Council to consider new urban renewal area
By Terry Murry on Monday, October 10th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News
HERMISTON – The Hermiston City Council holds its first meeting in its new chambers at 180 NE Second St. this evening at 7. A public hearing and first reading of a proposal to form the Southwest Hermiston Urban Renewal Area is before the council.
City staff has put forth an urban renewal plan arrived at by a consulting team for the council’s consideration. The 350-acre tract is located at the intersection of Feedville Road and Highway 207. They report that blight on the site led to a lack of development and that an ambitious infrastructure plan to bring water to the area is recommended. The water infrastructure projects will cost a little more than $9 million.
The city reports that the acreage will include 1,300 housing units, commercial areas, and public service areas. Those areas would include land for a new fire station, a community park, and several smaller neighborhood parks.
The council will also consider a lease of 20 acres of Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center land to Made to Thrive of Hermiston to develop youth sports fields to be called HEROS Sportsplex. The proposal grants a five-year lease with an option for another year and five percent of parking fees during the lease. The rent is “in the form of Tenant’s improvements to the property,” the lease agreement states.
Once the fields are completed the maintenance of them will fall to Hermiston Parks & Recreation. In addition, that department will be responsible for maintaining grass even if the construction is not complete.
The meeting will also be streamed live at the city’s You Tube Channel.
