Downtown Tillamook continues to undergo remarkable transformation, and it is about more than just fresh paint, it is about creating a place for our community to live and thrive. If you have noticed construction crews and building supplies piled up around Henson Plaza lately, you are seeing the results of a powerful partnership between the Tillamook Chamber of Commerce and local visionaries.
The first phase of Terry Phillips’ vision for the National Bank Building has already become a reality. A vibrant mix of businesses is now successfully established on the ground floor, bringing fresh energy and essential services to our downtown streets.
The momentum is only growing as work moves to the upper levels. These historic spaces are being transformed into much-needed housing, ensuring our downtown remains a bustling, multi-use hub. In addition to the upper-floor apartments, the project prioritizes accessibility with the inclusion of an ADA-accessible unit on the ground floor, providing inclusive living options right in the heart of the community. By adding this density downtown, we are ensuring more residents can live within walking distance of our local shops and services.
The Chamber served as the essential engine to drive this project forward through dedicated collaboration. Recognizing the potential and impact to downtown housing, the Chamber took on the heavy lifting of the grant writing and management. The Chamber identified this project as a well positioned project for a plethora of grants including the Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant, Tillamook County Housing Commission, and the Tillamook Urban Renewal Agency – and they all agreed. Due to its impact on our housing crisis and location in downtown the project’s impact, between those three entities, the Chamber helped successfully secured over $500,000 in grant funding, bridging the gap between a historic shell and a vibrant landmark for the entire community.
This is the second time that the Chamber has been successful in the Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant in recent years. In 2019, the Chamber supported the vision of Lisa Greiner by securing a $200,000 Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant, as well as championing the project through the final lending process, to develop four apartments above the Oregon Coast Dance Center. Following years of dedicated construction, the Jones-Knudson apartments recently celebrated their one-year anniversary. Now fully occupied, this project stands as a testament to how our partnerships foster long-term stability and vital housing for our downtown.
The Tillamook Chamber of Commerce is proud to work with motivated developers. By handling the heavy lifting of grant applications and fund coordination, we allow visionaries to focus on what they do best. When we work together to secure these investments, we aren’t just fixing old buildings, we are creating a vibrant, inviting environment where our community can live, work, and play for generations to come.