No progress after 6 years. Port dumps developer of prized Pasco project
The Port of Pasco is dropping the developer it chose six years to create a community on 55 acres of waterfront property at Osprey Pointe.
The port’s elected commission voted 3-0 on Dec. 12 to issue a 60-day termination notice to JMS Development LLC, led by James Sexton. The notice says JMS failed to fulfill terms of its agreement to develop the port-owned site at 1100 Osprey Pointe, between Ainsworth and the Columbia River in east Pasco.
The port and JMS signed the original letter of intent that led to the development agreement in December 2019.
Sexton pledged to invest hundreds of millions to create a waterfront districted packed with commercial buildings as residences, a marketplace, theater and other amenities.
At full build-out, Osprey Pointe would have had nearly 1,000 homes, restaurants, a playground and more.
Progress stalled amid design changes, procedural delays and the COVID-19 pandemic.
No work started
Sexton pleaded unsuccessfully with the commission at the Friday business session to stick with him, saying he could begin construction on off-site water and sewer connections within 30 to 60 days.
He previously promised to begin construction “soon” in both 2022 and 2023.
“I believe in this project. At the end of this, it will be a project like the Tri-Cities has never seen,” he told the commission.
The port selected JMS to carry out its vision of a mixed-development at Osprey Pointe after its initial partner faded out of the project.
JMS is an established home builder. It made promising deals to lease space at Osprey Pointe to restaurants and to build two Wyndham-flagged hotels. Sexton promised an amphitheater and a public market, the latter of which fell casualty to Washington’s clean energy policies.
Tired of waiting
Commissioners said they’re tired of waiting and of being called on to weigh small details, such as material choices and color schemes.
Commissioner Vicki Gordon noted that Darigold Inc. built a $1 billion milk processing plant on port-owned land in less time, and with less involvement in day-to-day decisions than JMS required.
“I don’t think we should be involved with those details,” she said, adding that she was an enthusiastic supporter at the outset. Gordon said she envisioned moving into a condominium at Osprey Pointe by now.
Commissioner Jean Ryckman, who is leaving office at the end of the month, said the projects latest schedule overemphasized residential development at the expense of commercial.
Mission isn’t housing
The port’s mission is economic development, not housing.
“This has been a project that I have really, really looked forward to,” she said. “The new amended schedule is inconsistent with and in opposition to our mission.”
The commission voted to terminate the agreement with JMS after a nearly hour-long executive session to discuss potential litigation.
Commissioner-elect Matt Watkins, who has already been sworn in to succeed Ryckman in January, was included in the executive session. He was not eligible to vote.
The port sent JMS a notice to terminate in 60 days on Dec. 12 citing its default and nonperformance on the obligations spelled out in the agreement.
This story was originally published December 14, 2025 at 5:00 AM.