Some day, the Port of Vancouver’s Terminal 1 on the Columbia River may be every bit as fancy, parklike and mixed-use as its neighbor, The Waterfront Vancouver.
El Gaucho-style fancy?
That remains to be seen. Vancouver does not land a premier steakhouse every day, as it was announced Monday by the Hotel Indigo waterfront developers, now does it?
But on Tuesday, the port took an important step toward securing its own riverfront renaissance, announcing it is seeking proposals from development firms interested in designing, permitting, constructing and managing a mixed-used development on a portion of the port’s 10-acre site on the river.
The available property, the port said in a news release, includes two blocks on the north side of Columbia Way between the riverfront and downtown Vancouver — approximately 2 acres. The concept and vision for a mixed-use development at this property, which is in the city’s Downtown-South/Waterfront Opportunity Zone, includes office, residential, ground-floor retail and parking.
“Our request for qualifications is an important step toward reinventing this remarkable waterfront property as the premier gateway to Washington state and the connection to all our community has to offer, from public trails and historic sites to distinctive shopping and restaurants,” Mike Schiller, port director of business development, said in the news release. “Terminal 1, and specifically the mixed-use development, will be vital to the ongoing revitalization of the Columbia River waterfront.”
The request for qualifications from developers is separate from two other developments on the port’s Terminal 1 property.
In September, the port unveiled its vision for what would replace the property now occupied by the WareHouse ’23 restaurant and remnants of the Red Lion Hotel Vancouver at the Quay, which closed in 2015. The conceptual drawings published last year show a large, airy market building that pays homage to the location’s history as the port’s original warehouse, built atop a new pier. The port is developing cost estimates and plans for project phasing and funding.
Site development is expected to begin later this year for a future hotel that would be located between that market building and the 138-room Hotel Indigo and 12-story Kirkland Tower condominium at The Waterfront Vancouver. Vesta Hospitality of Vancouver is developing the AC Hotels by Marriott on that portion of the port’s property, which is about 1 acre.
The port’s overall development concept and vision for Terminal 1 includes mixed-use blocks, as well as adaptive reuse of the historic Terminal 1 facility, including open spaces and other public amenities. The port is the lead on development phases that include public spaces; overwater, moorage and dock space; visitors’ center; and other public uses.
Gramor, like any next-door neighbor watching the rehab over the fence, is expected to be scrutinizing the port’s development closely.
When Terminal 1 redevelopment was discussed at a port meeting in 2015, Gramor executive Matt Grady urged port commissioners then to expand Terminal 1’s public amenities. Grady said at the time he was concerned the port’s plan would compete with Gramor’s office, retail and residential buildings.
“There’s (a) duplication of uses going on,” Grady said.
Gramor officials could not be reached Tuesday for a reaction to the port’s request for qualifications.
The port has scheduled a site visit and presentation for potential developers at 2:30 p.m. March 5 at the port’s commission room at 3103 N.W. Lower River Road. Proposers may submit questions no later than 5 p.m. March 12. Proposal submissions are due by 5 p.m. March 21.
“We hope to announce a selected developer in the April/May time frame,” Abbi Russell, the port’s communications manager, said in an email.
