KENNEWICK, Wash. – The Port of Kennewick has approved a significant land sale at Vista Field, paving the way for nearly 300 new homes.
The Port’s Board of Commissioners sold four parcels of land to BlueChart Homes, marking one of the largest deals in the Port’s history.
The Vista Field Master Plan, a collaborative effort between the Port and the City of Kennewick, aims to redevelop 103 acres of land formerly occupied by the Vista Field Airport. BlueChart Homes has been approved to develop the first five phases of the project, with the option to complete the last three phases.
Port Deputy CEO Tana Bader-Inglima described the project as creating an urban town center reminiscent of older downtowns.
“So the vision is to have an urban town center. It’s much more like the older downtowns used to develop where you have smaller scale streets,” Bader-Inglima said. “You have people living and working in and recreating in the same space. So you could have a life above and work below.”
BlueChart Homes plans to offer at least 12 different home designs and 36 other styles while adhering to the Master Plan’s standards. The project is designed to be a pedestrian-friendly, transit-served community with affordable housing and commercial buildings.
“The development was really planned with pedestrians, bicyclists, and folks being in mind. Cars can certainly access all of it, but it’s more of a pedestrian friendly, transit served community,” Bader-Inglima said.
The Port has already invested $4.9 million in infrastructure, parks, and fountains for the first phase, with more funding expected.
“As we sell those lots to BlueChart, some of the 15% of that land sale cost will be put aside to do some additional public spaces within the neighborhoods themselves,” Bader-Inglima said. “So it really will be an exciting development and different than what we’ve seen in other parts of this community.”
Commercial businesses have started construction or have plans for new buildings as part of this development.
More information about the project can be found here.
