KENNEWICK The Benton-Franklin Humane Society has bought a site to move its no-kill shelter from Gage Boulevard west of the Columbia Center mall to a larger facility to be built in east Kennewick.
Shelter officials said they will build this summer on 3.66 acres at 1710 E. Seventh Ave., east of Chemical Drive near Western Equipment Sales, and an architect has begun work on detailed plans for the structure.
Ed Dawson, shelter operations manager, said a final push to raise $500,000 will be launched.
"We have cleared a very important hurdle. The project was on hold until we had the land, so now we can build our dream shelter," Dawson said.
"We have been looking since October 2008 and working to get this piece of land for half a year," Dawson said.
Society officials locked up the purchase late Friday with an agreement to pay the Port of Kennewick $159,000, Dawson said.
"It isn't centrally located like we are on Gage and is a little off the beaten path, but it still is in the city," Dawson said.
The property has several buildings, all but one of which will be removed to make way for the new shelter. The remaining structure might be used as a low-cost spay and neuter building, he said.
Dawson said the property provides the society an affordable way to build a larger animal shelter.
The current shelter, which can house about 40 animals, originally was built as a veterinary hospital. Dawson said the new facility will be three times that size, or about 9,000 square feet, and will provide space for up to 120 animals to be kept until they can be adopted.
Dawson said the Humane Society has the only no-kill facility in Benton and Franklin counties. "We've got a long waiting list of people who want to bring animals to us because we are no kill," he said.
A groundbreaking will be held in April and a campaign to raise $500,000 for the project will launch soon.
"The ideal situation is to go into the new building without any debt," Dawson said.
* John Trumbo: 509-582-1529; jtrumbo@tricityherald.com
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