County sells land off Tausick Way to Walla Walla, affordable housing planned
By Griffin Beach on Tuesday, June 9th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – Walla Walla County has agreed to sell a 6.4-acre parcel of vacant property to the city of Walla Walla for $23,997.34.
The land is located just off Tausick Way across from the Mill Creek Sportsplex. Because the parcel is county land located inside city limits, the county was obligated to offer it to the city at cost.
County Commissioner Todd Kimball noted that the purchase price simply allows the county to recoup costs associated with the land. Those expenses include a $600 tax foreclosure that originally handed the land over to the county in 1940, as well as administrative fees and an environmental study.
Because the city is acquiring the land below market value, Washington state law requires that the property be used for affordable housing.
“This creates a tremendous opportunity for the city, the county, and our community partners to try to develop affordable housing in this area,” Walla Walla Deputy City Manager Preston Fredrickson said during Monday’s county commissioners meeting. “It’s approximate to college, to services, to parks — we’re just excited about seeing what we can do with this.”
The property is currently zoned for multi-family residential use. City officials plan to partner with a housing authority or an eligible nonprofit organization to develop the affordable housing units.
