Top Stories: Heights District; Ridgefield schools chief investigation; Is Housing First working in Vancouver?

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1. Vancouver council OKs developers for Heights District project; construction could begin as soon as 2026

The Vancouver City Council this week gave the green light to hash out agreements with four developers to work on the planned Heights District project to bring housing, offices and retail to central Vancouver. Construction could begin as soon as 2026.

City staff and a committee of Heights residents and businesses presented their list of recommendations to the council during a Monday work session. The four developers selected will build on the first three city-owned sites, which total about 5 acres of the whole 205-acre Heights District.

• City got $17.5 million in federal funding for the project earlier this year

2. Vancouver teachers union says they have agreed on a tentative deal, likely avoiding a strike

The Vancouver Education Association reached a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract with Vancouver Public Schools late last week, according to union leaders and a district official. 

“Our members are in the process of reviewing the language prior to our general member meeting on Thursday, at which point our vote will launch,” Union president Jamie Anderson said this morning. “Final vote results should be available early next week.” 

• Full union membership to vote on three-year contract starting Thursday

3. Two Vancouver police officers say chiefs retaliated after they testified in sex discrimination lawsuit; women plan to sue city

Two female Vancouver police officers allege their department’s leadership retaliated against them after they testified last year in a federal sex discrimination lawsuit.

Sgt. Julie Ballou and Detective Miranda Skeeter detailed their tort claim, which notifies the city of Vancouver of their intention to sue, in an Aug. 5 letter. They argue they’ve suffered lost employment opportunities and emotional distress since testifying during a November U.S. District Court trial.

• Lawyer says department investigating officers over allegation of false testimony during trial

4. Investigation into former Ridgefield schools chief found pattern of mistreatment after female employees speak out

A 2023 investigation into former Ridgefield School District Superintendent Nathan McCann found he exhibited a pattern of mistreating female employees throughout his nine-year tenure, but that such behavior did not amount to a violation of Title IX.

With two years remaining on his contract, McCann resigned in August 2023 and negotiated a lump sum payout of $318,202 upon his departure.

• Nathan McCann found not guilty of Title IX violations; investigation launched in 2023 after athletic director said she was berated in incident involving McCann’s son

5. Can Housing First work in the face of Clark county’s fentanyl crisis? Residents say apartments are rife with drug use and crime

Heidi Leonard lives at The Pacific apartments, but some days, the 51-year-old wishes she were still homeless.

In 2020, after a decade of homelessness, Leonard received a call that a one-bedroom apartment was available. She was hopeful. This was her chance for a better life, she thought.

• Many say they have been helped by having a stable place to get clean; Vancouver Housing Authority says it is taking action