It’s been 20 months since we first told you that Chinook Lumber was planning to build a new North Bend store in a different location – and now it looks like it’s finally happening.
A longtime Snoqualmie Valley business, Chinook is currently located at the western edges of North Bend on Bendigo Blvd and will relocate to a [much larger] 4.5 acre land parcel at the intersection of 436th Ave SE and Cedar Falls Way near I-90 exit 32.
The larger property will allow for a bigger store, additional products and more customer parking. Construction is expected to start later this month, with an opening date anticipated in October 2018.
The company submitted its application to build a new store back in January 2016, but there were some delays. North Bend Public Works Director Mark Rigos said the applicant (Chinook) was unaware of some of the requirements to build on the large, forested land parcel that fronts an arterial road and the costs associated with undergrounding electrical lines, improving the road and sidewalks, storm water runoff and the city’s transportation impact fee.
Issues were solved, though, and the project is now moving forward. Rigos said, “The City of North Bend is glad that Chinook chose to remain in North Bend to continue to provide its lumber products and construction services to Upper Valley residents. They have been a great community partner for many years.”
Chinook Lumber Store manager Jim Freeman said, “We will triple our size, which will enable us to be able to carry many more products. After doing business for 25 years in the same location, we are looking forward to serving customers in a new, larger building.”
The zoning area of North Bend where the new store is being constructed is called the Tanner Junction Master Planning Overlay District, where other housing and industrial developments have also been proposed.
