The Dalles City Council, acting in its capacity as the Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Agency, approved an exclusive negotiating agreement between the agency and Tokola Properties of Gresham to turn the former Tony’s Town and Country building in downtown The Dalles into a mixed-use development.  Mayor Steve Lawrence says if the negotiation is successful, the development would include both apartments and retail.  Tokola was the only firm to respond to a Request for Qualifications on the project, and the firm’s website says it is focused on creating and managing mixed-use developments in the Northwest.  Agency documents indicate the cost of the property is $450,000, and is currently held under a purchase agreement between the URA and the property owners.  The sale needs to be finished by March 1.  The agreement indicates Tokola has requested public financial participation in the project, but that would be subject to negotiation.