After years of planning, Vista Field could see its first homes under construction by next summer. 

The Port of Kennewick recently hammered out an agreement with BlueChart LLC so the developer can build upwards of 300 single-family homes in the commercial core of Kennewick.

Port officials call the deal their largest and likely most significant in the port’s 110-year history. It’s been in the works for a while, starting with an inquiry from one of BlueChart’s partners in 2023, followed by a letter of intent last year.

Vista Field, located near the Columbia Center mall, Three Rivers Convention Center and Toyota Center, is close to seeing an array of residential offerings to complement recent commercial development. 

Construction has kicked off on the Japanese restaurant Kuki Izakaya, and Blueberry Bridal and Columbia Point Eye Care are both breaking ground in April, with construction expected to wrap up by the end of the year.

Commissioner Ken Hohenberg expressed excitement about Vista Field’s possibilities as a place for kids and grandkids to live, eat out and more in the “heart of the Tri-Cities.”

Commissioner Skip Novakovich echoed the sentiment, saying it will be a “wonderful community” where people can do everything they want.

They spoke at the March 25 port meeting where commissioners unanimously approved an agreement to sell lots to BlueChart.

BlueChart will build over several phases and neighborhoods, starting with 32 homes. That neighborhood will be located just west of the current core of mixed-use development.

The port is already set to sell four existing lots to BlueChart, and once the port delivers its infrastructure commitments on the remaining land, the company will buy four parcels every two months.

Agreement details

Here’s what the agreement entails.

BlueChart must submit a design library for the homes for port review, with a minimum of 12 different styles and 36 variations.

While the development consists of attached and detached single-family homes, accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, are a part of the proposal to provide more attainable housing and a sense of community, according to port documents.

The first two of eight phases will have a fixed price: $80,000 per lot in the first neighborhood and $82,500 per lot in the second. In phases three through eight, there will be a lot price determination formula. For each phase, 15% of the purchase price will be reserved for amenities. 

The port also has agreed to pause marketing for single-family housing in Vista Field for the first five phases of development with BlueChart, allowing the homebuilder to gain traction. There are still other residential opportunities for developers, said Tana Bader-Inglima, the port’s deputy CEO, after the meeting.

Starting with the sixth phase of development, BlueChart will have a right of first refusal to continue construction at Vista Field.

Taudd Hume, legal counsel for the port, said the agreement has struck a good balance between BlueChart and the port’s interests, and that the company is one that the port can trust. The agreement gives both the port and BlueChart flexibility if the development doesn’t play out as intended, he said. 

Creating an urban center

Port CEO Tim Arntzen said that the agreement is consistent with what the community said it wanted in Vista Field’s community master plan. 

“BlueChart Homes has the funding and experience to build at scale while implementing the community’s vision for Vista Field,” Arntzen said in a statement. “Their focus on residential will activate public spaces and create patrons to attract and support additional commercial and retail development at Vista Field.”

BlueChart is a partnership between Levi Holmes of Chartwell Land Company, based in Silverdale, and Ben Paulus of Blue Fern Development and Teak Construction, based in Redmond.

Holmes, who attended the recent commission meeting, said BlueChart plans to be there for the long term and is excited to “get some residents living and shopping and playing here in Vista Field.”

It’ll take about 16 months before houses can be built that includes a three-month-long feasibility period to go through the collaborative design process, plus 13 months for platting, permitting, bidding and preparing infrastructure.

Larry Peterson, the port’s director of planning and development, said after the meeting that the lots should be ready by the end of June 2026, with a building permit issued around July 2026. 

Then, construction can begin.

Since the first four lots are ready to go, construction on those could start sooner.

“With the port having already invested in the streets, linear park, waterway and public plazas, we set the stage to create an urban center for the region,” said Amber Hanchette, port director of real estate, in a statement. “Vista Field’s smaller lots will also build affordability into housing. And the density of development surrounded by open public gathering spaces will foster an immediate sense of place and neighborhood, which was how historic downtowns traditionally formed.”