Another groundbreaking along the Columbia River waterfront warrants celebration while also raising questions.
The Port of Camas-Washougal has launched Hyas Point, a planned community at Washougal Waterfront Park that will feature a mix of residential units, services and restaurants while showcasing views of the Columbia River and Mount Hood. The development will feature new streets and four buildings housing 276 apartments and 56,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space.
Washougal Mayor David Stuebe said: “This is so epic. I mean, I use that word a lot, but this project right here is going to bring so much, for not only our communities, but for people coming to visit and to see what we have to offer — the gateway to the Gorge is such a beautiful place. What an amazing, exciting day. We finally got here.”
Areas throughout Clark County have been getting there, developing modern waterfronts that include a mix of amenities while connecting the public to the Columbia River. The Waterfront Vancouver development has been transformative; the adjacent property known as Terminal 1 is adding to the attraction, as will planned development just east of the Interstate 5 Bridge; the Port of Ridgefield is developing property along Lake River; and now Washougal is making use of its waterfront.
Throughout the country, sites that once were reserved for paper mills or shipyards are a new type of economic driver. They are used to attract tourists to restaurants, shops and hotels, increase density with multifamily housing and alter the general atmosphere of the urban area. They serve as a source of civic pride and — importantly — provide a visible, tangible example of public investment.
Which brings up questions about the future of Camas’ paper mill. For some 135 years, a paper mill has occupied a waterfront site along the Camas Slough off the Columbia River. For much of that time, the mill defined the city (the high school’s nickname, after all, is Papermakers) while providing a large chunk of the local employment. In recent decades, however, employment has diminished as portions of the mill have been closed.
Last year, mill owner Georgia-Pacific announced plans to remove a warehouse, five docks/piers, an above-ground oil tank, a crane foundation and approximately 3,000 pilings associated with those structures over a three-year span.
In an application, company officials wrote: “No waste is anticipated to enter groundwater because of this proposed project. … Inadvertent introduction of debris to surface waters could occur during activities. All demolition would be planned to reduce the risk of introduction of debris to surface waters.”
That highlights the principal difficulty of waterfront development. Industrial sites inevitably require significant cleanup of surrounding soil and nearby water. A former Boise Cascade site that now is home to the Waterfront Vancouver development required more than a decade of cleanup efforts before the area could be repurposed.
As former Camas Mayor Nan Henriksen told the city council in 2021: “If we have a vision for aesthetically pleasing and vibrant mixed-use with waterfront access, we must ensure now that a required cleanup of the mill site is adequate and safe for mixed-use and not just good enough for more heavy industrial usage.”
It seems inevitable that Camas’ mill site will someday add another jewel to Clark County’s waterfront. City and county officials should be diligent about preparing for that eventuality and the environmental questions that will arise.
