City of Richland Residential construction off Ava Way and Dallas Road on the south slope of Badger Mountain in Richland. | Photo by Scott Butner Photography
Pace of progress picks up despite pandemic BY MARY COFFMAN
T
he pace of progress is on the rise in Richland, where the city has issued nearly twice as many commercial building permits through July 2021 compared to the same time period last year. While the overall number of permits has increased, the value of the projects is coming in lower, said Mandy Wallner, marketing specialist for Richland’s economic development office. “We really have been very well insulated over Covid, and saw an increase in sales tax, as well as an increase in the overall number of active businesses in the community, which has a population of approximately 59,570. “We did see more businesses open than close during the pandemic,” she said.
Through July 2021, the city issued 54 new commercial building permits valued at $35.7 million, compared to 28 permits the previous year during the same period, at a value of about $50.9 million. The trend continues for commercial remodel permits. In the first seven months of 2021, the city issued 75 commercial remodel building permits valued at $14.3 million, compared to 60 during the previous year, at a value of $16.9 million. Permits for new single-family homes are up 16% through July this year, with the city issuing 233 new permits at a value of $80.4 million, compared to 213 in 2020, valued at $67.4 million.
National Guard center One of the largest projects underway is the new readiness center being built by the Washington
Army National Guard on 40 acres in north Richland. The $15 million, 40,000-squarefoot center at 2655 First St. in the Horn Rapids Industrial Park is expected to be complete in early 2022. It will service a Stryker Infantry unit with classrooms and conference rooms, which also will be available for public use. The facility will be used to train reservists for responding to national disasters and other civil responses. “(The Washington Army National Guard) previously did not have a presence here, so I think this is very exciting,” Wallner said. The facility will have a handful of National Guard staff members stationed there permanently, including a recruiter, and about 150 soldiers will attend monthly drills on the weekends and during two weeks each summer. Focus | Construction + Real Estate
53
