New FM radio station set to hit the airwaves
Tuesday, March 02, 2010 4:07 PM (pst)
NNB Radio is preparing to unveil its newest locally-based station – MY 99.7 FM.
Tom Freel, NNB Radio’s operations manager in Astoria, describes the new 24-hour station as “hot adult contemporary” with the focus on 1990’s music with a smattering from the 1980’s.
“It’s the best mix of everything from the ‘90s decade,” Freel said. “It’s the kind of music you’ll hear in the background in offices and you’ll tune to in your car. There’s nothing quite like it now being offered in the local market.”
With a 3,000-watt transmitter, the station will cover a territory from Long Beach south to Seaside.
Freel said the station is in the final stages of preparations before hitting the airwaves, which he expects to occur within days although he had no firm start-up date.
Although MY 99.7 FM will be music intenstive, Freel said the station also will provide local news coverage weekdays between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. and local weather forecasts hourly 24/7.
The station, which is licensed in Long Beach, Wash., but will broadcast from NNB’s local headquarters in Warrenton, will have a staff of four in its programming department.
Freel expects MY 99.7 FM to appeal particularly to female listeners between ages 18 and 49.
By the end of March, the station also plans to launch its Web site – www.ilovemy997fm.com., Freel said.
Seattle-based New Northwest Broadcasters is the 10th largest community radio station operator in the U.S., according to Freel. It operates more than 30 radio stations (both AM and FM) of various formats in three states – Oregon, Washington and Alaska.
In the Columbia-Pacific region, NNB Radio owns KAST 1370 AM (News/Talk) and KKEE 1230 AM (Sports), KCRX 102.3 FM (Classic Rock) and KVAS 103.9 FM (Country Music).
- Greg Cohen
|
SeaPort Airlines names former COO to president’s post
Tuesday, February 09, 2010 11:50 AM (pst)
John Beardsley, CEO SeaPort Airlines announced today that the company has appointed its former Chief Operating Officer Rob McKinney to the position of president for SeaPort Airlines.
“Rob has been instrumental to our company from day one of our operations. He has consistently demonstrated a high skill level in both operations and business. He understands safety is our number one priority followed closely with superb customer service,” Beardsley said.
McKinney is a graduate of Purdue University - Aviation Technology and holds an MBA from Ellis College. He is also trained and experienced as a commercial pilot.
“The opportunity before me is one that complements my background and I’m eager to continue leading this company towards a direction of expansion and excellent customer service,” said McKinney.
McKinney also commented on the airline’s commitment to the North Coast and Southwest Washington areas.
“Since our inaugural flight back in March 2009 serving coastal residents via Astoria/Warrenton Regional Airport, we will continue to strive for greater schedule accommodations, frequency, and growth around the Northwest to better connect the northern coast regionally.”
SeaPort Airlines operates 115 daily scheduled flights during the weekdays in Seattle, Portland, Pendleton, Astoria, Newport, five Mid-South cities and seven Southeast Alaska cities. SeaPort Airlines is a dba of Alaska Juneau Aeronautics, an FAA Part 135 certified scheduled air carrier founded in 1983. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.SeaPortAir.com or call (888)573-2767.
|
Local contractor teams with Aloha firm to gain CMH construction project work
Sunday, February 07, 2010 3:29 PM (pst)
On Feb. 5 Columbia Memorial Hospital announced the awarding of its surgery and hospital renovation projects to Rickenbach Construction, an Astoria company, and Inline Commercial Construction.
According to a CMH-provided press release, Rickenbach and Inline have formed a joint venture for this work. Inline is based in Aloha, Ore. The company is a full-service construction company with extensive experience serving the healthcare industry, including the recent surgery remodel at Providence Seaside Hospital.
The CMH Board of Trustees and its administration required that the two contractors utilize as many local subcontractors as possible, according to the press release.
Jared Rickenbach of Rickenbach Construction confirmed the commitment to hiring from the local community.
“Our goal is to award 60 percent to 70 percent of the subcontractor work to local firms,” he said.
Erik Thorsen, recently appointed as CMH’s CEO, voiced support for the hospital’s choice.
“Our recent experience with Rickenbach Construction gave us the confidence that they would do a great job on this project, and their joint venture with Inline gave us the added confidence that we will receive the expertise require for the surgery remodel,” Thorsen said.
|
Aberdeen’s historic Morck Hotel to gain new life with help of Astoria developer
Monday, January 11, 2010 4:51 PM (pst)
Aberdeen’s historic Morck Hotel to gain new life with help of Astoria developer
Morck Renovation, LLC announced last week that after nearly two years of wading through legal hurdles it has gained title to the historic Morck Hotel in Aberdeen, Wash., and is moving forward with plans to renovate the 86 year-old icon.
The project will involve a $7 million renovation of the downtown hotel, which originally opened in 1924. The plans include a final configuration that will include 87 rooms and suites, a 125-seat steak and chop house, lounge and 4,000 sq. ft. of conference space. The developers said they are looking to create a vibrant anchor that will help drive the overall revitalization of downtown Aberdeen.
With nearly $3 million invested thus far, when completed the hotel phase of the project is estimated to have a value of over $11 million and employ up to 75 people.
Principal members of Morck Renovation LLC include Astoria developer Chester Trabucco, who was responsible for the renovation of the Hotel Elliott as well as several other commercial property renovations in Astoria; Bremerton, Wash., architectural firm Rice Fergus Miller, Eric Jacobsen, of Jacobsen Real Estate Group in Portland, Ore., developer Wade Entezar, and the building’s former owners, Bob Burns and Shallina Lakhani.
Tim Quigg of Quigg Bros. originally recruited Trabucco in 2005 after staying in Astoria’s Hotel Elliott, who in turn brought in Entezar last year to share the Grays Harbor’s development potential.
Trabucco said he's always been interested in seeing the Morck Hotel brought back to its original status "as the place where deals were cut, romances fostered and social gatherings abounded." He said he's also been inspired by the positive effects of renovation of these properties.
“After seeing the impact that restoring these historic icons such as the Elliott, the Marcus Whitman in Walla Walla (Wash.) and the Davenport in Spokane (Wash) have had on sparking economic development in their respective towns, I haven’t given up on the idea of watching those same forces come to bear here in the [Grays] Harbor,” Trabucco said.
A transaction to formally purchase the Morck Hotel out of receivership was completed the second week of January. Abbott Construction of Seattle has been selected as the project’s general contractor and will be finalizing construction costs in 2010 dollars in the coming month, in collaboration with Rice Fergus Miller architects.
|
Correction to SETD article, January issue
Thursday, December 31, 2009 10:45 AM (pst)
Correction to Sunset Empire Transit District article
In our "CRBJ Year in Review" story in the January issue, we (very enthusiastically) reported on Sunset Empire Transit District grants to expand mass transit options on the coast.
Unfortunately, the story should have clarified that grants have been applied for but not yet received. Sunset Transportation District Executive Director Cindy Howe said the district should hear results regarding Oregon Connect III funding in May and June, and for the Department of Energy "Coast Regional Team Grant" in May. Coast River Business Journal regrets the error.
|
JC Penney to upgrade Astoria store for Bicentennial
Wednesday, December 30, 2009 3:07 PM (pst)
Astoria's J. C. Penney department store downtown plans to upgrade its building in time for the Astoria Bicentennial in 2011.
The city's Historic Landmarks Commission will consider an exterior alteration request from Astoria contractor Larry Helligso Construction Co. to do work on the south side of the building, which has an entrance on Duane Street. The department store is designated as historic.
Bob Steuben, corporate facilities manager for J. C. Penney Company, Inc., said work could begin this spring, pending city approval at a commission meeting Jan. 20.
Ryan Helligso of Helligso Construction said planned exterior upgrades would include plaster repairs and window replacement. Tentative plans could include later upgrades to the interior of the store.
Steuben said J. C. Penney is not looking to relocate the store, which has been situated in downtown Astoria for decades.
"The store has a good track record," he said. "We have no plans to do anything with the store except upgrades."
He said the cost of the requested exterior upgrades is projected at around $50,000.
- Joanne Rideout
|
Red Lion closed while engineers evaluate building’s support structure
Monday, December 07, 2009 11:59 AM (pst)
The Astoria Red Lion Inn will be closed indefinitely while engineers evaluate the building’s structural support system, hotel officials announced Dec. 4.
The action follows on the heels of an incident Nov. 5 in which a balcony connected to one of the hotel’s riverside rooms collapsed sending six people plummeting into the Columbia River. None of the six, who landed in a mooring basin, were reported injured. Although they were dunked into the chilly waters up to their chests, all managed to swim to safety.
Initial reports focused on the deck’s wood support as the apparent cause of the accident.
Patricia Stryker, a consultant for Red Lion Inn, told Coast River Business Journal that after receiving a preliminary engineering report of the building’s support structure hotel management decided to close the hotel on Dec. 3. At the time, the hotel had 29 guests registered. The hotel was able to find alternative accommodations for all of its guests, she said.
In addition, the closure resulted in the indefinite furlough of 24 employees, she said. All will receive severance packages, she added.
Stryker told CRBJ the hotel will be closed at least until March 2010, when an engineering evaluation on the structure’s support system is expected to be completed. However, she added that the extent of the closure could be longer, depending on what actions the engineers recommend.
“We don’t know how extensive the repairs might be,” Stryker said. “We will be closed until we make that determination.”
By March, she said hotel officials should have enough information to make a decision on how to proceed with any necessary repairs.
“March is not a target date to reopen,” she said. However, she emphasized that the company “certainly intends to reopen” once all building issues are resolved.
She said the hotel has been working closely with the City of Astoria, which has authority over determining the building’s structural soundness, and the Port of Astoria, which owns the land on which the hotel is built.
Following the Nov. 5 incident, the hotel closed all rooms overlooking the river and an engineer was hired to perform a preliminary evaluation of the building’s pier supports. That report was completed about mid-November, and was turned over to the city’s building inspector for analysis, she said.
Due to concerns over structural issues, the hotel also decided to close a number of rooms connected to an adjacent restaurant, which previously was shuttered, Stryker said.
At the time of the lodging facility’s closure on Thursday, the 124-room hotel, which is located at 400 Industry St., had only about 40 rooms available for guests, she said.
-Greg Cohen
|
SeaPort CEO Craford departs, little information offered by company
Friday, November 20, 2009 12:51 PM (pst)
SeaPort Airlines has named an acting CEO on the heels of the recent departure of Kent Craford, who held that position until Nov. 17. Current Chairman of the Board John Beardsley will take on the CEO mantle until further notice.
Jim Waldon, an attorney with the law firm Lane Powell in Seattle, speaking on behalf of SeaPort, confirmed Craford’s departure. Waldon provided little detail, and gave no information about the reason for Craford’s departure.
“John is stepping into that role, but employees, customers and passengers will not see any change,” Waldon said. He added that the company continues to expand and is profitable.
SeaPort Airlines is headquartered in Portland, Ore. The company operates a regional airline that currently provides three nonstop flights daily between Astoria Regional Airport in Warrenton and PDX, and continuing air service from Portland to Boeing Field in Seattle.
The local air service is being underwritten in part by a two-year, state-lottery funded Connect Oregon II grant and the federal government. The funding also provides for SeaPort to operate two daily flights between Newport and Portland, Ore.
|
Chuck & Connie’s Diner closes after short run
Monday, November 02, 2009 3:51 PM (pst)
Financial problems apparently caused the quick demise of Chuck & Connie’s Diner in Seaside, which closed at the end of October after slightly more than a month in business.
It was the first venture into the restaurant business for Chuck and Connie Nephew, who opened their eatery in mid-September at 325 S. Holladay.
Previously, the couple operated a well-received barbecue sandwich stall at the Astoria Saturday Market and had hoped to build on that success with their restaurant, which featured traditional barbecue fare.
But the Nephews seemed to have run into a problem that plagues many start-up restaurants – the lack of resources.
“They said they didn’t have the backing to get through the month,” said Pat Tanner, the owner of the building the couple were leasing. “It’s too bad because we loved them and they really had good food,” Tanner told Coast River Business Journal.
In an interview in the November issue of CRBJ, Chuck Nephew lamented the difficulties in promoting the new restaurant, despite the support the couple received from the local business community.
The Nephews, who could not be reached for comment, live in Yakima, Wash., and had been residing briefly with friends in this area with plans to relocate permanently to the North Coast.
- Greg Cohen
Editor's Note: Clatsop County business owners in need of advice/assistance have the opportunity to seek help from Clatsop Economic Development Resources. (CEDR). CEDR's objective is to be the "One Stop" resource for business support. It's services include business counseling, aid in accessing capital, work force services, and access to specialized regional support. CEDR is a private/public partnership. Many of its services are available at no charge. For more information visit the CEDR Website.
|
Cannery Loft condos go up for auction in November
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 4:38 PM (pst)
Twenty-nine Cannery Loft condos on the Astoria waterfront are up for
auction Nov. 1. This photo was taken prior to construction of a second
condo building.
by Joanne Rideout
CRBJ staff reporter
Homebuyers in search of a low cost condo may find it on the Astoria waterfront in early November.
Cannery Lofts condos at Pier 39 on the east end of town will offer 29 condo units for quick sale at an auction in Portland next month.
"We have a starting bid that allows buyers to determine the price," said Rhett Winchell, president of Kennedy Wilson, the Beverly Hills-based auction firm that is handling the sales. "We hope to sell out the standing inventory in one day."
The auction will take place at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel at 1 p.m. on Nov. 1, and will last approximately one hour. Some bids start at $90,000. A few condos for sale in the same complex are priced at around $479,000.
Participants must register to attend and bid on auction day, and provide a cashier's check for $2,500, among other requirements.
Winchell said auctions are a way for companies that build condos to recoup costs in a down market.
"Most are selling a couple of units a month," he said, referring to a slow nationwide condo market. "They have associated costs with construction loans, taxes, and other carrying costs. It can amount to 15 or 20 percent a year."
Winchell said as far as he knows, Cannery Lofts builder Urban Pacific Group is not in receivership, because Kennedy Wilson is dealing directly with the seller in the auction, and not with a receiver - as would be more typical in a foreclosure situation.
Urban Pacific Group’s Chairman and CEO Scott K. Choppin did not return Coast River Business Journal’s phone calls, and calls to the local Cannery Lofts condo office went unanswered.
According to Winchell, private individuals who already own units in the condos and are seeking to sell them at competitive prices may benefit in the aftermath of an auction, because in many cases auctions sell off all available properties in a condo complex during the course of an hour, removing discounted properties from the market.
But that's not necessarily the outcome, said Portland-based real estate appraiser James Dowley, who does work throughout the Columbia-Pacific region.
Dowley said the relatively large number of condos for sale in the Cannery Lofts auction creates a unique competitive situation that can redefine the local condo market. He said recent condo auctions in Seaside and Nehalem have resulted in quick sales at well below what were once considered market prices.
"When someone is just dumping properties on the market, with willing buyers and sellers competing against one another, it's this really fresh market," he said.
Dowley said the overall problem is too much condo inventory, leaving owners and builders with units they can't sell easily.
"Developers thought this was a good idea," he said. "It's crushing if you own it, because you built this building on the premise that it would sell in 18 months. You're looking at your business plan and the whole thing went cobbywobbles on you. It puts pressure on the developer, who says, 'these have got to go.'"
Dowley said it's debatable whether the Cannery Lofts auction will affect other condo sales in Astoria.
"On the one hand, it's going to soak up potential buyers, and you are also setting the mental attitude that condos are worth $90,000," he said of the auction's starting bid. "But there are other condos that won't be affected at all. Others will say [of the Cannery Lofts units], 'those have absolutely no interest for me at all.'"
He said condo buyers who are planning to live in the units are sometimes more likely to buy at an auction, because those buying for investment purposes may be limited in their options for resale.
|