TD Grad proposes 29-lot subdivision above hospital; Views... epic
By Tom Peterson
Jason Alford has spent the better part of his career designing and permitting and renovating homes. He says he’s moving to his biggest project yet with a new subdivision in his home town.
The Dalles, Ore., Sept. 18, 2024 — An application for a 29-home subdivision on 7 acres with some of the most majestic views in The Dalles has been submitted with the City, and the developer is looking to get started next spring if everything lines up.
Jason Alford, 45, said he and his grandfather and former TD Mayor Donnell Smith began talking about the property overlooking the Adventist Health Hospital in East The Dalles about 15 years ago. Plans for the “high-quality subdivision” with 2,000—to 2,500-square-foot homes are now just falling into place.
Alford graduated from The Dalles High School in 1997. He currently resides in Ocean Shores, Wash., but plans on moving back to The Dalles this winter to provide boots on the ground for the project.
The Subdivision is being proposed at the end of 21st Street just east of Dry Hollow Elementary and overlooking Adventist Health Hospital. Click on the image to enlarge it.
Not only does the property sport epic views of the Columbia River, you can also look southwest toward the cherry orchards capped with a grand view of Mount Hood.
The subdivision design gives the lots maximum views with daylight basement/single-level designed homes and two-story concepts for homes sitting farther off the ridge line.
“The property has been in the family for 50 years,” Alford said this morning in a phone interview. “Grandpa bought it when it was an orchard.”
Smith passed away in 2019 and Alford, who works in home design and permitting in Washington, took up the torch to see the subdivision through to completion.
The development could not have come at a better time as a housing shortage has gripped The Dalles since the Pandemic with some estimating we are short 500 housing units in the area.
While cynics will quickly point out these new homes are unaffordable for many looking to buy a first home, Alford was quick to point out that new housing stock such as this will allow people to move up and make more affordable housing available to others.
“The property has just been sitting there,” Alford said, understanding the need behind new housing in the area. “I am going on two years on paperwork with City on this. My parents - Jeff and Laurie Alford - have people asking them when they can buy a lot at Fred Meyer. People have been looking look at this property for 40 years.”
He’s already got a list of 5 interested buyers, he said, noting he will not be building any spec. homes.
“I am hoping for a March or April to start building,” he said. “So yeah, we are in a go now.”
Alford agreed that the new city water tank sitting above Thompson Track also made it possible to develop as the water pressure to the property had been an issue for decades.
Subdivision Plan - it calls for 29 homes on about 7 acres with incredible views all around. Click the image to enlarge it.
In his application, Alford proposed to build the subdivision in two phases. The first section of 3.33 acres will be split into 14 lots and contain most or a loop road that provides access to homes built on the plateau.
An additional 15 lots will become available later in the second phase on another 3.91 acres which will be annexed into the city.
He estimated that the entire project could take 5 years to complete.
Support Local News
Available to everyone. Funded by readers.
