Port weighs $1.74 million parking conversion at former Lineage property

WENATCHEE — Structural problems in a building at the former Lineage property have the Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority weighing whether to spend approximately $1.74 million replacing it with parking for the site’s growing businesses.

The preliminary concept would remove Building F, a roughly 10,000-square-foot structure beside the railroad tracks, and increase parking in the area from about 40 spaces to roughly 100.

Commissioners reviewed the proposal Oct. 13 but made no decision on demolition or construction. Further discussion is expected at the board’s Nov. 4 retreat.

Stacie de Mestre, the port’s director of economic development and capital projects, said structural issues discovered in the spring prompted staff to revisit options for the building.

A 2023 estimate put the cost of converting it into four leasable spaces at approximately $3 million. Each space would have been about 2,500 square feet, with relatively modest improvements intended for shop-type uses.

Staff also asked RH2 Engineering to examine demolition and expanded parking.

The resulting concept shows 113 stalls, but de Mestre said some would block entrances to other buildings and would need to be removed or reconfigured.

“I would say that we would end up somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 parking stalls,” she said.

That would add approximately 60 spaces to the existing parking serving Timberline and other users. De Mestre said the current lot is not reserved exclusively for the brewery.

Parking demand is expected to grow as businesses expand and another tenant — Yonder Cider Company — moves into Building E with approximately 20 employees.

De Mestre said Timberline’s downstairs occupancy is 136 people, with a planned mezzanine opening that would accommodate another 79. The brewery has also added outdoor tables along Orondo Avenue.

“I was in there the other Friday night, and it was packed,” she said.

The port is allowing Timberline employees to park at Building H, and de Mestre said the brewery reported its parking lot fills most nights of the week.

The conversion would involve considerably more than demolition and striping. RH2’s conceptual estimate includes stormwater improvements, paving, landscaping and lighting, along with engineering and contingency costs.

Removal of structures and obstructions accounts for approximately $440,000 of the $1,742,500 total estimate.

Staff also explored whether removing buildings north of Orondo Avenue could create additional parking, but de Mestre said the property’s configuration limited the benefit.

CEO Jim Kuntz questioned the financial return of investing so much capital in parking.

“That is a tough project for us to spend that kind of capital,” he said.

Paid parking was raised during the discussion as a possible way to recover some of the investment, with a suggestion that commissioners review potential revenue and how long repayment might take.

No parking fees or operating plan were proposed for approval. Commissioners will revisit the concept as they consider the building’s future and the parking needs of the surrounding businesses.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media