Community open house scheduled for Sat., April 13 at McLoughlin Middle School
VANCOUVER – Changes are coming to the 228-acre Heights District located in the heart of Vancouver, and the city is seeking public input on the draft district plan at a community open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sat., April 13.
The community open house will be in the McLoughlin Middle School cafeteria, 5802 MacArthur Blvd. There will be no formal presentations at the open house. People can stop by anytime to learn more and share feedback. Refreshments and children’s activities will be provided.
This is the first opportunity for the public to weigh in on the draft plan for The Heights District, which reflects input received from the community over the past year. It provides a framework for how the area will develop over the next 20-30 years, and includes the draft concept for redevelopment of the Tower Mall site and adjacent properties. It also makes recommendations for existing and new streets, building density and design, parks and open space, and housing, jobs and commercial uses.
Those who can’t attend the open house can review the draft plan and provide input online for several weeks starting April 12. A link to the online open house will be available on the project webpage: www.cityofvancouver.us/TheHeights. People can also sign up on the website to receive regular email updates about the project.
Accommodations are available upon request, including document translation and on-site interpretation services. Send accommodation requests to Andrea Pastor at the city of Vancouver by calling (360) 487-7947 or emailing Andrea.Pastor@cityofvancouver.us.
Background
The Heights District was originally developed as wartime housing for workers in the Kaiser Shipyards, and is home to some of Vancouver’s oldest neighborhoods and best views. It is rich in parks, schools, open space and recreation opportunities, as well as commercial businesses, nonprofits and organizations that serve the needs of Vancouver’s diverse communities.
In 2017, the city purchased the 12-acre Town Plaza property (formerly known as Tower Mall), located at Mill Plain Boulevard and Devine Road, with the hope of using it to help revitalize the area, which has been bypassed by much of the new commercial and residential development occurring on the west and east sides of Vancouver.
The Heights District Plan will establish a vision for the future development of this area. The plan’s goals include increasing mixed-income housing options, adding accessible public open space, increasing connections that allow people to walk and bike to and through the area, and integrating public transit. The city’s ultimate goal is to create an attractive place where people want to be, by encouraging future private development through public investments and innovative design concepts.
Information provided by city of Vancouver.
