In working to renovate and preserve Providence Academy, members of The Historic Trust are not focused on public relations or marketing. So it is understandable that the rollout of a proposed development at the site was a little bumpy.
As far as we can tell, public reaction to the development adjacent to the Vancouver landmark has been overwhelmingly negative. And at first blush, plans for a pair of five-story mixed-use buildings brought out the architecture critics in us, as well. But after getting a better look at the proposal and after a meeting between The Columbian Editorial Board and members of The Historic Trust, we are happy to throw our support behind the project.
Fueling that change of heart are a couple of factors we believe most local residents can agree upon: Providence Academy, built in the 1870s by Mother Joseph, is an essential piece of Vancouver’s past and should be a centerpiece for its future; restoring and preserving the facility is a worthwhile endeavor; vast renovations to the building will not come cheap; and any development on the site should fit in with the zeitgeist of The Academy rather than distract from it.
Those also are the desires of The Historic Trust, which purchased the building and the 7-acre site in 2015. While the purchase was a $5 million cash deal, the trust is expecting to spend about $15 million on renovations and another $8 million for upgrades to the site such as drainage and parking improvements. “The financial risk being undertaken by a relatively modest nonprofit is extraordinary,” board member Paul Speer told The Columbian.
The benefits of that risk will be realized if a refurbished Academy remains a focal point of Vancouver. About 5,000 people toured the building last year, reflecting the community’s interest in local history; dozens of small business have set down roots in the building; and the structure remains a popular spot for weddings and other gatherings. But completion of the necessary renovations “frankly is not going to happen without this development,” said Mike True, president and CEO of The Historic Trust.
That brings us to the proposed buildings along C Street at the western edge of the property. It also brings us to public concern about how well the construction will mesh with a historic structure.
Preliminary drawings of the proposal generated a great deal of backlash. The modern-looking buildings appeared out of place while the design clashed with the nearly 150-year-old Academy. Conceived by Marathon Acquisition & Development of Portland, the construction would include about 140 residential units and street-level retail outlets.
Updated drawings, however, suggest that the plan is not as incongruous as originally thought. A plaza at the corner of C Street and Evergreen Boulevard would allow for views of The Academy from the corner, and the new buildings would feature a brick facade and set-back balconies that echo Mother Joseph’s original vision. Purists might still find fault with the proposal, and we can respect that. But the fact is that preserving The Academy for Vancouver will require development on other portions of the property, and this seems to be a reasonable option.
Perhaps most important, members of The Historic Trust have improved their public relations acumen. They have welcomed feedback and have made an informal presentation of the proposal to the Clark County Historic Preservation Commission. Updated plans are expected by the end of this month, providing another step in meshing Vancouver’s past with its future.
