Lack Of Funding Could Delay Opening Of Plaza

Yakima city officials say the downtown plaza plans won't go forward until all the funding is in place and city Economic Development Director Sean Hawkins says that could delay the projected 2017 opening. He says trying to line up funding is a challenge at this time. "There's a number of asks being made out there at a time when other big projects are looking for funding." Private donations of 9 million are now being secured through contracts and the city won't move on construction until that happens. But in the mean time the environmental process will soon begin, a utility plan is underway and the city is preparing bid package for the work. But nothing will go forward until private funding is secured. That coupled with 3 million from the city would make a 12 million project hat may or may not be completed in fall of 2017.