Whether city officials can replace the former fishing spot or simply upgrade it is a matter of money, says parks director
The Columbian
Published: September 16, 2015, 4:54pm
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The fishing pier, just east of the Interstate 5 Bridge, stands closed and in disrepair. (Natalie Behring/The Columbian)Photo Gallery
For the past eight years, the dilapidated and slouching wooden pier that stands above the Columbia River between Joe’s Crab Shack and the Interstate 5 Bridge has stood as an eyesore and danger to the public.
Money to update the former fishing spot isn’t available, said Julie Hannon, director of Vancouver Parks and Recreation. But that doesn’t mean the city’s Columbia River Fishing Pier isn’t a topic of discussion.
Open in 1991, the pier was meant to be “enjoyed by young and old alike for generations to come,” according to a statement made by the city of Vancouver at the time.
In 2007, the pier fell into disrepair after some structural issues were found, but the pier’s future was put on hold during planning for the now-scrapped Columbia River Crossing project. A fire in March did $10,000 in damage to the pier. A transient’s campfire is believed to have been the cause.
With a new waterfront development project on the horizon, the pier holds a prime spot to link the waterfront trail east of I-5 to the future development west of the freeway.
For the time being, however, officials are now considering removing the larger west side of the pier, leaving a narrow section of walkway that fronts the restaurants Who Song and Larry’s and Joe’s Crab Shack, Hannon said.
“It’s only in discussion,” Hannon said.
The walkway adjacent to the restaurants is currently closed but still in safe condition, according to Hannon, but she said the larger section to the west is on an unsafe foundation.
She said city officials haven’t contacted businesses adjacent to the pier to get their thoughts.
Whether officials can replace the pier or simply upgrade it is a matter of how much money the city can find for the project, Hannon said.
The option of building onto the eastern walkway or replacing the pier entirely is a matter of finding funds, which currently are unavailable, and getting the proper permits, which will take time. Hannon said the permitting can occur after the project is designed and the environmental impacts of the project are assessed.
If officials can’t find enough money or secure the proper permits to replace the pier entirely, the west side of the pier will most likely be removed to make the area safer, and the narrow walkway will remain closed, according to Hannon.
Hannon said she hopes the city will have a more solid plan for the pier when construction for the new waterfront development west of the Interstate 5 Bridge begins in January — but nothing is expected to happen until then.
Cory Allmendinger, manager at Joe’s Crab Shack, said the pier is a danger to the public and that it attracts transients. One of his cooks was “punched right in the face” by a transient living in the area, he said.
“People always ask why it’s closed,” Allmendinger said of the pier. “It would be a great thing to rebuild. It would be a great promotion for the businesses and for the people.”
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