Tri-City Area and Real Estate Blog

The beauty of spring has been obvious in the last couple of weeks all over the Tri-Cities, and each morning as we drive to work many of us see it and rejoice in the season filled with light greens, pinks, yellows and reds. Gardeners have begun the ritual of trimming off the old and planting the new. Am I a gardener? No not really, but I am certainly am an enjoy-er of their efforts.  Tree lined streets like West 10th in Kennewick and its flowering pear and plum trees makes me smile all the way down the stretch. The beauty of dogwoods in yards, tulips, crocuses, forsythias and other plants bring color into our desert community and the smell of new mown grass brings delight to my senses.  Walking along the waterfront trail in Richland is also a delight in color and creatures with geese and ducks quacking long the paths.  Yes, spring has sprung here in the Tri Cities after a mild and delightful winter.  Don’t let this wonderful season pass you by – stop and enjoy the beauty of all that surrounds us in the Mid Columbia region.

After many years of petition pushing by former judge Fred Staples, the petition signatures have finally been verified and now the issue of moving the county seat from Prosser to Kennewick can be placed before the voters this November.  At this point, Benton County commissioners have a conundrum before them – what is all this gonna cost and what all is involved in relocating a county seat?  Tough questions to answer and the end result may require hiring a consultant to research answers regarding state law and to explore the actual process of moving offices from Prosser to Kennewick.

City council members from both Kennewick and Richland are in agreement that the Hanford Reach Interpretive Center would be a wonderful addition to the west end of Columbia Park, however there are concerns about the money to make it a reality.  Development of the west end of the park have long been debated, with alternatives for both commerical development and keeping it as a public park with improvements visualized.  The public would like to have a more useable park atmosphere, while planners & developers for both cities wanted more options for commerical use. When the option to add the Reach Center was proposed, it seemed like a perfect fit. The final decision lies in the hands of the Corps of Engineers and potentially could be approved next week.  Let’s keep our fingers cross that the Reach Center finds a new home in Columbia Park and that all parties involved can find a middle ground on the issue.

Ahhh, the arrival of spring in all its glory has reached the Tri Cities, and with it comes the beauty of trees and plants in bloom and tons of sunshine! As this writer drove into work today in Kennewick, my day was instantly brightend with the incredible colors that I drove past, so much so that I made  a U-turn, pulled out my camera a snapped several photos of different trees, bushes and plants I saw. I guess its a good thing I was actually ahead of my usual rushed schedule each morning.  It good to stop and smell the roses on occasion – or in my case, stop and snap a few photos.  I have lived many beautiful places across this country and seen many lovely communities, as have many of you. Sometimes I wonder about my decision to return to the Tri Cities after being away so long. Yet I find that we have so much to offer here weather-wise, activities-wise, employment and job growth-wise, and each time I stop and think about why I’m here, I find that with all those other things aside, just having the opportunity to enjoy such simple beauty each day feeds into the easy pace of life here.   Come join us here in the beautiful Tri-Cities region where there is so much to do and see…………..or not, if you so choose.

The new lighthouse, the stylish archway and now a new 1150 square foot shade structure – Clover Island is putting on the dog with all the new additions! Kennewick’s Planning Committee gave approval for the new structure to be providing shade to the island’s guests over the Metz Family Plaza. The structure itself will play into the marina theme with an appearance similar to a sailing ship, only the sail itself will provide shade (in time) with evergreen wisteria instead of sail fabric. Under the shaded area will be a lovely piece of sculpture art entitled the Family Group, created by Richard Warrington of Cheney.

Mark your calendars for April 10th & 11th this year – if you are in the market for a new home,  the Tri City Association of Realtors is sponsoring an Open House weekend in conjunction with the Realtors National Open House Weekend. The homes will be open somewhere in the timeframe of 11 a.m until 4 pm on both days. Last year’s event was a success with over 170 homes holding Open House events. Homes will be throughout Kennewick, Pasco, Richland and West Richland.