The Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Agency Board approved a vertical housing project that will be one of the largest public investments in the history of The Dalles. The Basalt Commons project will be located on the former Griffith Motors auto sales lot at 523 East Third Street, which was purchased by Hanlon Development in 2017. The existing building will be demolished. Basalt Commons will comprise of 108 apartments in a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units, while the five-story building will have ground floor commercial space. Urban Renewal will be contributing as much as $1.73 million to the project, including direct payments to the City of The Dalles and Northern Wasco Parks and Recreation toward System Development Charges specific to the multi-unit residential aspect of the project via an Urban Renewal incentive program that encourages upper-story residential projects. A separate direct contribution of $730,000 will help offset construction costs. In addition, Basalt Commons is eligible for Vertical Housing Zone tax credits, providing a 10-year tax abatement of up to 80 percent for the property. Urban Renewal anticipates recouping its investment in 13 years. The 18-month construction period is anticipated to begin as early as summer 2024.
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Interstate Bridge To Be Closed First Weekend Of November
The Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge will be closed to all traffic for four consecutive days on the first weekend of November for work on the wire ropes that support the bridge lift counterweights. The closure will begin at 12:01 the morning of Friday, November 3 through 11:59 the night of Monday, November 6. Crews from Hamilton Construction will remove, replace, and adjust the tension in the wire ropes that support the bridge lift counterweights. The work is not weather dependent and will be underway continuously during the closure. The new ropes have a service life of at least 30 years. The work was originally scheduled to take place in May but fabrication delays prompted the Port to reschedule until after the fruit harvest this year. During the weeks leading up to the closure, there will be intermittent, single-lane closures of the bridge primarily during nighttime hours as Hamilton Construction crews work to prepare for the closure. For more information, visit the Port’s website at portofhoodriver.com.
Discovery Center/GEO Merger Opens Educational Opportunities
The recently announced merger of Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Gorge Ecology Outdoors is opening up educational opportunities for the Discovery Center. Discovery Center Marketing Director Mikey Goyette says GEO has their own department within the Center’s educational department, and their looking to continue the programs GEO has offered in the last two decades along with opening up other opportunities. An example of the possibilities is a Perseid Meteor Shower Family Viewing Party Saturday evening at 8 p.m. in the Discovery Center parking lot.
Visitors Center For Hood River Now On Cascade
Visit Hood River has a new location for its visitors’ center and offices. At the start of August, the organization has moved into space in Mall 202 on Cascade Avenue in downtown Hood River, after the visitors’ center had been located at the Hood River County History Museum in the marina area for a few years. Visit Hood River’s Hannah Settje says in just a few days in the new location, they’ve noticed an increase in the number of people coming in to the visitors’ center. The visitors’ center move comes just weeks before two of Visit Hood River’s biggest events, the Hops Fest and the Harvest Festival, both in early October.
Cruise The Gorge Weekend
This weekend is Cruise The Gorge weekend in The Dalles. It’s the 30th anniversary of the event that includes the Neon Cruise downtown on Friday evening, then the Show In The Shade on Saturday. Steve Hudson of Mid-Columbia Car Club says they had 160 cars for the show last year, but expect a bigger turnout this year, with pre-registrations nearly double from one year ago. Friday night will again be an open cruise in downtown The Dalles, with no registration required. The Show in the Shade on Saturday is returning to Sorosis Park for the first time since 2019. Complete details on the weekend are available at midcolumbiacarclub.org.
NCPHD Board To Consider District Or County Question Further
The North Central Public Health District Board of Directors decided to gather more information before making a decision on whether to recommend keeping the district as is or going back under Wasco County with Sherman County contracting for services. The board reached a consensus to form workgroups to answer various questions surrounding the issue, including legal responsibilities of the counties and how staff would be transitioned into the County if the district was to be dissolved. Wasco County Administrative Officer Tyler Stone said they would be looking to make sure no harm would be done to staff in a transition. But district board member Bill Lennox felt the employees are looking to the counties to indicate they will be supporters of what their values are. District board chair and Sherman County Commissioner Joan Bird suggested 30 days to gather more information.
Cascade Locks Power Outage Planned
There is a planned power outage for all City of Cascade Locks Power customers from 11 p.m. Wednesday to 4 a.m. Thursday. The City says the Bonneville Power Administration is planning the outage to perform repairs. Only Cascade Locks residents will be impacted. This outage will not include the Dodson and Warrendale area. The Hood River County Health Department advises people to notify the electric company if you use a medical device that requires electricity or take a refrigerated medicine. Cascade Locks City Electric can be reached at 541-374-8484.
D21 Bond Measure Title Filed
The Wasco County Clerk’s office says North Wasco County School District 21 on Monday filed a ballot title for its proposed $140 million bond measure to build a new high school. The Clerk’s office says the ballot title caption is “Bonds to Replace High School, increase safety, hands-on learning.” A full copy of the ballot title can be found on the Wasco County website under the current election section or obtained at the Wasco County Clerk’s office in the Courthouse in The Dalles. The Clerk’s office says any elector dissatisfied with the ballot title may petition the Wasco County Circuit Court for review of the ballot title not later than the seventh business day after the title is filed with the Elections Officer. The last day to file a review is August 16. The measure is to go to the ballot for the November 7 election.
Fire Closes Trails Near Starvation Creek State Park
A quarter-acre fire near Starvation Creek State Park on Monday afternoon forced the closure of trails in that area. The fire was reported after 1 p.m. Monday, a few hours after a thunderstorm had moved through the area. Four firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service – Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest rappelled to the burn area Monday evening, with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources supporting with a Type 2 helicopter. Oregon State Parks reported that Starvation Creek State Park and all of its trails, including the Historic Columbia River Hwy. State Trail, were closed due to what is being called the Warren Creek fire. The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area closed the Mt. Defiance Trail and Starvation Ridge Trail. The fire was at about 1,200 feet elevation.
SafeSpace Closes In On Fundraising Goal
SafeSpace Columbia Gorge Children’s Advocacy Center is closing in on their $5 million goal for its new facility on Wasco Loop in Hood River. SafeSpace is currently working on renovations to the building, and is looking to raise another $800,000 to reach its goal. Executive Director Beatriz Lynch says along with the new facility being able to provide a place where children who have been the victims of abuse can get help and share their experience in a comforting environment, they have a goal of providing a location for a children’s mental health hub. SafeSpace is holding its Summer of Hope dinner and live music benefit on August 19 at 6 p.m. at The Barn in Odell. Tickets are $60 per person, and available at safespacecac.org.