What’s being built there? Townhomes + New Columbia Center stoplight + $2.4M event hall

Wendy Culverwell
·3 min read

Welcome to “What’s being built there,” the occasional Tri-City Herald feature that answers the construction questions on readers’ minds.

Send tips, questions and update suggestions to news@tricityherald.com.

Kennewick

Morain Street Townhomes

525 S. Morain St.

Work on install underground utilities is underway for the new Morain Street Townhomes housing development on South Morain Street at West 5th Avenue in Kennewick.
Work on install underground utilities is underway for the new Morain Street Townhomes housing development on South Morain Street at West 5th Avenue in Kennewick.

Utility lines are being installed at the future site of Morain Street Townhomes in an established central Kennewick neighborhood.

The townhouse community will feature 20 units with prices starting in the high $300,000s. The property owner, Jeremy Brock, bought the site and a small kit-built home for $740,000 in July.

Kristie Baker, a broker representing the property to buyers, said the townhomes will be sold on a fee simple basis, so buyers will own the land. The 1,500-square-foot homes will have three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a one-car garage and most appliances.

Windy River Homes is the builder. The seller is accepting reservations. The homes will be ready to move in this summer.

Columbia Center Boulevard stoplight

Columbia Center and West Seventh

Motorists drive under new traffic signals that will soon be operational at the intersection of Columbia Center Boulevard and West 7th Avenue in Kennewick.
Motorists drive under new traffic signals that will soon be operational at the intersection of Columbia Center Boulevard and West 7th Avenue in Kennewick.

There’s a new stoplight coming to western Kennewick. Crews are installing a new signal at South Columbia Center Boulevard and West Seventh, at the entrance to Hansen Park.

The new light will help control traffic associated with hundreds of new apartments and other residential units in development at the Resort at Hansen Park.

The traffic light was required to manage the impact of hundreds of new apartments on neighboring streets, the city said.

The Resort at Hansen Park is an 18-acre, multi-pronged residential community by Vancouver-based developers Carmen Villarma and her husband, Dennis Pavlina.

The first three apartment communities are now leasing: Trilogy Homes, a collection of triplexes, Park Avenue, a garden-style community, and 10 West, a three-story urban project with a courtyard and interior parking.

When complete, the neighborhood will include stores, a 55+ apartment complex, a community center with pool and other amenities, including walking paths.

Shade Tree Subdivision

7973 W. 10th Ave.

An excavator sits idle on snow covered former pasture land, the site of a new housing development called Shade Tree Subdivision, on West 10th Avenue just west of Columbia Center Boulevard in Kennewick. The excavator in the background is working on a housing develpment on Thompson Hill.
An excavator sits idle on snow covered former pasture land, the site of a new housing development called Shade Tree Subdivision, on West 10th Avenue just west of Columbia Center Boulevard in Kennewick. The excavator in the background is working on a housing develpment on Thompson Hill.

Infrastructure including utilities are being installed for the future Shade Tree neighborhood, a 4.4-acre site off West 10th Avenue near Columbia Center Boulevard.

The property will be subdivided into 14 lots for single-family homes in two phases, according to Kennewick city documents.

The site’s zoning designation was changed to residential, suburban from agricultural in 2006. It is across 10th from the Resort at Hansen Park, a collection of rental properties being built in phases.

Pasco

Bruchi’s CheeseSteaks & Subs (update)

1840 W. Court St.

Construction of a new Bruchi’s Cheese Steaks & Subs restaurant is well underway at the location of the former U.S. Bank branch on West Court Street and 20th Avenue in Pasco.
Construction of a new Bruchi’s Cheese Steaks & Subs restaurant is well underway at the location of the former U.S. Bank branch on West Court Street and 20th Avenue in Pasco.

Construction continues on a future Bruchi’s CheeseSteaks & Subs at the site of a former U.S. Bank building in Pasco.

The 2,800-square-foot Bruchi’s is being built alongside a future 1,500-square-foot home for Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream.

The bank was demolished in early 2023.

Richland

Legacy Landing (update)

3151 Duportail St.

Legacy Landing, a three-space retail building at 3151 Duportail St. is currently the most visible construction project in Richland’s Queensgate area.
Legacy Landing, a three-space retail building at 3151 Duportail St. is currently the most visible construction project in Richland’s Queensgate area.

The most visible construction in Richland’s Queensgate district is a 7,000-square-foot, three-space retail building being developed by Gretl Crawford, a local developer and mayor of Kennewick.

Individual spaces range from 2,000 square feet to nearly 3,000 square feet and a drive-thru is available. Go to gretlhomes.com/services for leasing information.

West Richland

Islamic Center of Tri-Cities new hall

2900 Bombing Range Road

The Islamic Center of Tri-Cities, at 2900 Bombing Range Road in West Richland, is working on an expansion project that includes a standalone multi-purpose hall and adding parking stalls.
The Islamic Center of Tri-Cities, at 2900 Bombing Range Road in West Richland, is working on an expansion project that includes a standalone multi-purpose hall and adding parking stalls.

The Islamic Center of Tri-Cities is building a 10,200-square-foot addition and 83 parking spots.The city of West Richland approved the work, valued at $2.4 million, shortly before Christmas.

The project includes a standalone multipurpose hall.

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