Port ProjectsA Partnership to Preserve Community Health and Wellness
The Port of Whitman County and Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics are working together to provide St. John with a new medical clinic. The Port is conducting environmental cleanup of the property on which the hospital plans to build its new medical clinic. The partnership supports improved access to medical care in St. John, cleans up legacy contamination, redevelops underused property, and involves the community in the redevelopment of the property.
Site Overview
- Four parcels purchased by the Port
- Brownfield Cleanup Site
- Centrally located in downtown St. John
Port Ownership
Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics investigated purchasing property in St. John to build a new medical clinic. Whitman Hospital abandoned the purchase after finding evidence of contamination. Upon hearing of the Port’s reuse and revitalization efforts, Whitman Hospital asked if the Port would purchase the property and complete all cleanup necessary for redevelopment. The Port purchased the property in late 2024.
Project Status
The Port is completing environmental testing on the site to further inform cleanup needs. Once testing is complete, the café will be demolished, and the site prepared for cleanup. The Port anticipates demolishing the café in late fall 2025 and completing the cleanup process in 2026.
Funding
The Port was awarded a $500,000 Environmental Protection Agency Cleanup Grant. The grant will fund the cleanup of the site.
About St. John
Located in northeastern Whitman County, the town of St. John is a quaint, country community of about 600 people. With an aging population in St. John and the surrounding area, the new health clinic is a necessary piece of community infrastructure.
About Brownfields
Underused or abandoned land lowers property values and restricts economic opportunities. Examples of brownfield sites include former industrial sites, gas stations and auto shops, dry cleaners, and agricultural sites. By redeveloping these sites, we reduce health and environmental hazards, enhance the tax base, and create new amenities for communities and new sites for job creation and investment.
