Two buildings sit on the land that Ginn Group is looking to develop. Above is the former Fir Grove Children's Center, which was recently relocated and renamed the Jim Tangeman Center; at right is a single-family home on the property that will be demolished, too. The properties are on a combined 4.44 acres at 2920 and 2902 Falk Road, near Burnt Bridge Creek Park.
Vancouver Public Schools plans on selling the Fir Grove Children's Center and the property its on. Ginn Group plans to purchase the property before the year and start tearing down the buildings next summer, said Founder and CEO Patrick Ginn. (Joshua Hart/The Columbian)Photo Gallery
The property that once hosted the Fir Grove Children’s Center is being eyed by developer Ginn Group, which wants to build 84 multifamily attached townhomes on the site.
Ginn Group plans to purchase the property from Vancouver Public Schools before the year ends and to start tearing down and doing “dirt work” on the property by next summer, said founder and CEO Patrick Ginn. The developer submitted plans to the city of Vancouver for review this week.
The townhomes will address the overwhelming demand for housing for workforce families living in Vancouver, said Ginn. At least 20 percent, or about 16 units, of the townhomes will fall into an affordable-living category, and the developer will receive a tax break as part of the city’s Multi-Family Housing Tax Exemption.
Ginn also strives to make the other townhomes affordable, he said, but the rising costs of construction during the pandemic present a challenge.
Two buildings sit on the land that Ginn is looking to develop: the former Fir Grove Children’s Center, which was recently relocated and renamed the Jim Tangeman Center; and a single-family home on the property that will also be demolished. The properties are on a combined 4.44 acres at 2920 and 2902 Falk Road, near Burnt Bridge Creek Park.
Fir Grove, the name of the proposed townhomes, will offer two- and three-story units, and some will have an attached garage. The townhomes will come in five- and six-plex buildings, with 10 feet of separation between the buildings. About 228 parking spaces will come with the townhomes. Conceptual renderings were not available on Wednesday.
Lifeline Connections operates in a building between the townhome development and Falk Road, but Ginn Group is working with the company to make construction tolerable, Ginn said. When the development is done, Lifeline Connections’ access will be through the townhome community.
Support local journalism
Your tax-deductible donation to The Columbian’s Community Funded Journalism program will contribute to better local reporting on key issues, including homelessness, housing, transportation and the environment. Reporters will focus on narrative, investigative and data-driven storytelling.
Local journalism needs your help. It’s an essential part of a healthy community and a healthy democracy.
All our stories are free today for Giving Tuesday.
As you read and share our stories, please consider donating to our Community Funded Journalism effort that has placed four reporters in The Columbian's newsroom supported entirely by our community's donations through the Local Media Foundation. Thank you for your support for local journalism.
