With money pouring into the waterfront and the east Vancouver corridor, the city of Vancouver is developing a plan for its geographic center.
The city has started taking proposals for plans to develop the Mill Plain Central Subarea, a 205-acre space near the intersection of East Mill Plain Boulevard and North Devine Road.
Proposals are due by 3 p.m. Oct. 18. The city will hold a meeting at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 7 in Council Chambers at Vancouver City Hall, 415 W. Sixth St.
In the undertaking, the city hopes to structure the area for an array of uses and amenities, while driving private developers to build new housing, retail centers, offices and the like.
“This is an exceptional opportunity to transform the central part of Vancouver,” City Manager Eric Holmes said in a prepared statement. “We are very excited about working with the community to create and implement a plan that brings new vibrancy to the central part of our city.”
Plans to develop that area follow the city’s purchase of the Town Plaza, formerly Tower Mall, in June. The city paid $5 million for the 12-acre site and the 186,000-square-foot building.
The city’s statement Friday outlines various goals for the project and it hopes to keep the public engaged as it develops the plan.
Goals include ensuring there are a range of housing options and open public spaces, as well as streamlining transportation in its many forms. It also hopes to ensure development is both sustainable and held to “innovative urban design” standards.
Packets for the proposal can be examined in the lobby of Vancouver City Hall or viewable online at vancouver.procureware.com.
