The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) will be moving to a newly renovated but historic location in the heart of Astoria in about a year.

The building, at 1535 Commercial Street, was the first structure completed in 1923 after the 1922 fire that leveled much of Astoria. It is one of the first buildings you see as you drive into historic downtown Astoria. Over the years it has been an active part of the community. It’s been a police station, a fire station, a car dealership, a furniture and appliance store and a public market. There is a door in the building that leads to the infamous tunnels that, according to history, ferried crimped sailors to waiting ships and were also used during Prohibition to transport alcohol.

Just as this building has been a part of the community throughout its past, that community legacy will continue with ODHS moving to that location. The renovation work when feasible will be done by local contractors and using local products. Cork has met with staff, Clatsop and Nehalem Tribes, local non-profits such as CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and local school staff in the area to learn what their needs for the building would be.

It is also more accessible inside and outside for people and easier to find than where the ODHS offices are now located in the port area at 450 Marine Drive. The city will be removing curbs for better wheelchair access. Also, it will be renovated to be a completely trauma-aware building.

The agency will be leasing the building from Astoria Waterfront Group LLC. The Managing Member of AWG is former Astorian John Dulcich, of Goldsmith Land Investments, who remembers when he was a child coming to this building’s public market with his parents. Dulcich’s mother, Donna Mary, spent her entire career as a speech pathologist with the Clatsop County Educational Service District visiting the local schools helping children with speech therapy. Dulcich’s father, Vince Dulcich, was long-time football coach and Athletic Director at Astoria High School and also a commercial gillnetter.

“This building has had a lot of public use. People know this building. And a lot of people in this area use human services. This is a safe area for people to come to. This building is also bringing family wage jobs here. I’m very excited ODHS will be bringing life back to this building,” Dulcich said.

Because of the building’s history of service to the community, Dulcich decided to name the building the Van Dusen Mercantile Building to pay homage to the Van Dusen family.

In 1849 wagon train pioneers Caroline and Adam Van Dusen started a general store by the same name in downtown Astoria. Later the Van Dusen family ventured into other industries including insurance, soft drink bottling and hospitality. Their grandson, Willis, born in 1953, and the family earned the distinction of having operated Oregon’s Oldest Business. Willis went on to serve the community as an Astoria Council member for more than 30 years and Astoria Mayor for 24 years.

Dulcich said he is honored that the Van Dusen’s agreed to let him name the building after their family. Dulcich also noted that bringing the State ODHS to the building was originally the vision of the Van Dusen’s (Willis, Trudy and Junior) as they had initiated conversations with the State.

“They got the ball rolling and now we just need to execute the plan so we can restore the luster to this jewel of a building,” Dulcich said.

“It is an iconic building. If the walls could talk, I’m sure we’d hear a lot of great stories. We’re very excited to be coming to this building and to able to bring services to people in the area,” Tim Cork said. He is the District 1 Manager, which includes Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook counties. The building will house Child Welfare, Self-Sufficiency, Oregon Eligibility Partnership and Vocational Rehabilitation programs.

The building sits in a very scenic area, just across the street from the Nordic Park with its interpretive signage and cattycorner from the Columbia River Maritime Museum. The building’s front windows look out onto the expansive view of the mouth of the Columbia River.

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Watch the video and listen to the interviews of what is to come for the future of the Astoria ODHS offices: https://vimeo.com/1097989057/b74600b04c?share=copy