The Dalles Urban Renewal meets Sept. 15 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss Federal Street Plaza
File Photo - Looking down on Federal Street and the now-graveled site where Tony’s Town & Country was located. Urban Renewal will discuss possibilities for the site on Tuesday, Sept. 15.
The Dalles, Ore., Sept. 9, 2026 — The Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Agency Board will meet Tuesday, Sept. 15, with the future of the former Tony’s Town & Country property — commonly known as Tony’s Lot — expected to be the primary discussion.
The board will review recommendations developed by University of Oregon students through the Sustainable City Year Program. Six student teams studied Tony’s Lot and proposed ideas ranging from permanent commercial development to a flexible public space for markets, food vendors, entertainment and community gatherings. Staff is asking the board whether the property should remain primarily positioned for eventual redevelopment or whether the agency should pursue interim improvements and programming that could complement the nearly completed Federal Street Plaza.
The student report generally favors keeping Tony’s Lot flexible. Among the concepts is a community pavilion with rotating vendors and year-round programming, designed to draw people downtown without locking the property into a permanent use or competing directly with existing restaurants and businesses. No formal action is scheduled, and the discussion carries no immediate budget impact; any future improvements or redevelopment would return to the board for consideration.
The board will also receive staff updates on the Exterior Pilot Refresh and Urban Renewal Incentive programs. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, at The Dalles City Hall Council Chambers, 313 Court St., with a Zoom option available.
