Urban Renewal to seek developers for Tony’s site downtown TD; competitive process set
Here is a view of the corner of Federal and Third streets in The Dalles looking east. The vacant lot is the former location of Tony’s Town & Country which was demolished last fall. The Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Board decided on Tuesday, July 16, to formally solicit ideas from developers on what to they would place on the quarter-acre lot that would also energize a future Federal Street Plaza - see below.
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles., Ore., July 18, 2024 — The Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Board voted unanimously to seek proposals from developers that could integrate with the Federal Street outdoor Plaza concept at the corner of Third and Federal streets in The Dalles.
Rendering of possible future look of Federal Street Plaza
The decision was made at the board’s regular meeting on Tuesday, July 16.
Future decisions on what to place in the Former Tony’s Town & Country lot is important because it will have long-ranging impacts, good, bad, or mediocre in developing the culture of the community as well as creating an anchor for retail and commerce in the downtown area.
The location scores a “10 out of 10 when it comes to good location and a focal point for our community,” said former urban renewal chair Gary Grossman in 2021.
The decision to move forward with formal requests for interest from developers comes after a public survey was taken.
Urban Renewal Board Member Marcus Swift
“The public absolutely crushed it by responding to our survey and we got about 248 survey responses to determine what Urban Renewal should do with this property,” said Board Member Marcus Swift in a Facebook post. “They were amazing! I heard you loud and clear and am excited about your feedback.”
City Economic Development Officer Dan Spatz said the majority of surveys - more than 150 - requested greenways, parks, places for children or “somewhere in that spectrum.”
Spatz also noted that turning the entire quarter-acre lot into some form of park would require maintenance, creating another hurdle - finding an entity such as the City of The Dalles to take on the financial burden.
It also became clear during the meeting that several members of the board - Darcy Long, Staci Coburn, Scott Hege and Dan Richardson were in favor of some form of building that would add to the Wasco County Property tax rolls.
The Walawála Plaza provides some insight on how a public plaza would look and be incorporated into a downtown district.
View of Walawála Plaza from above.
By the end of the discussion, consensus was forming around using the former Tony’s lot for a business that would benefit from the plaza concept and vice-versa.
A recent discussion about placing the historic Jantzen Beach Carousel at the location also muddied the waters a bit as some public members were not in favor of it.
However, the carousel proposal would have to contend with others that are submitted as it is a competitive process.
Urban Renewal Chair Darcy Long
“It should create an equal opportunity for people to apply,” said Board Chair Long during the discussion.
Swift later defined that further in his Facebook post.
Jantzen Beach Carousel
“Submissions for request for expressions of interest (RFEI) can absolutely include the Neon Sign Museum’s proposal to locate the historic Jantzen Beach Carousel on the site,” Swift wrote. “The board first learned of the potential carousel proposal at last month’s meeting. I was surprised, but excited to hear the pitch. Proposals can also include dozens of other ideas about the lot from potential developers, while focusing on what the public and the URA board have determined is the highest and best use for the lot for taxpayers while ensuring it complies with our mission statement. Anyone in our community who is serious about developing the Tony’s Lot and can put together the plans, financing, etc., is encouraged to submit an RFEI.”
At the end of the meeting, Community Development Director Joshua Chandler and Spatz said they would incorporate the board’s ideas into the application documents for the board’s approval at a later meeting.
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