March 25, 2004

Meeting :               Citizen Resource Team – Workshop #2, March 25, 2004

From:                    Bob Wood/Helen Devery

Present:                CRT, Steve Burdick, Gerald Baugh, City of Vancouver,  Jerry Morgan, Port of  Vancouver, Paddy Tillett, Bob Wood, ZGF, Helen Devery, John White, JD White Company, Dan Seeman, Kittelson & Associates, Chris Zahas, The Leland Consulting Group

Distribution:   Via Steve Burdick

1. The Workshop began with an update of Vancouver City Center Vision (VCCV) Team activities and a presentation of the Success Audit: an inventory of projects and actions completed since adoption of the Ester Short Plan six years ago.

 

2.  The updated Revitalization Agenda, representing projects and actions which are under consideration for implementation by 2010 was presented and the list of current concepts and ideas were reviewed as a starting point for CRT participation. 

 

3. Paddy moderated a CRT group discussion which focused first on intangible but important values concerning the 120 block study area. The group discussion yielded significant input including: 

  • Main Street revitalization, reinvestment streetscape are high priority. 

  • The need for a grocery store is important and is considered a significant part of the retail issue.

  • Discussion and formulation of VCCV Principles and Goals was begun.

  • The importance and feasibility of continued housing development was discussed. 

  • Significant input on the continued development of housing, with discussion of density and height of housing and the location of the grocery store.

The CRT also expressed the need for open space downtown.

 

4. A transcription of the notes that were taken by Helen Devery on the large tablet and the sketches by Bob Wood on the project site plan base contain the detailed account of the workshop as follows:

#1

  • Artwalk is an example of a successful event that connects Uptown and downtown

  • Two-way traffic on Main would connect Esther Short, Firehouse Gallery and Uptown effectively.

  • Broadway: improve as part of the Main Street corridor:

  • More residential character contrasting with Main Street retail character.

  • More density?

  • City could encourage development on Broadway

#2

  • What would be the best location for a Grocery store?

  • Holland Restaurant site is an option.

  • Grocery store needs access to traffic to Port, freeway and employment concentrations

  • Location north of Mill Plain and west of freeway would serve the community best.

  • A worthy example is in Queen Anne, Seattle – Five-story grocery store, QFC. Well-designed and located.

  • Grocery store access - pedestrian and traffic access are both important.

 

#3

  • Noise such as e.g. garbage collection is a problem for urban housing residents.

  • What constitutes the Heart of City? – if based on assessed value, 80% of property value is south of Mill Plain with 20% north of Mill Plain

  • Bigger grocery stores will be concerned about current Vancouver/Downtown demographics.

  • There are stores such as Albertsons working on smaller urban formats.

  • A site at Main Street and Mill Plain would have enough traffic to support a grocery store.

#4

  • Once Main Street has been revitalized we should look to Broadway next

  • Waterfront – encourage retail, housing and active uses along waterfront. Encourage tourists to this area

  • Center of downtown is at the corner of Evergreen and Main: The Biggs Insurance building. This is the crossroads intersection of downtown -  “The Heart”

  • A single center or heart is limiting. Downtown is a patchwork – each area with its own flavor

 

#5

  • CRT members agree that downtown has multiple hearts

  • Main Street from 8th-22nd is a revitalization opportunity

  • West of Clark County Campus – what opportunity is there in this district?

  • Jefferson/Kauffman couplet provides access to Port and downtown

  • The Markle area north of Mill Plain needs improvement

 

#6

  • Primary focus of plan should be Main Street and the waterfront

  • If Main Street is improved this may lead to growth in other areas. Focus in 6-year plan on Main Street

  • Columbia & Washington provide access to waterfront

  • Is there an opportunity for multi-family housing west of Clark County campus?

 

#7

  • “Funk factor” e.g., Pearl District empty warehouses provided opportunities that preceded new development.

  • There must be interesting areas with personality that do not include big box chain stores.

  • "Messy vitality" describes many successful streets

  • Zoning/density changes in Pearl District encouraged development

  • Need to look at open space needs in the VCCV district.

 

#8

  • Development Costs – up-front costs including parking and fees discourage redevelopment (uptown example)

  • Adding light rail could enhance redevelopment potential

  • In the 1950s and 60s the intersection of Evergreen and Main was the center of downtown

  • As the semi-industrial district around Thurman St. in NW Portland has supported townhouses, would economics support similar investment in Vancouver (west of County Campus or north Mill Plain near I-5)?

 

#9

  • Property values in area north of Mill Plain near I-5 have doubled -  40-80K in last few years

  • Will City allow increased density?

  • NW corner I-5 and Mill Plain is visible from I-5. Could develop more quickly because of good access

  • Issue of rail and traffic noise west of County campus must be addressed, especially if housing is developed there.

 

#10

  • What should happen on the Blank 5 blocks on Main Street between Mill Plain and Uptown? Encourage mixed-use development.  A local example is Vancouver center with ground floor retail

  • Priorities

  • Lower Main redevelopment

  • Five blocks N. of Mill Plain

  • Stronger tie to waterfront

  • Waterfront

  • Housing

  • Recreation

  • Retail

 

#11

  • Rendezvous River Cruises – wants to use dock at Vancouver Landing

Goals & Principles

  • Main Street should be reinvigorated – two-way traffic, streetscape, etc. (Washington to Broadway corridor)

  • Funding sources for Main Street improvements have been difficult to secure.

 

#12

  • Use urban renewal district designation to enhance funding options.

  • WA does not share Oregon’s Tax Increment Financing regulations. Urban renewal allows for condemnation – transfer to private ownership

  • Esther Short EIS and traffic analysis identified the capacity of the current system and that will soon be reached.  Need to look at ways to improve access into downtown

  • Need to plan for and encourage development to fit into the framework that was the basis for the Esther Short EIS.

 

#13

  • Tie streetscape improvements, waterfront and Esther Short Park together.

  • Substantial difference between lower & upper Main Street. Lower Main Street more dense (without affecting historic structures). Area north of Mill Plain more residential – Hough Elementary is focus of this area

 

#14

  • Vacant block at 15th & Main Street could bridge upper & lower Main Street areas

  • Upper & lower Main Street have quite different personalities

  • Transition area is from Mill Plain to McLoughlin.

  • Connections on Main Street are important.  Consider optional access by pedestrian and trolley.

  • Use vacant land before removing and rezoning viable single family housing

 

#15

  • We should put power lines underground in downtown.

  • Utilities should be located together in street (curbside) where digging them up will not close sidewalks or through traffic lanes.

  • Green space – e.g., Vancouver BC requires small green areas as a component of  development in dense environments.

  • There are opportunities for green-space in areas south of 6th on Columbia 

  • Should utilize space on east side of I-5 (Central Park) more.

  • Need small public open spaces in downtown.

  • Could consider a theme for downtown.

 

#16

  • Everyone has heard of Columbia River. Vancouver should capitalize on this – a branding exercise.

  • Some areas of lower Main Street are vacant and prime for redevelopment with dense development.

  • Historic preservation important.

  • Need to consider relocation 7th Street C-TRAN Transit Center carefully.

  • Need to encourage people to stay in Vancouver – not cross the bridge to Jantzen Beach.

 

#17

  • Land uses to encourage people to stay in Vancouver.

 

5.  Workshop concluded

 

 

Please review the CRT List and contact information and let us know if there are any errors.

 

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Last revised: April 20, 2004