Two public meetings held in April 2026 set up decisions that Mason County civic watchers should track through the summer. At the Port of Grapeview’s April regular meeting, commissioners formally agreed to research a $2 million joint commercial property purchase with the Port of Allyn — a governance experiment that would require two independent Washington port districts to share ownership of a single asset. And in Shelton, OneStop Northwest LLC has finalized its new downtown location, the product of a business expansion that moves a Union-based company into the county seat’s commercial core.
The Port Districts’ $2M Shared Asset Question
What Port of Allyn Executive Director Travis Merrill brought to Port of Grapeview Commissioner Mike Blaisdell is not a routine port purchase. The SR-3 property near East Harding Hill Road — a $2 million commercial and light industrial site with existing tenants and room for expansion — would, if acquired, be owned jointly by two separate special-purpose districts. That is not unprecedented in Washington state port history, but it requires research, and the Grapeview board directed Managing Official Amanda Montgomery to find out how other port districts have structured such arrangements.
The financial case Merrill has made to the Grapeview board is straightforward: after expenses, each district could earn $15,000 to $18,000 per year from the property. For the Port of Grapeview — small enough that insurance costs alone represent a budget challenge — that recurring revenue would materially improve financial stability.
“There is no way that either of our ports, or even any of the ports in Mason County except the Port of Shelton, is going to be able to weather the storm that seems to be coming without some sort of financial assets,” Merrill said at the April meeting.
Commissioner Doug Jones agreed the property was worth evaluating. “It’s something we should at least talk about,” he said, acknowledging the $2 million price tag is “a significant amount of money.”
What civic watchers should track:
- Site visit: Both port districts agreed to visit the SR-3 property before any purchase commitment. Watch for this to be announced at upcoming Port of Allyn and Port of Grapeview regular meetings.
- Shared ownership legal structure: Amanda Montgomery has been tasked with researching how Washington port districts can co-hold an asset. The legal framework she surfaces will likely determine whether this deal proceeds and in what form.
- Board votes: Any purchase at $2 million requires formal board action at both districts. Neither board has voted — this is still in preliminary evaluation.
The Port of Allyn entered this conversation from a position of relative stability. Its 2026 state accountability audit found no findings — a clean bill of health on public fund management — and the port recouped the full $99,731 it spent removing the sunken vessel Sea Bear from Hood Canal waters, with Washington State’s DNR Derelict Vessels Program providing 100% reimbursement.
OneStop Northwest: A Business Milestone in the County Seat
For civic watchers tracking downtown Shelton’s commercial activity, the May 22 ribbon-cutting for OneStop Northwest at 124 N. 2nd St., Suite A is a data point. The Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce is participating. The grand opening is at 4:30 p.m.
OneStop Northwest’s expansion from Union into a downtown Shelton showroom reflects the same bet Merrill is making with the SR-3 property: that Mason County’s local economy has enough density to support professional services and commercial real estate that local operators control.
Frequently Asked Questions
What governance structure would a Port of Allyn–Port of Grapeview joint property ownership require?
Two independent Washington port districts would need to establish a legal framework for co-holding an asset — including how operating decisions are made, how expenses are split, how revenues are distributed, and what happens if one district wants to exit the arrangement. Port of Grapeview Managing Official Amanda Montgomery has been tasked with researching models used by other Washington port districts.
Has the Port of Grapeview board voted to purchase the SR-3 property?
No. As of the April 2026 regular meeting, commissioners agreed only to schedule a site visit and research the shared ownership legal framework. No purchase motion has been made at either district.
What is the Port of Allyn’s current financial condition?
The Port of Allyn received a clean 2026 Washington State accountability audit with no findings, and recouped $99,731 in full from the DNR Derelict Vessels Program for the Sea Bear removal. Executive Director Travis Merrill has, however, been candid that small port districts face growing financial pressure and need diversified revenue sources.
What is the assessed value of the SR-3 property?
Approximately $2 million. The property has a history of commercial and light industrial use, has existing tenants, and includes space that is currently vacant with potential for future expansion.
When will the port districts make a final decision on the SR-3 property?
No timeline has been set. The next steps are a site visit by commissioners from both districts and research into shared ownership models. Follow public meeting agendas for the Port of Allyn and Port of Grapeview for updates.
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