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Aberdeen accepts roughly $2.19 million in state Commerce grants to start 118 West Wishka remodel
Summary
Council authorized the mayor to sign two Washington State Department of Commerce agreements (S11801a for $1.7M and S284 for $490K) to fund a first-floor remodel at 118 West Wishka as a visitor center, city office space and museum; the project is planned in three phases and must spend Commerce funds by June 2025 unless an extension is granted.
Aberdeen’s City Council on July 10 authorized the mayor to sign two grant agreements from the Washington State Department of Commerce totaling about $2.19 million to pay for the first phase of a remodel at 118 West Wishka.
The finance committee recommended and council approved acceptance of agreements S11801a ($1.7 million) and S284 ($490,000). City staff said the Commerce funds will pay only for the first-floor remodel; the estimated construction cost for that first phase is about $2.3 million. Staff described a three-phase plan: phase two (second-floor remodel) estimated at roughly $4 million and phase three (third-floor remodel) at about $6 million. The Commerce funding requires spending the awarded funds by June 2025, though staff said an extension through 2027 is possible and has been requested.
Parks Director Stacy Baron and staff told the council the first-floor buildout would support a visible visitor information center, museum exhibition space and city office functions. Staff said completing the first floor would allow the city to move artifacts out of an offsite storage lease that costs about $6,000 a month and could also allow the parks department to relocate from its current leased space (about $11,200 per month) into the remodeled facility.
Council members said they expect the Friends of the Museum to lead fundraising for later phases but noted the city would likely bear shortfalls if a nonprofit could not raise the funds needed for phase two or three. One council member cautioned that total renovation costs for all floors appeared high and urged continuing to pursue grants and private fundraising before committing city general-fund dollars.
The motion to accept the two Commerce grants passed by voice vote; council also approved an accession of a museum item (catalog number 84.36.2) as part of the museum-related agenda items.
