It’s been eight years since Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., stepped foot on the Vancouver waterfront.
Back then, at the 2010 groundbreaking, the property was just dirt, she recalled during an early-morning tour Wednesday.
“Is anything the same?” Murray asked.
In-between the roar of passing jets Murray walked the length of the project with Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle, waterfront project manager Terry Snyder and Parks and Recreation Director Julie Hannon to learn more about the city’s development progress.
“What a great draw for this community and really a celebration of so much, the river and its history,” Murray said. “That’s why this community started, because of being on the river, and now people can really see why.”
Murray added that the waterfront is a tribute to the hard work of Vancouver’s leaders.
“That vision that’s being created is a dream of a lot of people,” she said.
The waterfront is certainly a dream of McEnerny-Ogle, who touted the development as the most exciting project of 2017. Murray’s visit also allowed the mayor to step onto the new Grant Street Pier for the first time.
“We’re breaking the rules,” McEnerny-Ogle teased before using the opportunity to showcase the expansive views from the pier. Snyder said once the area opens Sept. 29, the pier will likely be the most popular spot on the waterfront. For now, the space won’t be open for reservations to ensure the public can enjoy the spoils of the decadelong project, but in 2020 the city will consider an appropriate system.
The $1.3 billion development of the former 29-acre Boise Cascade site was assisted in part by federal funds secured by Murray. Some of those funds include $2.85 million to construct underpasses through the BNSF Railway berm and an additional $1.9 million for road and rail improvements.
“I think what the message about this is to other communities is you bring everybody together,” Murray said. “Nothing gets done overnight but if you envision something, bring all your partners together, have everybody part of it and keep trying, you can create something amazing.”
