What’s being built there? Extended-stay hotel, BBQ restaurant, new Starbucks & more
The graders move in, then the bulldozers and sometimes even cranes.
Even after workers start pouring concrete and framing up structures, it isn’t always clear what is being built until signs go up, usually at the end.
In this ongoing feature, the Tri-City Herald provides updates on projects being built around town and answers the question they inspire: “What’s that?”
Have you spotted a project and want to know more? Submit tips to news@tricityherald.com.
Kennewick
Swampy’s BBQ Sauce & Eatery
215 E. Columbia Drive
The building taking shape along Columbia Drive, across the street from Zip’s, is the future home of Swampy’s BBQ Sauce and Eatery.
The building will provide a permanent home and kitchen for Swampy’s at the Port of Kennewick’s Columbia Gardens & Urban Wine & Artisan Village. Owner Ron Swanby has operated a food truck and smoker at Columbia Gardens since it debuted in 2019.
Swanby reports the project is about half complete and said he looks forward to moving out of the food truck.
Swanby said the new building will help create a more viable business that can stay open at Columbia Gardens while the truck motors to catering jobs and special events.
The new building will offer a commissary kitchen for the other food truck operators at Columbia Gardens.
The kitchen and restaurant are being built in partnership with Pipeworks LLC.
Deschutes/Columbia Center intersection
The prominent intersection south of Columbia Center mall is being torn up to accommodate new lanes, curbs, gutters and sidewalks.
The city of Kennewick project aims to improve traffic flow through the intersection, which has a Circle K on one corner and Village at Grandridge apartments on another.
Ellison Earthworks LLC is the contractor.
Benton County Justice Center
7122 W Okanogan Place
Benton County has two building projects totaling $2.1 million underway at separate buildings at its Justice Center complex in Kennewick.
The first is a $350,000 build out to create seven offices in an unfinished area of the second floor of its new administration building. The work includes converting an existing conference room into two offices.
The second is a $1.8 million remodel of the two connected buildings that house District and Superior court operations. The courts are taking over space county administrators used before they moved into the $14 million administration building in 2021.
Banlin Construction is the contractor for both.
Richland
LivAway Suites
1289 Tapteal Drive
LivAway Suites, a extended-stay hotel chain, broke ground on a $12 million, 126-unit hotel project north of Columbia Center mall on Aug. 22.
The hotel is expected to open in 2024. The property is visible from Highway 240, west of Columbia Center Boulevard.
LivAway is a newer hotel brand based in Salt Lake City and is focused on utilitarian services to budget-minded travelers.
It will be the third hotel property on the Tapteal Drive corridor, after Holiday Inn Express and Suites Richland and WoodSpring Suites Tri-Cities Richland.
Wasatch DC Builders NW is the contractor. Tapteal II LLC is the owner
Amon Creek Mini Storage
101 Reata Road
The project by W-5 Investments LLC is a 17-building mini-storage facility with associated office buildings and parking. The city issued building permits for Buildings A through H in late August.
The combined construction value for the buildings permitted to date is $5.6 million.
The property is visible between Interstate 82 and Reata Road.
Pasco
New Starbucks
5818 Road 68
No surprise here since workers hoisted a giant “Starbucks” sign into place this week.
Yakima-based Hogback Development is constructing the new Starbucks next to Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, six blocks north of an existing Starbucks.
The 1,100-square-foot coffee shop will have a drive-thru, walk-up window and 18 parking spots.
Old U.S. Bank
1840 W. Court St.
The former U.S. Bank branch at 20th and Court has been demolished and ground preparation work has started for the Bruchi’s CheeseSteaks & Subs restaurant that will replace it.
The Bruchis building will be 2,760-square-feet MH Construction is the contractor.
Spokane-based Bruchi’s has six Tri-City locations. 20th and Court will be its seventh.
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