Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Vancouver USA Terminal Redevelopment

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Port of Vancouver USA’s Terminal 1 Waterfront Development master plan is moving forward. On June 9, the Vancouver City Council approved the massive redevelopment project at the birthplace of the port on the Columbia River.

When fully developed, Terminal 1 will feature nearly 950,000 square feet of new office, retail and commercial space, housing, hotels, a public marketplace, low- and high-dock access and a link to the Renaissance Trail.

The development also is expected to generate 800 new jobs and nearly $93 million in state and local taxes over 25 years, according to the port.

“This is an exciting project,” said port CEO Julianna Marler. “It’s a different kind of development than we typically do, but it still achieves the port’s mission of economic benefit to the community. The jobs, tax dollars and activity down at the waterfront will complement our beautiful downtown and create a ripple effect of benefit in the region. We appreciate the City Council’s support of Terminal 1 and look forward to working together to build a community resource and destination we can all be proud of.” The master plan will now go before the Washington State Department of Ecology for review and decisions on shoreline permitting.

“It’s going to be really exciting to see this develop into what will be its future,” said Vancouver’s Downtown Association Executive Director Lee Rafferty. “There’s a very strong and wonderful history there, but the future is very bright, as well, and I think Vancouver’s downtown is going to be much better off because we have strong partners at the port.”