What’s Up with That?: Former T.P. Market building to become union hall

I’m interested in knowing if anything is going happen with the T.P. Market at 39th and Columbia. Somebody partially fixed it up, but now the signs are gone and nothing appears to be happening. We in the neighborhood would like to know if anybody has plans for it.

— Suzanne Gilman, Lincoln

After a few years of stop-and-start work and ownership changes, there are concrete plans to report at last, Suzanne — but we’re afraid the neighborhood might be a little let down to learn the beloved grocery will be a grocery no more.

What used to be the T.P. Market, 3815 Columbia St., is going to become a union office — the home of the Office and Professional Employees International Local 11.

The union bought the building in March for $450,000, according to county property records.

“We’re quite excited about it,” said Mike Richards, executive secretary-treasurer of the union, whose office is now on Northeast Halsey Street in Portland. “We’ve been here for 30 years and we can’t wait to get up into friendly Vancouver.”

Richards said he’s very aware of neighborhood interest in the spot: “Every time I stop there, five or six people stop by and ask me what’s happening.”

Interest has been high ever since the neighborhood market closed after a fire on Christmas Eve 2008.

“We are in process of getting some permits, and the architect is working out some plans for the remodel. We should be in sometime in September,” Richards said.

The union represents approximately 2,000 office workers in areas such as banking, insurance, higher education, shipping, hospitals and clinics, utilities, transportation and hotels in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Utah.

Got a question about your neighborhood? We’ll get it answered. Send What’s Up With That? questions to neighbors@columbian.com.