, R- Walla Walla, in a statement

The task force would include a member of each of the four caucuses in the Legislature. It also would consist of several other stakeholders in the industry, including economists and members representing nonprofit housing, for-profit housing, public housing authorities, builders, realtors, labor, lenders, tenants, and landlords, to name just a few.

“The goal of this task force is to get to the root of the problem by determining what factors are actually driving housing costs in Washington. We need to better understand the causes behind this issue before we can resolve them,” Klicker said.

The task force would research, analyze, and determine the primary cost drivers for housing in Washington state, such as rising property taxes, the cost to access utilities, workforce scarcity, increasing costs of supplies and expensive regulations.

Members of the task force would also solicit and consider information and perspectives provided by the Affordable Housing Advisory Board and those with relevant interest and expertise. It would report its findings and recommendations to the appropriate committees of the Legislature by Dec. 1, 2025.

“I’m excited to see what this task force can accomplish and I’m grateful to the Housing Committee chair for working with me on this legislation,” Klicker said.

The 2024 legislative session began Jan. 8 and is scheduled to run 60 days.

Tri-Cities Airport receives $4.4M in federal infrastructure funding 

Thirty-seven airports across the state received more than $190 million in federal funding in 2023, according to a statement from U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray. 

The Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco received $4.4 million to install a vertical/visual guidance system, reconstruct runway and taxiway lighting, and reconfigure existing runway. 

The Richland Airport received $160,000 and the Prosser Airport received $250,000, both for pavement improvements, among other projects.

Building group blasts hidden costs, supply constraints  

The Building Industry Association of Washington has a laundry list of concerns it feels will block affordable housing legislation this legislative session. 

BIAW's concerns fall into two categories, hidden costs and supply constraints, and include impact fees, energy code reform, property theft and density-first zoning, among others. 

“Washington has one of the highest median prices for new homes in America – $200,000 higher than the national average,” said BIAW President Jay Roberts of Cascade Custom Homes, in a news release. “If we want to ensure families across Washington can enjoy the American Dream of owning a home, legislators need to help us identify and eliminate unnecessary and unpredictable hidden costs. They also need to make it easier to find land to build new homes." 

Architecture firms report soft business conditions

Architecture firms across the country are reporting a decline in billing, but there are encouraging signs on the horizon.

“This marks the seventh month in 2023 with a decline in billings. Over the past three months this pace of decline has accelerated, with firms in all specializations and in all regions of the country reporting weakening business conditions,” said Kermit Baker, AIA chief economist. "However, with signs that credit conditions are beginning to ease, firms are reporting an uptick in inquiries for future projects.”

Hermiston adds housing, upgrades infrastructure  

The Tri-City’s neighbor to the south, the city of Hermiston, approved 74 new housing unit permits in 2023 and completed several long-term infrastructure projects, meeting the city’s goals of offering housing opportunities and investing in community assets to prepare for sustainable growth.

Since Jan. 1, 2020, the city of Hermiston has approved 548 new housing unit permits, including 108 for income-restricted apartments, 61 for manufactured homes, and 390 for other types of housing.

The city also completed the majority of work on several capital improvement projects in 2023, including the North First Place rebuild. The project replaced aging water and sewer lines, repaved the street surface, and added continuous sidewalk between Hermiston and Elm avenues.

According to the 2023 Portland State University Certified Population Estimates, Hermiston added 353 residents, bringing the city’s population to 20,322.

Expansion planned for The Coeur d’Alene Resort

Hagadone Hospitality Co. plans to expand The Coeur d’Alene Resort with a nearby 139-guest-room hotel development that is expected to cater to leisure travelers, the Spokane Journal of Business reports.

The project, called Sherman Tower, will be a block north of resort, on the north side of Sherman Avenue, between First and Second streets.

Pending approval of design plans by the city of Coeur d’Alene Design Review Commission, construction could begin in 2025 and wrap up by 2027.