Benton County might have a creative plan to help bring more housing to the Tri-Cities for people in recovery.
The old Kennewick General Hospital is so big that the future Columbia Valley Center for Recovery will take up only a small portion, about half of the first floor. Now Benton County is asking the state for money to help turn part of the extra space into recovery housing.
Benton County commissioners recently voted to request a grant from the Washington Department of Commerce to help fund converting 14,000 square feet of old hospital rooms on the second floor into 17 double occupancy apartments. There also would be an apartment for an on-site program manager…