Exclusive | Can’t find an apartment in Tri-Cities? 10+ complexes opening new units soon
More than 2,000 new apartments will go on the market in the Tri-Cities in the next two years.
For many needing a place to rent now, they can’t open fast enough.
The apartment vacancy rate in the Tri-Cities has remained at 1.3% for more than two years. And that’s driven rent prices higher and higher.
In five years, the average apartment rental price has risen by more than $400 in Benton and Franklin counties.
Since 2019, the average number of apartments available has hovered under 150 total, according to data collected twice a year by the University of Washington’s Center for Real Estate Research.
There are 18 prospective renters for every apartment currently open in the Tri-Cities, according to the most recent data from Rent Cafe, which compiles apartment-related information.
Will more open units relieve some pressure on Tri-Cities renters or will they be snapped up by an influx of new workers being hired for the Amazon warehouses, expanding food processors such as Darigold and other large employers that may have to recruit outside of the area?
Here are the Tri-Cities apartment complexes already starting to lease or set to open within two years.
The Bob
Construction is set to begin soon on a new apartment complex named for longtime Tri-Cities developer Robert Young. The Bob will put 192 high-end units on the market within two years.
“The name of the complex is The Bob, which is my dad, who started in the early 60s doing business in the Tri-Cities,” Grant Young told the Tri-City Herald. “Our partners, who are SRM Development out of Spokane, suggested calling it the Bob as a tribute to my dad.”
Bob Young died in 2014, but his son has continued running the family business. Young told the Herald his father would have appreciated the honor. The new development is coming in at 703 Columbia Park Trail in Richland.
Young said that while they didn’t live in the Tri-Cities, his father always saw the value of doing business here, and with another boom in growth, it seemed like the right time to keep that legacy going.
“The Tri-Cities has a healthy economy, and we have deep business roots there. We’ve been here since the early 60s, and it’s a great place to live and a good place to own property,” Young said. “If the market continues to be strong, we will continue to think about investing in the area.”
The Bob will feature amenities such as a pool, spa and spacious gym. Young expects construction to kick off in June, with all 192 units going online by summer 2024. They expect to begin taking applications in late 2023.
Skyline Apartments
One of the smaller complexes on the list is also one of the first that will be available for prospective renters.
Jason Zook, owner of Smile-A-Mile Painting and Preferred Rentals, began development on the Skyline Apartments at 3120 W. Fourth Ave. in Kennewick in early 2021.
The $1.4 million apartment complex is sandwiched between the Highlander Apartments and the income-restricted Brentwood Apartments on West Fourth Avenue in Kennewick.
The 25,800-square-foot, three-story complex will have 24 two-bedroom units and two studio apartments.
Preferred Rentals told the Herald this week that they are hoping to have units ready for renters by mid-summer. They don’t have a website yet, but anyone with interest can call 509-579-9393 for more information.
Vicinity at Horn Rapids
The developers of Vicinity at Horn Rapids just received permits from the city of Richland to begin work on the final phase of their expansive apartment complex.
The first phase of the apartments began leasing in April 2021, at 2665 Kingsgate Way in Richland.
The next four buildings — D, E, F and G — are valued at a combined $21 million, and will bring the total number of units to 288.
The Vicinity is nestled on about 15 acres between the Horn Rapids RV Resort and the Babe Ruth Sports Complex, just across the road from the Horn Rapids Golf Course.
Units will range from 800-square-foot studios up to 1,250-square-foot three-bedroom units. Rent is listed at about $1,400 to $1,900 a month.
The Tides at Willow Pointe
The first 30 units of this waterfront apartment complex opened last summer.
The Tides at Willow Pointe is a high-end development aimed at the researchers, scientists and other employees at north Richland’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
They rent for about $1,400 for a one bedroom or $1,600 for two bedrooms.
When completed, it will boast 126 units on 4.4 acres at 230 Battelle Blvd.
The second phase is expected to be done this month, adding 26 units plus amenities and the third phase is scheduled for a June completion with the final 70 units.
Amenities include kayak and paddle board rentals, a heated pool, Amazon lockers for secure package drop-offs and a pet washing station.
Columbia at River Walk
Work has begun on the third phase of the Columbia at Riverwalk apartments in Pasco.
The first apartment building in the development opened last year, with a second beginning construction in late summer 2021.
The developers recently kicked off a third phase, filing foundation plans for a 48,000-square-foot, 3-story building.
When the project is finished, it will have 288 units.
Monthly rent currently ranges from about $1,300 for a one bedroom to $1,800 for two and up to $2,000 for three bedrooms.
Amenities include Quartz countertops, 24-hour fitness center, cyber cafe, dog park and more.
Vertisee Heights
Work is well under way on the $10 million mixed-use Vertisee Heights Apartments.
The project is at 1156 Columbia Park Trail in the Richland Y near the Yakima River Delta and Bateman Island in Richland.
The development is being spearheaded by former Tri-City Fever football player Lionell Singleton.
The expected opening date was not immediately unavailable.
Entiat town homes
A town house development is nearing completion at 911 W. Entiat Ave. in Kennewick.
The estimated $6.5 million construction project will include 36 town homes on 2 acres that once held a single-family home built in 1972.
The six-building project is next to the BNSF Railway tracks, just down the street from Fruitland Park.
The proposed units range from 1,300-square-foot two bedroom apartments to 1,500 square feet with three bedrooms.
Micro-Apartments
An Oregon based developer is turning several old, under performing Tri-Cities hotels into micro-apartments.
The conversions will bring more than 700 units online among the five properties they’ve begun to renovate. Apartments will be mostly upscale studios between 250 and 300 square feet, with a few one-bedroom apartments available.
Also, Fortify Holdings plans to buy the Clover Island Inn in Kennewick and Riverfront Hotel in Richland, and continue to operate them as hotels after approval for land purchases and zoning requests to turn them into apartments fell through.
The first of Fortify’s Tri-Cities micro-apartment properties to open will likely be The Q — the old Kennewick Quality Inn — and The Franklin — formerly the Best Western Plus Columbia River Hotel in Richland.
The company is hoping to begin renting units in late summer or early fall, with about 200 units going online at The Franklin and about 160 at The Q.
Their other Tri-Cities properties are the Days Inn in Richland and, in Pasco, Fortify has purchased the Loyalty Inn and the Rodeway Inn. They also are under contract to buy the Economy Inn in Richland.
Park Place
The newest luxury department development in the Tri-Cities is now leasing. Park Place, in Richland, boasts 126 units, 6,600 feet of retail space, underground parking and more.
The development opened last summer with units starting at $1,400 and going up to $2,300 monthly. They are at 650 George Washington Way in Richland
Amenities include secure entry, indoor and outdoor lounges, a sparkling pool and Jacuzzi, a cafe lounge and electric vehicle charging stations.
Resort at Hansen Park
The first phase of The Resort at Hansen Park is set to open with March move-in dates in March at its Trilogy Homes triplex development.
Developers Dennis Pavlina and Carmen Villarma are developing the 18-acre mixed-use complex off 10th Avenue, just west of Columbia Center Boulevard. The property will include the triplexes, two apartment complexes and a commercial development in the first phase.
Hansen Park was originally owned by Wilburt Hansen who operated the Hansen Fruit company on 778 acres. The orchards were cleared for 25 acres of Kennewick parks, as well as homes, apartments, churches, retail and offices.
Phase 1 of The Resort at Hansen Park will include:
- Trilogy Homes: 27 flats and town homes with two- or three bedrooms in a triplex configuration bordering Hansen Park. Monthly rents range from $1,995 to $2,595 beginning March 1.
- Park Avenue Apartments: A 132-unit, 3-story, garden-style luxury apartment community with studios, one, two, and three-bedroom stacked flats to the north of Trilogy Homes, scheduled to open this fall.
- 10 West Apartments: A 72-unit mid-rise building with one or two-bedroom flats with a private garage and office and retail space. It’s set to open in spring 2023.
- Hansen Park Center: A two-story commercial building for multiple office or retail users.
Construction is set to begin this year on Phase 2 on the east and north side, including a pool, clubhouse, fitness center, play areas and walking trails. Additional apartment communities and commercial buildings also are expected.
Badger Canyon Apartments
The first phase of Badger Canyon, a 642-unit complex at 10251 Ridgeline Drive in Kennewick, debuted in spring 2016. The property is almost fully completed, leasing nearly 600 units with the last building under construction. They hope to see the property fully completed by the end of spring 2022.
The Edward Rose experience at Badger Canyon Apartments, near Interstate 82 and West Clearwater Avenue, announced the then-$40 million project in 2011 and began building around 2015.
“We can’t build them fast enough,” said Rob Hughes, director of engineering told the Herald at the time.
“They’re being occupied immediately.” The final phase includes 240 units spread across five two-story buildings. The most recently finished building is now leasing with move-in dates available in March.
The property offers a variety of floorplans with one bedrooms starting at $1,340 a month up to $1,625 and two bedrooms ranging from $1,577 to $2,068 monthly.
Amenities include a dog park, an Amazon package pick up hub, smart locks and swimming pool.
Queensgate orchards
Not much progress can be seen in the future development located behind Target and the Queensgate shopping area of Richland, but it will eventually host a business park, housing and more.
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources announced in late 2020 that it would open up the former fruit orchard for development.
Eventually the 300 acres of formerly agriculture land will host new homes, apartments, a school and city park.
