City Must Move on Mill Site or Lose Matching Funds

Yakima officials are working to develop the former mill site along i 82. The old mill site has been an ugly welcome sign into Yakima for years. Plans for development could transform the area into a center for retail, industry and recreation.  Talk of development here isn't new. However, the pressure is now on the city to move forward with a plan or risk losing state matching funds. At a study session Tuesday, Yakima City Council members and County Commissioners discussed the latest plan. Economists predict it would generate more than 4,600 jobs  and, generate $400-million dollars in sales tax revenue over a 30-year period. City leaders now aren't sure whether they want to move forward with a regional soccer complex or find another use for that section. More study sessions are planned in the near future.