The 'Couve

[Fez Hammersticks]

Vancouver's proposed development agreement for the Columbia River waterfront essentially spells out who does what and when.

The city council spent almost two hours Monday hearing about those details in preparation for an Oct. 19 public hearing on what amounts to a business deal between Vancouver and Columbia Waterfront LLC, consisting of Gramor Development of Tualatin, Ore., and its local investors.

Council members generally liked what they see in the agreement, which was reached following more than a year of negotiations.

Columbia Waterfront has started inching away from earlier depictions of a high-rise community with buildings soaring more than 20 floors above the Columbia River at the former Boise Cascade industrial site west of the Interstate 5 Bridge.

But even a midrise project is expected to represent more than $1 billion in private investment and provide homes for 5,000 people and permanent jobs for 3,500 workers.

Downtown Vancouver will get $2 million in federal funding for the creation of two new rail under-crossings, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) announced last week.


The construction of the new access points will clear the way for the proposed $1.3 billion Waterfront Redevelopment project, set to include hotels, housing and retail outlets.

"The opportunity to connect and in some ways reconnect, our community to our waterfront is unmatched in size and potential," said Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard. "This project will forever change the face of Vancouver and the state of Washington."

The waterfront project has become the cornerstone of Pollard's economic agenda for the city, and if it gets built, could well define the three-term mayor's legacy for decades to come.

Unlike the controversial Columbia River Crossing project, mayoral challenger Tim Leavitt has said he wholeheartedly supports efforts to revitalize the city's waterfront.

The city council is currently reviewing an agreement for the riverfront project. A vote is likely to take place next month.

Vantucky blows but this SoWa-like project will transform the city. It'll be Portland's Belleview. Of course, this is a long-term vision, especially with the way the economy is.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I'm a bit skeptical on the plan. The housing will be condos costing so much that they may very well be predominately vacant like the other condos along the Columbia River. In fact, one such condo has a less than 10% occupancy and others are not only under 50%, but nearly 100% are for sale. Why will these be so different when one realizes they will sell for a premium price?

Another problem is that in a downtown area that cannot attract business at all and has a well over 50% vacancy rate for leased spaces and in a state that highly discourages business and a city that has repeatedly said 'no' to light rail, why is it that all of a sudden those high rises offices will be full? It's hard to think that for every 1 leased space now will turn into 250 leased spaces and they will somehow fill up? Perhaps there is something to the "build it and they will come" thing, but I am not convinced.

Lastly, ever wonder why businesses do so poorly in Vancouver? The sales tax. Why spend 10% extra for a meal or furniture or any item... when one can drive a few miles to Oregon and avoid all that?

All this to say that while the plan is bold & beautiful, it could also end up being one of the largest albatrosses ever built in the United States and possibly cost local tax payers billions to clean up as well as bring in a lot of crime if these buildings end up being pretty much empty shells.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

I love Vantucky! Dont regret moving to E.Vancouver 6 years ago at all. New schools, new business's, etc. etc. etc. Great place to live and raise a family.

 

[BTOWN_HUSTLA]

meh, the couv' always seemed weird to me.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

meh, the couv' always seemed weird to me.

Your location is listed as "3-1-0". Assuming that is the area code of where you live... I find it funny someone from the Los Angeles area calling Vancouver "weird".

 

[BTOWN_HUSTLA]

its like Portland's retarded little brother. just off in the distance.....kind of awkward.

 

[BlazersBlood]

Is part of the proposal to tear down the paper mills up stream? Otherwise those high priced condos will always be catching that downwind shit smell.