What’s up with the Orchards Walmart location? What’s keeping the store from being built? Also, what is going to happen to the property behind the Albertsons store at Padden Parkway and Northeast 137th Avenue? Some say a park, some say more stores.
— Thomas Krueger, Sifton
It’s the eternal question: Are we there yet? Here’s the eternal answer: Nobody knows.
Columbian reporter Cami Joner spoke with Walmart spokesman Joshua Phain a few weeks back and was told the Orchards store — marked for the last million years or so by a “Coming Soon” sign — isn’t coming anytime soon. There are no firm plans or dates for that site.
Why? Today’s economy, of course. Big stores are hedging their bets. Plus, real estate negotiations for the Orchards site — Eastgate Plaza, south of Northeast Fourth Plain Boulevard between 137th and 147th avenues — dragged on for years, while parallel projects in other sites proved easier to get moving.
The retail giant is proceeding with a Woodland store, with site preparations now under way at 1014 Dike Access Road and a target opening date of late next year. Plans also continue to creep forward for a Salmon Creek Walmart near Washington State University Vancouver. The Fairgrounds Neighborhood Association has reported survey work under way there even as the proposal, which was rejected by Clark County commissioners but upheld by Superior Court, awaits a ruling by the Court of Appeals.
There are already three Walmarts in Clark County: one each in Hazel Dell, Fisher’s Landing (on 192nd Avenue) and Vancouver’s Marrion neighborhood (on Mill Plain near I-205).
On to Thomas’ other frequently asked question: The bulk of the land — 26 acres — behind the Padden Parkway Market Center at Northeast 137th Avenue is privately owned and slated for single-family development. Again, who knows when?
Farther west, off 130th Avenue, is a 6-acre open space called Mackie Park. It will be a real park someday. But because it was purchased after the creation of the Greater Clark Parks District, county parks spokeswoman Jilyane Jordan said, there’s no timeline for developing it.
— Scott Hewitt
Got a question about your neighborhood? We’ll get it answered. Send “What’s up with that?” questions to neighbors@columbian.com.
