An Astoria-based nonprofit that provides advocacy and support to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault is expanding.
The Harbor announced Monday it has purchased a building on Exchange Street that, until recently, housed The Astorian newspaper. The building is only several blocks away from the nonprofit’s current location.
The Harbor outgrew its space off Commercial Street “ages ago,” said Executive Director Terri Steenbergen. “Because things have gotten more complicated and more violent, we just need more staff to cover everything.”
At the Harbor’s Commercial Street location there is not enough space for staff, and there are only two rooms where staff can work with clients and maintain required confidentiality.
But the organization saw limited opportunities in Clatsop County for something that was larger and still centrally-located until The Astorian building went on the market.
Steenbergen said a generous donation enabled the Harbor to make a downpayment on the building.
A deed filed with Clatsop County last week shows Newsmedia Leasing LLC, a Mississippi-based corporation associated with Carpenter Media Group which purchased The Astorian and other EO Media Group newspapers in 2024, sold the building to the Harbor for $1.1 million. The building was listed for sale for $1.5 million in 2024 following Carpenter’s acquisition.
The Exchange Street building housed The Astorian’s offices and printing press for decades. Space won’t be an issue there for the Harbor. The building covers half a city block.
Steenbergen said they are still figuring out exactly how they will use the extra room at the new building — and thinking about what more could be offered, including the possibility of more shelter space and more space for youth programs and prevention activities.
Over the coming weeks, Harbor staff hope to meet with partners, community leaders and other stakeholders to gather input on the organization’s longterm vision for the space and evaluate what kind of renovations are feasible to make the building as useable as possible.
“The building does actually meet our needs,” Steenbergen said. “It’s a good combination of office space and other space that can be turned into whatever we need it to be. Really, it’s pretty ideal.”
She hopes the Harbor can move into the building by September.