Tri-City Area and Real Estate Blog

The southern side of Badger Mountain is going to be home to a 5,000 home development after the land is annexed into the city. The first phase of the development was approved recently which allows for 78 homes on 70 acres and over the course of the next 20 years, it is believed that the majority of the 2,000 acres will be developed into a medium-density development with homes available in several price ranges, plus some areas of commerical development. This has been a long time coming with several investors and ideas that included a golf course community, however that golf course idea has been scraped at this point.  These homes would have easy freeway access for those who work in the Hanford areas, plus shopping centers.

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.

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.

Tonight March 8th at 6:30 pm in the Richland Public Library gallery room will be a meeting for Richland residents and business representatives to meet and discuss potential ideas for the Master Plan being developed for future changes to John Dam Plaza, located along George Washington wya and Jadwin Avenue. The Richland Parks and Recreation Department will be sponsoring the meeting.

Former Republican Congressman from Spokane, George Nethercutt Jr., is giving a presentation on March 9th in Richland, entitled “How Green In our Valley: Streategies for Creating a Sustainable New World.” The free program will be at the Richland Community Center from 7:15 pm to 8:30 pm. contact Teresa Claar at 375-2068 for registration and more information.

Liberty Tax Services are offering free tax help to Pasco & Richland educators, school employees and bus drivers for “Educator Appreciation Days” at their offices on Road 68 and queensgate from March 1-7.  Most educators spend their own money on supplies for thier classrooms and they could be eligible for a tax break for 2009 taxes.  Those eligible are educators teaching kindergarten through 12th grade teachers, instructors, counselor, principal or aide who spends at least 900 hours in a private or public school.