Roughly a year remains in the planning process, but Vancouver’s Heights District is showing potential as a dynamic public-private partnership to rejuvenate a long-ignored section of the city. Many questions surround the triangle bordered by Mill Plain Boulevard, MacArthur Boulevard and Devine Road, but city officials are taking a thoughtful approach to the project.
First, there have been 50 community meetings to discuss the project, and an online open house has offered extensive information; the online survey closes today. Gleaning input from stakeholders as well as nearby residents is essential for creating a project that works for all of Vancouver.
Second, there has been an ambitious vision for a mix of residential, office, retail and public areas, reflecting modern thinking on the revitalization of urban spaces. Three proposals, similar and yet unique, were presented this week to the city council.
Most important is that city leaders have recognized the area’s potential and have taken an aggressive approach toward realizing it. Last year, the city purchased 12 acres of the site for $5 million. Considering that the property sold in 2005 for $12.4 million and again in 2016 for $8.5 million, the price could be viewed as a bargain. On the other hand, considering that several private developers have seen potential for the area but have been unsuccessful, the site could be viewed as a money pit. Success will depend upon execution of the plan.
Vancouver’s newly dubbed Heights District once was the site of Tower Mall, the region’s first indoor shopping mall. The opening of Vancouver Mall rendered Tower Mall largely obsolete, and the area along Mill Plain has languished in the years since. Most recently, it has been home to a handful of businesses and social service organizations.
The plan for the future includes about 1,800 residential units surrounded by commercial space and connectors for walking or biking through the complex. Rebecca Kennedy, long-range project manager for the city, said, “Certainly, I will not claim everyone has said, ‘Yes, do what you want to do.’ But people want amenities; they want services and they want to see this area change.”
There are several potential benefits to this:
• As The Columbian wrote editorially in June, “Neither a blight nor a jewel, it presents a rare opportunity for revitalization outside the downtown core.” The downtown area has been the site of much development in recent years, but other neighborhoods also warrant attention.
• New construction offers an opportunity for affordable housing, and City Councilor Ty Stober said, “We’ve got to be much more diligent in that regard.”
• And the project can bring together public and private investment. City Manager Eric Holmes last year compared the Heights District with downtown: “We didn’t buy all of downtown. We developed the vision, did the planning necessary, and invested in the public infrastructure to support that vision.”
The former Tower Mall is ripe for similar success, with the city creating a project that attracts private investment. Yet questions remain, including: What will happen to essential social service providers who inhabit the location? Can the city get nearby residents to buy in? And will leaders effectively prepare the area for increased traffic and other issues that accompany development?
With proper planning, the Heights District can become a gem to match the luster of downtown, east Vancouver and Uptown Village. Thus far, city officials have done a good job preparing to polish it.
