11/08/2025
-------------- DEVELOPMENT UPDATE ---------------
** BATTERY 245 IS OPEN
After years of waiting, the city’s first brewpub is open.
The city-owned building at the corner of Harbor Drive and Heron Avenue required a major overhaul, with upgrades to the roof, siding, flood prevention, and, well, just about everything.
Battery 245 Brewing Company includes a menu of locally sourced seafood and beef plus beer brewed onsite. The facility has a seven-barrel system, family-friendly restaurant, and a taproom that overlooks Warrenton Marina.
Owners are Jonathan Elliott, a local bartender and brewer; Michael Ljungberg, who has more than 30 years of business and brewing experience; and Jeff Kilday, manager of Seaside’s Wine and Beer Haus.
Battery 245 is open daily for lunch and dinner and has formed partnerships with locally moored F/V Ruby Sea, Main Street Market, and Pat’s Pantry.
** FISHMONGERS MOVES
Speaking of restaurants, Fishmongers has closed its Pacific Avenue fish-and-chips to-go eatery and moved half a block away to South Jetty Lounge.
The new kitchen operator opened there on Oct. 20, bringing Ed Bussert’s popular fish-and-chips to an otherwise tried-and-true lounge menu.
** NEW LIBRARY LOCATION
Discussions and negotiations are expected to begin in January regarding the city’s potential purchase of the Northwest Oregon Housing Authority building on Main Avenue, City Manager Esther Moberg told city commissioners recently.
The building is larger and across the street from Warrenton Community Library’s current home.
Earlier this year, acquisition of the property at 147 S. Main was deemed the Warrenton Urban Renewal Agency’s top priority.
For years, the library was housed in the former Hammond Town Hall. But eventually the building grew saggy and structurally unstable, unable to withstand the thousands of pounds of books and visitors. In 2019, the city began leasing a vacant building owned by the Warrenton-Hammond School District, which previously had housed a bank and a restaurant.
But the current library building is 3,500 square feet, at least 1,000 square feet short of what’s needed, according to a study by local architect Stuart Emmons.
The housing authority has expressed support for the city’s purchase plan.
** CITY UPGRADES
Upgrades have been made at City Hall and at city properties.
A tsunami siren was mounted atop the flagpole at Warrenton City Hall, with a second siren set for Hammond Fire Station. Fire Chief Brian Alsbury said his agency will conduct monthly tests.
Renovations to several city departments are complete or very nearly complete: Safety glass was installed at Warrenton Police Department, protecting front-counter staff from anyone angry enough to bring weapons into the building; similar safety enhancements were completed a week ago in the Building and Planning Department, separating employees from the general public; and the Public Works office got a makeover.
** MARINA IMPROVEMENTS
There’s a lot of development news at the city’s two marinas.
Thirty piles are being replaced at both Warrenton and Hammond marinas as part of general maintenance. The $250,000 project was awarded Oct. 22 to Bergerson Construction. Plans are to replace an average of 77 pilings per year during the next five years, Harbormaster Jessica McDonald said.
But the big marina news this month is that the city is seeking bids for the designs and permits required to replace E Dock, the commercial dock at Warrenton Marina. Marina staff are pursuing grants and other funding for a full replacement and potential expansion, McDonald told city commissioners recently.
In other marina news, all vessels in the marina will be required to undergo an annual ground-fault inspection in January, part of new state requirements for all marinas. Not only does it reduce the risk of electrical shock if someone were to fall into the water, McDonald said, but it helps protect neighboring boats and reduces corrosion of the marina’s steel piles.
At Hammond Marina, the city is designing a crab-cooking area. The goal is to limit the activity to one location, helping reduce overall mess and erosion.
In January, the city will do a feasibility study on the possibility of building an ADA-friendly recreational fishing and crabbing pier in Hammond.
** AIRPORT IMPROVEMENTS
The Port of Astoria won a grant to improve the airport’s terminal building. Plans are to remodel the kitchen and bathrooms, replace doors and add a wheelchair lift. Work is expected to begin this month.
Also, the port soon will begin a major rehab of a row of ten T-hangars, which were built 45 years ago. The port won a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration to pay for 90 percent of the estimated $275,000 renovation, which includes reconstructing failing steel rail bases. The work will ensure the hangars remain functional, port officials have said.
Finally, the port will complete restoration of a portion of an estuary on the east bank of the Skipanon River. It will be used to compensate for environmental damage done through the port’s Pier 2 West rehabilitation project in Astoria. The 1.2-acre site at the north end of King Street in Warrenton once was accessible by vehicles and was the site of many unauthorized parties.
** KALMIA PROJECT
A 12-unit housing project is proposed on the east side of Southwest Kalmia Avenue.
Adam Neahring would like to complete the project in two phases. He requested a variance to subdivide three parcels he owns into 12 lots. The land has some environmental and topographical constraints and he won approval to rezone the land from residential growth management to medium-density residential.
The lots would be 5,000 to 5,534 square feet, smaller than most residential lots.
Neahring’s preliminary plat plan and the variance were approved last month by Warrenton Planning Commission. An appeal was filed Oct. 17 by Will Caplinger, who formerly served as a Warrenton city planner and consultant. The appeal will be heard by Warrenton City Commission on Dec. 9.
