Thank you for your interest in reading The Astorian. Here are a few stories that you might have missed this week:

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The Columbia River Maritime Museum has shared new details of a $30 million expansion project, which will see dozens of historic vessels and artifacts displayed in a second exhibit hall.

Mariners Hall, a two-story building proposed adjacent to the museum off Marine Drive, is expected to add more than 24,000 square feet of exhibit space, as well as an area for education programs.

Bruce Jones, the museum’s executive director, spoke about the project at an open house on Wednesday at the Barbey Maritime Center, where renderings outlined exhibit plans and building design.

“It’s about the human experience, the mariner, hence the name Mariners Hall. Just to show we’re really focused on the people that built these boats and other craft, that operated them, that maintained them, how it impacted our community,” Jones said.

See the story by Lissa Brewer by clicking here.

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Two years after a $14.5 million bond measure for a new firehouse caused bitter divisions among residents in Gearhart, the city is restarting the conversation about a new emergency services building.

At a town hall on Tuesday afternoon at the aging fire station on Pacific Way, Mayor Kerry Smith, Fire Chief Josh Como and Police Chief Joshua Gregory spoke of the need to upgrade facilities for emergency services.

“Honestly, I want to start the conversation,” Smith said. “That’s what this whole thing is. And I have not given it any idea or any thought because I need to know. And I’m not going to waste any time on this if people don’t want it. If people want it, then we will spend money and time going in that direction, and that’s when we can set up a timeline and a schedule of events.

“But I’m not wasting another six years of my life doing this.”

Read the story by Jasmine Lewin by clicking here.

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Columbia Memorial Hospital has finalized the design for an expansion and renovation project that will transform the campus on Exchange Street over the next several years.

The Astoria hospital unveiled details about the project last February and has since cleared development hurdles at the city. In December, the Astoria City Council approved a code amendment package exempting the project from design requirements under the city’s Gateway Overlay and allowing the project to bypass review by the city’s Historic Landmarks Commission.

Now, the project is moving toward an anticipated groundbreaking at the end of 2024, with some utility work beginning as early as June.

Hospital leadership met with The Astorian to outline the design, which is aimed at improving the patient experience at the 25-bed hospital and creating a resilient campus that can withstand extreme weather and natural disasters.

Construction is now estimated at between $225 million and $250 million — up from an initial estimate of $175 million. The new estimate does not include equipment costs, which are pending.

Take a look at the report by Rebecca Norden-Bright by clicking here.

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— Derrick DePledge