The 6.4-acre Waterfront Gateway area encompasses the largely undeveloped properties to the south and west of Vancouver City Hall and the Convention Center/Hilton Hotel
VANCOUVER — The city of Vancouver invites the public to weigh in on the future of downtown’s Waterfront Gateway properties at a community workshop from 4 to 7 p.m. Thu., Sept. 19, in Vancouver City Hall’s Aspen Conference Room, 415 W. Sixth St.
A short presentation will be made at 4:30 p.m. and repeated at 5:45 p.m., with an informal open house format during the rest of the time.
The 6.4-acre Waterfront Gateway area encompasses the largely undeveloped properties to the south and west of Vancouver City Hall and the Convention Center/Hilton Hotel in downtown Vancouver (west of Columbia Street, south of West Sixth Street, and north of the BNSF railroad berm; see attached map). Also included is the Webber office building and parking lot (400 Columbia St.). The properties involved are all owned or indirectly controlled by the city.
The city has begun preliminary planning for the Waterfront Gateway area in partnership with the City Center Redevelopment Authority (CCRA). CCRA, in its role of providing oversight and guidance to the city regarding downtown redevelopment efforts, will take a leading role in the project’s planning and development. The CCRA plans to select a master developer for the properties through issuance of a Request For Qualifications (RFQ) later this year.
To provide prospective developers with a community vision for the site, the CCRA Board of Directors and several members of the public participated in a visioning workshop in July, developing high level concepts for the area. These concepts considered the activities, destinations and places that would make Waterfront Gateway an inviting and active district in the future, including what public amenities may be included.
At the Sept. 19 workshop, community members are invited to drop in and review, comment and build upon the July workshop’s visioning concepts. Attendees will view images of successful downtowns and districts from around the country and be asked how these ideas could fit into Waterfront Gateway’s future development. Interactive props for hands-on input will be featured. Refreshments and activities for children will be provided.
“The CCRA Board is excited to lead the planning and development of not only one of the largest remaining undeveloped and contiguous properties in downtown, but one that presents an exciting opportunity to connect our redeveloping waterfront with our revitalizing downtown core. We’d like to hear ideas for Waterfront Gateway from our community at this workshop,” said CCRA President Richard Keller.
Those who are unable to attend the workshop may provide online feedback on the project at www.beheardvancouver.org starting Sept. 20.
For more information about the workshop or to request accommodation, contact the city’s Economic Development Principal Planner John Collum at (360) 487-7956 or John.Collum@cityofvancouver.us.
Information provided by city of Vancouver.
