American Legion Veteran Housing and Resource Center and Raymond City Hall
The Willapa Community Development Association (WDCA) in partnership with the City of Raymond and local American Legion Post 150, is moving forward with the purchase and demolition of the deteriorating American Legion Building and the construction of a new flagship building on the site in the downtown Raymond. The first floor will have a Community Resource Center and Raymond City Hall. The 2nd and 3rd floors will have 18 affordable studio and one-bedroom apartments prioritizing veterans.
Affordable Housing:
The upper floors will have 18 affordable apartments which are in very short supply in the area. All of the units will have a preference for veterans. Three of the units will house homeless individuals referred from the County’s Coordinated Entry system. The units will be accessible via an elevator to accommodate disabled residents.
New City Hall:
The City’s existing City Hall is in a severely deteriorated condition. Locating in the new American Legion Building provides an opportunity to be centrally located and contribute to the revitalization of downtown Raymond. In addition to city offices, the new city hall will include a meeting room shared with the resource center.
Community Resource Center:
With distances to major cities ranging from 65 miles (Olympia) to 130 miles (Seattle and Portland), accessing services is often difficult! The project includes a Resource Center with a focus on expanding veteran services, currently unavailable locally. The center will include offices, a meeting room, small kitchenette and restroom. It will provide space for staff from WSU Extension, Coastal CAP, HUD/VASH Rural Team, Pacific County Voices Uniting, Pacific County’s Veteran’s Service office and other service providers.
Progress to Date:
WCDA has contracted with Environmental Works Community Design Center, the project architect, and GS Consulting, an affordable housing developer and entered into a Development Agreement with the City of Raymond. After extensive investigation it has been determined that the existing building cannot be saved due to its deteriorated structural condition. (The city has recently taken steps to abate the building.) Design is complete with building permits pending. Asbestos abatement is underway. Ronglin’s was selected as the General Contractor through a competitive bid process.
Project Timeline:
| Permit Application | March 2025 |
| Bidding & Start Construction | September-December 2025 |
| Construction Complete | March 2027 |
Project Budget:
| Acquisition | $245,000 |
| Construction, Housing | $8,400,000 |
| Construction, Community Center | $1,900,000 |
| Construction, City Hall | $3,100,000 |
| Soft Costs | $2,350,000 |
| Financing Fees | $260,000 |
| Capitalized Reserves | $78,000 |
| Other Miscellaneous | $250,000 |
| Total | $16,583,000 |
|---|
Funding Sources:
Some of our Past Projects
American Legion Veteran Housing Resource Center and City Hall
2026
The Willapa Community Development Association in partnership with the City of
Raymond and local American Legion Post 150, is moving forward with the
purchase and demolition of the deteriorating American Legion Building and the
construction of a new flagship building on the site in the downtown Raymond.
The first floor will have a Community Resource Center and Raymond City Hall.
Tenants in the resource center will include the WSU Extension Office, Pacific
County Health Department, veteran services, Pacific County Voices United, CCAP and others. The 2nd and 3rd floors will have 18 affordable studio and one-
bedroom apartments prioritizing veterans.
Willapa Center
2024
In 2020 the WCDA partnered with the Joint Pacific County Housing Authority to
plan, design, fund and construct the Willapa Center, a $16 million project on this
former Willapa Hotel site. The WCDA contributed funds for the initial project
planning and guaranteed a predevelopment loan. In addition, the WCDA donated
the site to the project. This significant level of local support helped to ensure the
full funding of the project.
The new building was completed in 2024 and includes 30 residential apartments
for local families on the second and third floors and a childcare center and CCAP
offices on the ground floor.
Raymond Eagles Apartments
Date
The WCDA renovated 16 long abandoned apartments on the second floor of the
Raymond Eagles Building and made them available to very low-income residents.
We then facilitated the formation of the Pacific County Housing Authority and
transferred ownership of the Eagles apartments to this organization. The housing
authority has gone on to do many additional housing projects in the community.
South Bend Shone Building (Lumber Exchange Building)
DATE
The WCDA accepted ownership of the derelict Shone Building on the waterfront
in downtown South Bend, removed the building and worked with the city to
develop a new public pier.
South Bend Bank of America Building
Date
When the Bank of America closed its South Bend Branch, the WCDA accepted
ownership of the historic building, completed needed repairs and rented the
building for a retail use until it was sold to a private owner.
Riverview Clinic
Date
When one of our local doctors filed for bankruptcy, the WCDA negotiated the
purchase of the 16,000 square foot Riverview Clinic and refinanced the debt.
WCDA paved the parking lot, repaired the building and managed the building
until Valleyview, a non-profit community health clinic, was recruited to take
ownership.
Raymond Shell Station
Date
The WCDA accepted ownership of the Raymond Shell Station, a contaminated
property on a prime highway site on SR101 in Raymond. The WCDA pursued
and received grant funds to complete the cleanup of the site including the removal
of the structure and the removal of contaminated soils. The WCDA sold the
property for private redevelopment.
Riverdale Property
2018
In 2018 the WCDA accepted the donation of an approximately four-acre parcel
located on the Willapa River south of the Riverdale field and is in the process of
evaluating opportunities for development.
Business Week
date
The WCD assisted in launching Business Week, a very successful program for
the eleventh graders in all three of our local high schools.