Around the Port
OneGorge “Gorgeous Night”
The OneGorge “Gorgeous Night In” virtual legislative reception was held via Zoom and YouTube in early March for Oregon and Washington legislators, their staff and Gorge leaders. The purpose of OneGorge advocacy is to make the Gorge and state economies healthier and more connected by promoting the interconnected river corridor—two states and multiple counties—as one. The group recognized the work of Washington Senator Curtis King with their inaugural “Legislator of the Year” award.
This year OneGorge is focused on six legislative priorities: Capital Projects, Transportation, Land Use, Public Safety, Warm Springs Water Crisis and Wildfires. The event featured the premier of a video focusing on these regional legislative priorities that can be viewed at: bit.ly/OneGorge2021.
ADA Access at Marina
A new ADA path was constructed this spring connecting the Marina Moorage Parking Lot to the Marina Restrooms. The ramp was designed by Stu Cato and installed by the Port Facilities crew.
Big 7 Building Roof
The Port’s Big 7 Building, part of the original Fruit Cannery Complex redeveloped in the late 1980s/early 1990s, recently benefited from a re-roof project that included complete roof removal down to the structural deck and installation of a new PVC thermoplastic membrane roof. Work was completed by Competitive Commercial Roofing in late 2020.
First Lower Mill Tenants
Leases have been approved for Lower Mill’s first occupants: Rapid ReadyMix and Neal Creek Forest Products. Neal Creek Forest Products, founded in 2018 and headquartered in Odell, offers landscaping materials and other products native to the Columbia River Gorge region. According to owner Paul Jones, the company’s additional location at Lower Mill will be used as a transfer yard for non-treated telephone poles for national shipment. Rapid ReadyMix is a concrete contractor that has been located in Bingen, WA since 1973. The company’s short-term lease will enable uninterrupted operations on the Oregon side of the Columbia River as a result of new weight limits on the Hood River-White Salmon Bridge.
Forth electric car-sharing pilot program
Work is underway to bring the Forth electric car-sharing pilot program with the installation of a charging station at a parking space located at the south end of N. 1st Street. The Forth project will place five electric car charging stations in the community to rent by the hour. This pilot project was funded by a federal EPA grant and hopes to demonstrate success in car-sharing services of electric vehicles in rural communities.
Steve Gates Remembrance
The Steve Gates Remembrance Project was constructed this spring by DKB Ltd. of Hood River and paid for with community-raised funds. Design concepts were provided by Mike Zilis of Walker|Macy Architects with a contribution by the Port.