Chenowith Loop affordable housing project nears construction as TD Council hears update
The former Westgate Market, long shuttered, is the site of a new 76-unit affordable housing project that could be under construction in coming months.
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore., April 22, 2026 — The Dalles City Council will hear a presentation Monday, April 27, on a long-planned 76-unit affordable housing project in west The Dalles, marking one of the largest housing investments in the city in years.
The $47.5 million Chenowith Loop Road development, led by Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation, has now secured its final piece of public funding and is expected to begin construction in late summer or early fall 2026, according to City Council meeting materials.
The project will include 20 units reserved for veterans and 56 for families, along with on-site services aimed at helping residents remain housed long-term.
The front of the building will face Chenowith Loop Road with a main entrance and two secondary entrances for offices and a community meeting room for educational purposes. Click to enlarge image.
The development was first detailed by CCCNews in November 2025 as part of a broader effort to bring more than 200 affordable housing units online across the Columbia Gorge. That reporting identified the Chenowith Loop project as a cornerstone of the region’s housing strategy, with plans for a multi-story apartment complex on roughly 1.7 acres near transit, schools and services.
At the time, project leaders described the development as a response to a growing affordability gap in The Dalles, where rising rents and limited inventory have made it increasingly difficult for working families to find stable housing.
The project is designed for households earning up to 60 percent of area median income, with a portion of units expected to include project-based rental assistance to keep rents affordable. CCCNews previously reported that dozens of units would be supported by rental assistance, allowing residents to pay rent based on income rather than market rates.
City Council materials confirm the project will include partnerships with Mid-Columbia Community Action Council and Mid-Columbia Center for Living to provide on-site services, including case management and behavioral health support.
Those services are considered a key component of the project’s long-term success, particularly for residents facing economic hardship, health challenges or housing instability.
Here is the main floor of the building which takes up 19,614 square feet or about a quarter of the site’s 1.76 acres, according to Wasco County property maps. Click to enlarge image.
The update comes as demand for housing assistance remains high across the region. The Mid-Columbia Housing Authority currently distributes about $750,000 per month in rental assistance to roughly 900 households, according to presentation materials.
Despite the scale of the Chenowith Loop project, local officials have acknowledged that additional development will be needed to meet long-term demand.
Affordable housing projects of this size often take years to assemble, requiring multiple funding sources, including tax credits, grants, bonds and local investment, along with compliance with federal and state requirements that can increase costs and extend timelines, according to materials provided to the council.
With financing now in place, the project is expected to move into its final development phase later this year, with units potentially opening to residents in 2027.
The project represents a significant step forward, but also underscores the scale of the housing challenge still facing The Dalles and the broader Columbia Gorge.
