THE DALLES – Demolition begins this month on the former “Tony’s Town & Country” building in downtown The Dalles to open the site for redevelopment through the city’s Urban Renewal Agency.
Sidewalk closures will occur periodically through October.
“Getting this site ready to build on is essential for quick construction, which is critical to the board’s vision for downtown,” said Urban Renewal board president and city councilor Darcy Long. “It’s exciting to be one major step closer to new development that will bring job opportunities, economic growth and, potentially, housing for The Dalles.”
The Dalles Urban Renewal Agency purchased the property at 401-407 E. Second Street in 2016 with the hope of revitalizing a key part of the downtown core. Since then the agency considered multiple development options, ranging from replacement with multi-story mixed-use to reuse as a fitness center. None of the plans proved feasible.
Meanwhile, various inspections revealed the high cost to repair and reuse the structure, as well as a significant amount of hazardous material. In February 2021 the Urban Renewal Board directed staff to pursue demolition and hazardous material abatement to make way for a development-ready site.
The agency received assistance through the City of The Dalles Brownfield Revitalization program to conduct an environmental assessment, including removal of an underground storage tank on Federal Street. In addition, the Agency commissioned an engineering report to determine demolition cost.
In March 2023 the Agency released an invitation to bid on demolition, awarding the contract to Konell Construction and Demolition of Sandy, Ore. Tasks will include hazardous material abatement, demolition of two attached buildings, archaeological sampling beneath the foundation, backfill of packed gravel material, and installation of new permanent fencing.
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