RICHLAND -- Members of the Richland Public Facilities District board on Monday said that they'd like to choose a backup location for the Hanford Reach Interpretive Center by year's end.
No action was taken during the meeting, but the board continued discussions behind closed doors of five undisclosed alternatives that include both publicly and privately owned lands.
The $40.5 million interpretive center, also known as The Reach, long has been planned for construction at Columbia Point South at the confluence of the Columbia and Yakima rivers in Richland.
But a wrench was thrown into plans for that site when the region's tribes objected and the site became eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places as a traditional cultural property.
That eligibility, plus $4.1 million in federal money received for the project, combined to trigger an intense federal permit review process before anything could be built on the land.
Under that process, known as 4(f), the district would have to show it had examined all other possible locations where the center could be built and then determined that Columbia Point South was the only feasible site.
The board plans a workshop Saturday to continue closed-door talks about alternative sites.
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Change brings opportunity for Hanford Reach leaders
Change brings opportunity for Hanford Reach leaders
October has been a groundbreaking month for the Hanford Reach Interpretive Center in more ways than one.
At the start of the month, the first ceremonial shovels of dirt were turned at the future site of the museum in the west end of Columbia Park. It was a long-awaited day of celebration in a nearly decadelong effort to build the facility.
Those shovels of dirt meant a lot for a project that has already faced its share of challenges while still in the planning stage, most notably when it lost the preferred site for the interpretive center at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers.
Tri-City Regional Public Facilities District discusses locations
Tri-City Regional Public Facilities District discusses locations
Do Tri-City voters want to know where an aquatics park or a performing arts center would be built before voting on a tax to pay for it?
Members of the Tri-City Regional Public Facilities District tried to second-guess an answer Wednesday night when discussing how to proceed with staging a public vote next year.
Having a short list of possible sites for each of the three cities might clear up some questions and uncertainties for some voters, said Richland Councilwoman Sandra Kent.
Hanford Reach Center might break ground this fall
Hanford Reach Center might break ground this fall
COLUMBIA PARK -- The first dirt soon could be turned for construction of a local science and history museum nine years in development.
Officials involved with the Hanford Reach Interpretive Center tentatively have scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony for Oct. 5, conditioned on getting final approval from the state Department of Transportation.
The groundbreaking would be for the first phase of the project, which involves extending water and sewer lines, building a driveway that eventually will become part of Columbia Park Trail, and getting the property in the west end of Columbia Park ready for the eventual construction of the museum itself.
Reach Center might break ground this fall
Reach Center might break ground this fall
The first dirt soon could be turned for construction of a local science and history museum nine years in development.
Officials involved with the Hanford Reach Interpretive Center tentatively have scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony for Oct. 5, conditioned on getting final approval from the state Department of Transportation.
The groundbreaking would be for the first phase of the project, which involves extending water and sewer lines, building a driveway that eventually will become part of Columbia Park Trail, and getting the property in the west end of Columbia Park ready for the eventual construction of the museum itself.
Local search planned for interim leader for Reach center
Local search planned for interim leader for Reach center
The Richland Public Facilities District board plans to look locally for an interim director of The Hanford Reach Interpretive Center.
An interim chief executive could "settle everything down," said board member Dan Boyd.
"I think we need someone in quickly -- in weeks rather than months," said board member Rick Jansons.
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