A new housing development is in the beginning stages of development as Owner of Willapa Bay Properties Rex Angelovich receives permission from the City of Raymond Council to purchase the old reservoir property above Elm Street.
Willapa Bay Properties has already purchased 152 lots in the area above Elm Street, but then discovered a hiccup.
"We are currently working on putting together a development project," Angelovich said during a Raymond City Council Meeting. "There is a city-owned property right in the middle of our development; that was an old reservoir."
Angelovich offered to trade or purchase the property out-right from the city. He even offered the city an easement if they even needed to place a pumping station on the property.
Raymond Public Works Director Eric Weiberg informed the city council that he didn't see a future need for the property and that it would possibly be best to just sell it.
Angelovich informed the council that he was looking at placing 60 homes in the new development. He also let them know that he was also planning on building another 16 houses at the end of Crossing Street. He said he saw a need for more housing in the area and was taking steps to fill that need.
During the September 7, 2021, meeting, the city council approved the sale of the property at fair market value.
The housing development has barely gotten started and is just in the property acquisition stage. The next step is to create a master plan of the new neighborhood.
Other news from the meeting is that the city is going to reroof the Police Station and install new garage doors on the Raymone Fire Department building using ARRPA COVID monies. The council accepted bids on the work.
Raymond City Mayor Tony Nordin announced that Pacific County has given the city a grant of $38,750 "that will go towards the Willapa Landing Boat Launch repair." Pacific County has the ability to award cities grants when they apply with projects. Raymond applied with the Willapa Landing Boat Launch Dredging Project and was given money to go ahead with the project.