Workers began to remove the ways building at the former Nichols Boat Works site, the Dalles Chronicle reported. Last week, planners approved a 42-unit townhouse development by Naito Development at that location. Naito bought the 5.5 acre parcel from Nichols Boat Works, Inc. in January, 2007. The building being removed was the third shop used by the boat works in its 57-year history (1940-1997). It was built in 1969 when the Port of Hood River was completing a massive dredge and fill project north of the freeway. As part of the attraction, the fill at the site was sloped properly at six percent for the ways, or skids, from which boats were launched.