2000 Best Practice Awards

Kennewick Incubator/Business Center The building had been sitting vacant for a year, on a very visible corner of downtown. The Tri-Cities Enterprise Center, an economic development agency, received block grant funds to purchase the building, remodel it and establish a business center to provide technical assistance to start-up businesses. They have removed some of the old covering and are getting bids on new facade. Three businesses have their offices here, including the Downtown Association and a total of 4 new jobs.
C. E. Williams Building This property was the first commercial building to be placed on historic register. The new owner is planning to restore it to original design and started removing some of the "slipcover". She found the original JC Penney sign and has been working with their historical department to see what can be done to preserve it. The upstairs will be converted to artists loft studios and the main floor used as an art gallery. The Downtown Association's Main Street Program provides design guidelines and technical assistance for historic preservation projects.
Perfection Glass: This property owner decided to make a major investment in the Downtown by expanding his operation rather than moving out and building a new facility. This was the first major reconstruction resulting from the Revitalization Strategy efforts and spurred many other property owners into remodeling. He duplicated the Downtown streetscape design in front of this building knowing it would be several years before the city would be able to fund his street. He was the recipient of the first annual award for building improvement awarded by the Block Grant Advisory Committee - the 1999 Downtown Revitalization Award.

Content Archived: April 20, 2011