Home | En Español | Contact Us | A to Z 

Columbia Pharmacy Building

Photo of facade before renovation

Photo of facade after renovation

Photo of interior before renovation

Photo of interior during renovation, before drywall is hung

Photo of interior after drywalling and before paint

The Columbia Pharmacy Building is one of many Success Stories that have been locally nominated for recognition in celebration of CDBG's 30th Anniversary.

Success Story Details

Grantee: City of Kennewick, Washington
Field Office: Seattle (Region 10)
Carried Out By: Deb Ashbeck
Eligibility: 570.202(3)
Natl. Objective: 570.208(a)(1)(vii)
Funding:
CDBG $52,700
Other $  5,000
Total $57,700
Date Started: November 4, 2002
Date Completed: Ongoing
IDIS Activity No: 163
Grantee Contact: Alan Kowalski (alan-kowalski@ci.kennewick.wa.us)
Grantee Website: City of Kennewick (http://www.ci.kennewick.wa.us)

Success Story Description

The Columbia Pharmacy Building was built in 1904, the same year Kennewick was incorporated as a city. Deb Ashbeck purchased the building (most recently used as a video rental store) in May of 2001. Ms. Ashbeck opened her art and design studio on the street level, hoping to eventually live on the second floor. She began the renovation on her own, and in late 2002 approached the city for help with completing the conversion. With a $12,500 loan, she was able to complete enough of the work to get an occupancy permit and move in.

With a place to sleep, she began restoration of the building fa�ade, including a separate entrance for the upstairs. Matching funds from the Downtown Kennewick and Columbia Drive Association's Fa�ade Improvement Program (CDBG-funded) enabled completion of the project just in time for Kennewick's Centennial Celebration. Deb's business, Aurora Art, has grown 45% in four years. In addition, her adult daughter recently opened an art gallery in the front portion of the first floor. The building was a front-page feature in the local paper, the Tri-City Herald, on January 5, 2004.

Content Archived: April 20, 2011

Whitehouse.gov
FOIA Privacy Web Policies and Important Links [logo: Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity]
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
451 7th Street S.W.
Washington, DC 20410
Telephone: (202) 708-1112 TTY: (202) 708-1455
usa.gov