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Old Posted Sep 30, 2005, 4:37 AM
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Waterfront district with 10,000 residents envisioned

Waterfront district with 10,000 residents envisioned

Friday, September 2, 2005
By JEFFREY MIZE, Columbian staff writer

Vancouver has one final chance to reclaim its waterfront, an opportunity the city cannot afford to squander, a college professor said Thursday.

Will Macht, a Portland State University adjunct professor, presented his waterfront vision Thursday to almost 200 people at the Columbia River Economic Development Council's quarterly luncheon.

Bart Phillips, the council's president, said Macht was invited to speak because the development council has a responsibility to provide a venue for new ideas.

Decisions made in the next few years will shape Vancouver for the next 100 years, Phillips said.

"Are we going to be Bellevue?" Phillips asked, referring to the Seattle suburb that has a well-developed downtown and a significant job base. "Or are we going to be Bothell?" a much-less-defined suburb.

Macht believes Boise Cascade's decision to sell its 27 acres west of the Interstate 5 Bridge presents Vancouver with the opportunity to create a waterfront district where 10,000 people could live, a district that could surpass anything that Portland has to offer.

Macht, who was Vancouver's developer on the Officers Row restoration almost 20 years ago, has sketched out a plan for 37 blocks on the waterfront south of the BNSF Railway tracks. He envisions a bustling community with 4,800 condominiums and apartments, 300,000 square feet of waterfront restaurant and retail space and 2,300 on-street parking spaces.

He also proposes creating seven waterfront plazas, each roughly the size of Pioneer Courthouse Square in downtown Portland, connected by an esplanade running the length of the district. He believes the city should extend downtown's street grid into the waterfront district and develop the area on a block-by-block basis using multiple developers to spread the risk and to increase design diversity.

To accomplish this vision, Macht argues Vancouver should purchase property from Boise Cascade and the Port of Vancouver to control the scale, pace and design of the riverfront district and to ensure the area is not underbuilt. Zoning, he said, is inadequate to control the scale of development.

Vancouver should hold onto the land and lease it to developers, he said. That way, the city could collect rent from its leases and property taxes from the buildings, he said.

"This is simply a wise investment," Macht said.

But Steve Burdick, Vancouver's economic development manager, believes the city can exert influence over the redevelopment process without purchasing the land.

"I think Will under-represented the city's leverage," Burdick said after listening to Macht's presentation. "He mentioned zoning like the correct zoning already is in place, and it's not."

Mayor Royce Pollard and other city officials also have rejected Macht's call for the city to buy the land.

"We're not going to buy that property, but we are going to have a say about what goes there," Pollard told The Columbian's editorial board earlier this week.

Transportation pieces

Macht's proposals for moving people and freight across the Columbia River also defy conventional thinking.

He proposes building a new bridge west of the existing railroad bridge that would provide four lanes for vehicles, two tracks for light rail and one track for freight, commuter rail and intercity passenger travel.

To decrease congestion on the Interstate 5 Bridge, Macht believes two lanes could be added in the 38-foot gap between the two spans. The bridge's center portion could be raised, using existing piers, to provide more clearance for river commerce and to eliminate the need for bridge lifts, he said.

Macht said downtown Vancouver, from Fourth Plain Boulevard south to the Columbia River, is roughly the same size as downtown Portland, from Interstate 405 east to the Willamette River.

While downtown Vancouver has only one bridge, downtown Portland has seven bridges, not counting the Sellwood, Ross Island and St. John's bridges, Macht said.

"How vital economically and in all other respects would downtown Portland be without six of these bridges?" he asked "I don't see anyone trying to remove them."

In contrast, traffic heading in and out of downtown Vancouver has to converge on the I-5- Bridge, which concentrates congestion, Macht said. Planning is under way for a replacement bridge that would have 10 lanes, but Macht doesn't believe that provides an adequate solution.

"A single replacement of that clogged artery, no matter how wide or how high or how beautiful, will not restore its health," he said.

Estimates indicate a new I-5 bridge could cost $1.2 billion or more. Tolls are often mentioned as a way to pay for bridge construction.

Macht said tolls not only would create political upheaval on both sides of the river, but it would cost as much as $250 million just for toll plazas and other systems to collect money from motorists.

Cool reaction

City officials and others have been cool to connecting a new bridge to Mill Plain Boulevard. Pollard earlier this week said the city extended Mill Plain to the west to move freight to the Port of Vancouver, not to provide another route for cars to cross the Columbia.

Burdick said he appreciates Macht putting forward his ideas to spur more debate on waterfront development and river-crossing issues.

"Sometimes you get good ideas from a fresh perspective," Burdick said after the luncheon. "Maybe his transportation concepts are at least worth taking a look at."

Larry Paulson, executive director for the Port of Vancouver, questioned the wisdom of placing housing so close to railroad tracks at a time when the port is discussing adding new tracks near the waterfront to serve its Columbia Gateway project.

Macht replied that housing already exists along the BNSF Railway tracks, from the Columbia Shores condominiums, where he has lived for the past five years, east to Southeast 164th Avenue.

Macht also argued the city needs to close the West Eighth Street railroad crossing, which would eliminate the need for engineers to blast their locomotive's horn as they approach the crossing.

After the luncheon, Paulson said there are ways for houses and railroads to coexist, but it needs to be carefully planned from the beginning so you don't have residents complaining about the noise and demanding action.

Phillips said he believes the luncheon "did what we wanted to do, which was to stimulate some new thinking."

"Who knows how these ideas manifest themselves?" he said. "But I do believe we need to get the maximum level of development down there, which may be more than what the market is willing to give right now."

Jeffrey Mize covers Vancouver city government for The Columbian. Reach him at 360-759-8006, or by e-mail at jeff.mize@columbian.com.


Read more about Will Macht's ideas for crossings over the Columbia River and redeveloping the Vancouver waterfront at

www.columbian.com/ images/ ColumbiaCrossing. pdf
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Old Posted Sep 30, 2005, 5:30 AM
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I had to reread this article becuase I didnt think it was actually talking about Vancouver, WA. This is great news for the city, I hope they continue through with it. This would really make downtown vancouver feel like a downtown.
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Old Posted Sep 30, 2005, 3:40 PM
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Quote:
"Are we going to be Bellevue?" Phillips asked, referring to the Seattle suburb that has a well-developed downtown and a significant job base. "Or are we going to be Bothell?" a much-less-defined suburb.
at least they finalllly realized they are always going to be a Portland suburb.

Good news though, I'd love to see a Bellevue style suburb in Portland Metro and I don't have much hope Beaverton is going to step up to the plate.
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Old Posted Jan 11, 2006, 9:39 PM
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at least they finalllly realized they are always going to be a Portland suburb.
So Starbucks can now resume selling Portland mugs at their Vancouver locations without fearing that the Mayor will come to the store and smash them???


This part from the first article just doesn't sound like it's going to work very well:

Vancouver should hold onto the land and lease it to developers, he said. That way, the city could collect rent from its leases and property taxes from the buildings, he said.

"This is simply a wise investment," Macht said.
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Old Posted Jan 11, 2006, 9:51 PM
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Re: Smashing Mugs

Starbucks solution was to put Vancouver, BC mugs in the 20 or so Starbucks in Vancouver, WA. So they say "Vancouver!", but have pictures of BC place on them. That'll sell some mugs!
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Old Posted Oct 1, 2005, 2:10 AM
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got that right mark.
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Old Posted Jan 11, 2006, 8:44 PM
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Port has ideas for the Quay property

Wednesday, January 11, 2006
By JONATHAN NELSON, Columbian staff writer

Picture this for the Red Lion Hotel at the Quay property: a riverfront sidewalk lined with boutique retail shops with floors of condominiums rising above.

A dream?

Not to Port of Vancouver Commissioner Arch Miller. He could see the port buying out the Red Lion Hotel Corp. lease on the hotel, hiring a developer to demolish the 39-year-old property, building a condo-retail complex and then selling the development.

Miller's idea for the Quay's future came Tuesday during a workshop between the three-member commission and port staff. Not long ago the idea would have been taken lightly, given the port's hard-line stance on leasing its property rather than selling.

The shift in philosophy, at least with the Quay site, comes as the port embarks on a complex and ambitious growth plan, and the agency considers capitalizing on last year's announcement by the Boise Cascade Co. that it wants to sell its Vancouver operation.

Boise's 27 acres are adjacent to the Quay and run west-northwest along the Columbia River.

The swath of waterfront property is prime real estate that government leaders and developers want to transform from industrial and commercial uses to dense urban living.

Some see this as Vancouver's chance to create a dynamic city neighborhood that combines the success of downtown's redevelopment with the beauty of the Columbia River.

Before the port gets too far along with any plan, it wants to hear from the public and is scheduling a series of forums.

A spokeswoman for the Spokane-based Red Lion Hotels Corp. said the company had no comment on Tuesday's discussion by port officials. Red Lion's lease with the port expires in 2033.

The Quay property is one piece in a complex puzzle the port is assembling. Commissioners and staff are juggling several interlocked plans that hold the promise of creating thousands of new jobs.

The key piece is Columbia Gateway, 534 acres of industrial- zoned land along the Columbia River and south of the Flushing Channel that port officials are considering for auto-loading facilities and a bulk terminal.

Another 58 acres are being readied for light industrial use on land that is across the street from the port's main offices.

The port also wants to improve rail access to its tenants by creating a new entrance from the east along Eighth Street. The proposed rail line is tied into the Boise Cascade property, creating a further complication to that sale.

Newly elected Commissioner Brian Wolfe said the port could use the Quay property as a bargaining chip to get the rail access it wants.

The talk now surrounding the Quay comes after the Red Lion company spent $51 million during the past two years to renovate its chain of almost 70 hotels.

In Vancouver, that meant new pillow-top beds, triple sheets, improved pillows and updated bathrooms.

The renovation came just as the Hilton Vancouver Washington hotel was being built a few blocks away.

The Hilton's arrival fueled speculation that the port might divest the Quay.

Port commissioners see any decision on the Quay hinging on the Boise Cascade deal.

Todd Coleman, deputy executive director, said the company is under pressure to get the property on the market.

The company has rejected advances by Vancouver city officials and others to consider selling to one owner, Coleman said.

Instead, it will accept proposals from developers.

The port's public forums are to be scheduled in the coming months.

Jonathan Nelson covers the Port of Vancouver for The Columbian. He can be reached at 360-759-8013 or via e-mail at jonathan.nelson@columbian.com


Update

Previously: The Red Lion Hotel Corp. of Spokane upgraded its Vancouver riverfront hotel that sits on property owned by the Port of Vancouver.

What's new: Port officials are considering selling the Quay property.

What's next: The port wants public input on what it would like to see done with the site.
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Old Posted Jan 11, 2006, 8:45 PM
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And just East of downtown along the waterfront...

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Door open for 'second downtown'?

Wednesday, January 11, 2006
By GRETCHEN FEHRENBACHER Columbian staff writer

Prospects of a new owner for -Columbia Business Center on the Vancouver waterfront are stirring discussion about the future of the property, prized as a home to industry but also for its potential for higher density redevelopment that one expert said could be a "second downtown."

The news that Schnitzer Investment Corp. would sell the 220-acre business park is widely viewed as an opportunity to add a new element to Vancouver's revitalization. The center's 2.4 million square feet of building space makes it Clark County's largest business park and second in size in the metropolitan area only to Rivergate Industrial District in Portland.

Eric Fuller, of Eric Fuller & Associates commercial real estate services in Vancouver, said Tuesday it is critical that the jobs at Columbia Business Center on Southeast Columbia Way, east of Columbia House Boulevard, be saved. But, he added, the jobs could be moved -elsewhere, leaving the business center free for redevelopment as high-density residential, offices and retail.

He said one possible formula would have the Port of Vancouver buy the business park and relocate the jobs to an alternative site such as Columbia Gateway in west Vancouver.

"The community retains the jobs and gets a higher and better use of that prime waterfront property -- that is -Vancouver's second downtown," Fuller said.

Schnitzer Investment has retained Holliday Fenoglio Fowler to market the property nationwide. Seller and broker say the market will dictate the price, depending on what the buyer decides to do with it. -Holliday Fenoglio Fowler is based in Texas, but its New York office is handling the -Vancouver property.

Andrew Scandalios, one of the brokers marketing the property, said that because of the property's size and value, the buyer would probably be an institutional investor.

He described it as a "very unique" site, based on its size, location on the waterfront, and proximity to state Highway 14 and interstates 5 and 205.

Schnitzer Investment, a -privately owned real estate -investment company with ties to the Schnitzer steel family, bought the Vancouver property in 1997 for $62.2 million.

Roger Qualman of Norris Beggs & Simpson and Fuller speculates that the business center could be valued at more than $100 million in today's market.

The timing of the possible sale may be partially driven by rising interest rates, which could cause property values to decline as the cost of buying real estate goes up.

Fuller described Columbia Business Center as having five attractive attributes -- -location, uniqueness, size, a solid income stream from lease tenants, and being available for purchase.

City view

Gerald Baugh, development services manager for the city of Vancouver, said that Schnitzer had done a good job of making the center fit into the surrounding area by improving peripheral areas. He said that any thought of transforming it into a mixed-use development is lessened by the prospects of redeveloping the Boise -Cascade property west of Interstate 5 into high-density residential and related uses. That site amounts to 27 city blocks, he said.

While Schnitzer Investment is marketing the entire site, the western half -- roughly 110 acres -- is owned by the Hidden- and Van Buren families of Vancouver. Schnitzer has a ground lease on that portion with 25 years remaining. While any buyer would have control over that site for the remaining life of the lease, the two families would retain ownership.

"We haven't contemplated selling it," Monte Hidden said Tuesday. "It has been in the family over 100 years."

He said that any negotiations over the purchase of Columbia Business Center would be between the buyer and Schnitzer. He said, however, that he would like to see continued use for heavy industry.

Bart Phillips, president of the Columbia River Economic Development Council, concurred.

"It is a very valuable industrial property," he said, adding that in the past two years, his group has put three new tenants into space there. Pam Neal, council staffer, said LeClede Chain Manufacturing Co., Isco Industries and the related firms of Qualawash and Quality Carriers have leased a combined 99,000 square feet there. Much of it is used for distribution, she said.

Overall, the center has about 80 tenants, according to -Holliday Fenoglio Fowler -broker Andrew Scandalios.

Critical location

Phillips said the center's -waterfront location is critical for companies such as world-class luxury yacht builder Christensen Shipyard Ltd. and metals manufacturers Universal Structures and Thompson Metal Fab, which use barges to ship their products.

"There are very few locations in the Portland area where you have water access for metals or any industrial activity using barges," he said.

Phillips said that even some of the World War II-era buildings on the west side of the property are used by manufacturers and distributors.

Qualman sees the potential for some 50 acres of underdeveloped property on the west end of the site to transition into virtually an extension of the -adjacent Columbia Shores waterfront-related development. To do that would require -rezoning the property.

He said newer construction in Columbia Business Center is too good to redevelop. Fuller said the future of the site might dictate that it be redeveloped entirely.

Peter Bechen, president of PacTrust in Portland, said his firm considered buying Columbia Business Center in 1997, but decided not to because of the portion of the property that remains under long-term lease. Still, he said, many investors would pay a premium for such a large piece of industrial land. Bechen's firm is a co-developer of 450-acre mixed-use Columbia Tech Center in east Vancouver, with more than 1 million square feet of building space.

Gretchen Fehrenbacher covers commercial and residential real estate for The Columbian. She can be reached at 360-759-8018 or via e-mail at gretchen.fehrenbacher@columbian.com.


The debate

How should Columbia Business Center be redeveloped?

On one side: Redeveloping the Columbia Business Center property could maximize use of highly valuable waterfront property in a prime location.

On another side: Maintaining an industrial center helps the city hold onto bedrock manufacturing and related jobs.

How to get involved: The public will have an opportunity to comment on any requests for rezoning the property, although none is currently proposed.
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Old Posted Aug 7, 2006, 2:23 PM
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Door open for 'second downtown'?

Wednesday, January 11, 2006
By GRETCHEN FEHRENBACHER Columbian staff writer

Prospects of a new owner for -Columbia Business Center on the Vancouver waterfront are stirring discussion about the future of the property, prized as a home to industry but also for its potential for higher density redevelopment that one expert said could be a "second downtown."

The news that Schnitzer Investment Corp. would sell the 220-acre business park is widely viewed as an opportunity to add a new element to Vancouver's revitalization. The center's 2.4 million square feet of building space makes it Clark County's largest business park and second in size in the metropolitan area only to Rivergate Industrial District in Portland.

Eric Fuller, of Eric Fuller & Associates commercial real estate services in Vancouver, said Tuesday it is critical that the jobs at Columbia Business Center on Southeast Columbia Way, east of Columbia House Boulevard, be saved. But, he added, the jobs could be moved -elsewhere, leaving the business center free for redevelopment as high-density residential, offices and retail.

He said one possible formula would have the Port of Vancouver buy the business park and relocate the jobs to an alternative site such as Columbia Gateway in west Vancouver.

"The community retains the jobs and gets a higher and better use of that prime waterfront property -- that is -Vancouver's second downtown," Fuller said.

Schnitzer Investment has retained Holliday Fenoglio Fowler to market the property nationwide. Seller and broker say the market will dictate the price, depending on what the buyer decides to do with it. -Holliday Fenoglio Fowler is based in Texas, but its New York office is handling the -Vancouver property.

Andrew Scandalios, one of the brokers marketing the property, said that because of the property's size and value, the buyer would probably be an institutional investor.

He described it as a "very unique" site, based on its size, location on the waterfront, and proximity to state Highway 14 and interstates 5 and 205.

Schnitzer Investment, a -privately owned real estate -investment company with ties to the Schnitzer steel family, bought the Vancouver property in 1997 for $62.2 million.

Roger Qualman of Norris Beggs & Simpson and Fuller speculates that the business center could be valued at more than $100 million in today's market.

The timing of the possible sale may be partially driven by rising interest rates, which could cause property values to decline as the cost of buying real estate goes up.

Fuller described Columbia Business Center as having five attractive attributes -- -location, uniqueness, size, a solid income stream from lease tenants, and being available for purchase.

City view

Gerald Baugh, development services manager for the city of Vancouver, said that Schnitzer had done a good job of making the center fit into the surrounding area by improving peripheral areas. He said that any thought of transforming it into a mixed-use development is lessened by the prospects of redeveloping the Boise -Cascade property west of Interstate 5 into high-density residential and related uses. That site amounts to 27 city blocks, he said.

While Schnitzer Investment is marketing the entire site, the western half -- roughly 110 acres -- is owned by the Hidden- and Van Buren families of Vancouver. Schnitzer has a ground lease on that portion with 25 years remaining. While any buyer would have control over that site for the remaining life of the lease, the two families would retain ownership.

"We haven't contemplated selling it," Monte Hidden said Tuesday. "It has been in the family over 100 years."

He said that any negotiations over the purchase of Columbia Business Center would be between the buyer and Schnitzer. He said, however, that he would like to see continued use for heavy industry.

Bart Phillips, president of the Columbia River Economic Development Council, concurred.

"It is a very valuable industrial property," he said, adding that in the past two years, his group has put three new tenants into space there. Pam Neal, council staffer, said LeClede Chain Manufacturing Co., Isco Industries and the related firms of Qualawash and Quality Carriers have leased a combined 99,000 square feet there. Much of it is used for distribution, she said.

Overall, the center has about 80 tenants, according to -Holliday Fenoglio Fowler -broker Andrew Scandalios.

Critical location

Phillips said the center's -waterfront location is critical for companies such as world-class luxury yacht builder Christensen Shipyard Ltd. and metals manufacturers Universal Structures and Thompson Metal Fab, which use barges to ship their products.

"There are very few locations in the Portland area where you have water access for metals or any industrial activity using barges," he said.

Phillips said that even some of the World War II-era buildings on the west side of the property are used by manufacturers and distributors.

Qualman sees the potential for some 50 acres of underdeveloped property on the west end of the site to transition into virtually an extension of the -adjacent Columbia Shores waterfront-related development. To do that would require -rezoning the property.

He said newer construction in Columbia Business Center is too good to redevelop. Fuller said the future of the site might dictate that it be redeveloped entirely.

Peter Bechen, president of PacTrust in Portland, said his firm considered buying Columbia Business Center in 1997, but decided not to because of the portion of the property that remains under long-term lease. Still, he said, many investors would pay a premium for such a large piece of industrial land. Bechen's firm is a co-developer of 450-acre mixed-use Columbia Tech Center in east Vancouver, with more than 1 million square feet of building space.

Gretchen Fehrenbacher covers commercial and residential real estate for The Columbian. She can be reached at 360-759-8018 or via e-mail at gretchen.fehrenbacher@columbian.com.


The debate

How should Columbia Business Center be redeveloped?

On one side: Redeveloping the Columbia Business Center property could maximize use of highly valuable waterfront property in a prime location.

On another side: Maintaining an industrial center helps the city hold onto bedrock manufacturing and related jobs.

How to get involved: The public will have an opportunity to comment on any requests for rezoning the property, although none is currently proposed.
Business center sold to area firm

Saturday, August 5, 2006
By JULIA ANDERSON, Columbian staff writer Advertisement


Earlier this week, local investors said they were buying Boise Cascade's Vancouver waterfront property. On Friday, it was the turn of locally owned Killian Pacific to announce that it has purchased Columbia Business Center, another waterfront gem.

The 219-acre business park located east of the Interstate 5 Bridge is among the largest in the metro area with 2.3 million square feet of office and industrial space in 26 buildings and an array of manufacturing, warehousing and office tenants.

The sale was jointly released by Killian Pacific and Portland's Schnitzer Investment Corp., the seller. Details of the agreement were not available although experts speculate the deal was worth about $130 million.

On Tuesday, Gramor Development of Tualatin, Ore., with local investment backing, said it is buying 29 acres of waterfront property west of the I-5 Bridge from Boise Cascade. Gramor will lead that redevelopment.

At Columbia Business Center, no one expects any big operating changes. In fact, Killian Pacific, owned by the father-son duo of George and Lance Killian, is contracting with Schnitzer Northwest LLC of Bellevue to continue the business park's management.

That's good news, said Bart Phillips, president of the Columbia River Economic Development Council, who sees the business center as a key regional economic engine because of its manufacturing, distribution and warehousing tenants.

"We have and will continue to have a lot of our clients locate there," he said. "This is a strategic bit of infrastructure with some of our highest-paid jobs and nationally important businesses."

Phillips said he welcomed the Killians' local ownership.

"I think they understand the importance to the community of that property," he said. "It's not just an asset in a portfolio."

Nearly 40 tenants lease space in the business center, which is about 93 percent leased. Among those are Sharp Electronics Corp., Vanport Warehousing, West Linn Paper Co., Portco Corp. and Thompson Metal, a steel fabricator.

Steve Burdick, manager of Vancouver's economic development department, said the sale and its impact to the city's downtown core really depends on what the Killians plan. He said the city wouldn't see any significant changes if it remains an industrial park. If the land some day sprouts condominiums, expect those residents to look toward downtown for essential services such a grocery store.

Local ownership bodes well for the region's future, he said.

"To have the Columbia Business Center owned locally is a very good thing." he said. "It's a particular coup for the community to have George and Lance (Killian) pick that up."

In a prepared statement, the elder Killian said, "We look forward to the opportunity to further enhance what Columbia Business Center has to offer and thereby continue to fuel economic growth in our community."

The Killians own another key piece of property, nearby, the former Jantzen swimwear factory site, west of Grand Boulevard, north of state Highway 14. They also are proposing Riverwest, a massive redevelopment project in downtown Vancouver to include a new main Fort Vancouver Regional Library.

They own downtown's West Coast Bank building and an adjacent development site and recently purchased a par-3 golf course for redevelopment in Brush Prairie.

Hidden family plays big role

Technically, in buying Columbia Business Center, the Killians acquired about half the park's total real estate outright as well as the business park buildings. Nine members of the Hidden family, living both in Vancouver and in Portland, collectively own 139 acres on the park's west end leased to Schnitzer, and now the Killians, in a long-term agreement that continues for another 24 years.

At one point, Schnitzer proposed redevelopment of the Hidden property, but was never able to come to an agreement with the family.

Roger Qualman, executive vice president with NAI Norris, Beggs and Simpson commercial real estate firm, speculated that the Killians might have better luck with the Hiddens.

"That goes back to the local aspect of this," Qualman said. "It could be easier to talk to each other, easier to discuss the future of the property."

Qualman said the Killians could propose a joint venture with the Hiddens or even buy the property from the family.

The underdeveloped Hidden property, which sits near Beaches Restaurant & Bar and Meriwether condominiums, offers the most potential for a mix of residential and office projects, Qualman suggested.

Bill Hidden, owner of Hidden Farm in Vancouver, said Friday that, so far, there had been little discussion. "There are no big secret plans," he said, "just another marvelous opportunity for Vancouver. Local control means people won't have to go to out-of-town investors for decisions."

Schnitzer Investment purchased the business center for $62.2 million from the Hillman Corp. in 1997.

Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, a national commercial real estate brokerage firm, handled the sale.

Cami Joner and Jonathan Nelson, Columbian business reporters, contributed to this story.


Columbia Business Center

WHAT: 219-acre Vancouver waterfront business park.

TENANTS: 40.

SIZE: 2.3 million square feet of office and industrial space. plus 1.75 million square feet of outside storage and 3.3 miles of rail.

NEW OWNER: Killian Pacific, Vancouver.

LOOKING AHEAD: Killian Pacific expects to "further enhance" the business center.


TOP PORTLAND-VANCOUVER BUSINESS PARKS

* Rivergate Industrial District, 10.4 million square feet, Portland.

* Columbia Business Center, 2.3 million square feet, Vancouver.

* Southshore Corporate Park, 1.63 million square feet, Portland.

* AmberGlen Business Center, 1.35 million square feet, Portland.

* Oregon Business Park I, 1.27 million square feet, Portland.

* EastRidge Business Park, 1.04 million square feet, Vancouver.
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Old Posted Aug 18, 2006, 4:57 PM
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Infrastructure next hurtle in Boise land deal

A group of local investors, lead by Tualatin, Ore.-based Gramor Development, have come together to buy the 29-acre BoiseCascade-owned parcel of land, located along the Columbia waterfront just west of Interstate 5. Investors in the project include Steve and Jo Marie Hansen, George and Paula Diamond, Al and Saundra Kirkwood and Steve and Jan Olivia.

Gramor President Barry Cain said he plans to turn the property into a metropolitan mix of high-end condominiums, restaurants, office space and public open spaces. But before that happens, he and other key players will have to work out some details. The city, Port of Vancouver and the developer are conducting due diligence over the next few months to address some infrastructure issues. The issues include realignment of industrial rail tracks and road construction to connect the area with the downtown grid system. Cain is hopeful the due diligence process will be complete within the next two years. The deal is expected to close by the 1st of the year.
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Old Posted Jan 11, 2006, 9:56 PM
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you're kidding right? The mayor would never put up with that. In fact, when he was smashing the mugs he was saying that they should represent America's Vancouver.
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  #12  
Old Posted Jan 11, 2006, 9:59 PM
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Sadly, I'm not kidding. Although, I have not seen it with my own eyes. The Columbian reported it as a follow up story. I'm more of a Coffee People person anyway.
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  #13  
Old Posted Jan 31, 2006, 5:19 PM
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Boise Cascade puts waterfront property on the market

From the Vancouver Business Journal...

Tuesday, 17 January 2006
Boise Cascade announced today that the company is formally offering its Columbia River mill-site property in downtown Vancouver for sale. The 29-acre property is open for bid by any interested developers through March 17, 2006. The Boise, Idaho-based company said it intends to accept the best offer that calls for no conditions precedent to closing, with the buyer having completed all due diligence prior to making an offer to purchase. Company spokesperson Linda Alden said Boise would like to close the deal by the end of the second quarter.


“(Boise) would like to move expeditiously on this,” she said.


The company first announced intentions to sell the property in June 2005. Since then, speculation has circulated about the potential interest in the property by the city and the Port of Vancouver.


The company said the property is “at the epicenter of economic activity built at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers.” In a release, Miles Hewitt, senior vice president and general manager Boise Paper said, “We recognized that the property had greater value as a development site and that the sale of this property would complement the Vancouver City Center Vision Plan, which calls for the redevelopment of our site as a mixed-use, urban, in-fill community.”


The property was initially developed in 1928 as a site for the Columbia River paper mill, and the operation was purchased by Boise Cascade in 1962. In 1996, Boise Cascade stopped manufacturing paper at the site and began using it as a paper converting plant.


Boise Cascade completed a Phase II environmental assessment and completed remediation of issues discovered in the assessment, according to the company.


An offering price has not been established.
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Old Posted Feb 1, 2006, 4:56 PM
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Vancouver has an identity crisis that it should rid itself of once and for all. Rename yourselves Fort Vancouver (you do have a fort remember) and designate yourselves apart from the much bigger city up north. We in Washington already live with the explanation to anyone outside the PNW that its "washington state" so they don't confuse us with the US capitol. Add the Vancouver confusion and its any wonder people in Vancouver, Wa don't go postal and call themselves "smallville" or "that place with no name."

Ok, I'm rambling a bit. Does anyone else see this?
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  #15  
Old Posted Feb 1, 2006, 6:49 PM
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Actually, Mayor Pollard almost always refers to it as America's Vancouver every time he says the name in public.
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  #16  
Old Posted Feb 2, 2006, 5:41 PM
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^ Just call it all Kelso and be done with it.

Just a suggestion. I know you hate it though.
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  #17  
Old Posted Feb 2, 2006, 6:40 PM
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Wow, how'd I miss this thread?

This sure would be big!
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Old Posted Feb 20, 2006, 2:45 PM
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Open house features Boise site

Friday, February 17, 2006
JONATHAN NELSON Columbian staff writer

For sale: Twenty-nine acres in Vancouver that represents a rare opportunity to transform land along the Columbia River, the Pacific Northwest's great waterway.

The lucky buyer will scrub away an industrial footprint and sculpt the property into a vibrant neighborhood of condominiums, restaurants, boutique stores and offices.

Seller is not interested in dealing with the curious or tire kickers.

So who is going to buy the Boise Cascade property and take on the city's grand vision to tie downtown to the river?

The answer might come from among the representatives of 49 potential purchasers who attended an open house at the site Wednesday. This, however, was not an ordinary tour. Developers from across the country needed to show genuine interest in the project and the financial ability to pay for the transformation.

Linda Alden, Boise communications manager, declined to name those attending the open house or say what the criteria was to qualify for the event. Boise announced in June it would sell the property, but took the unusual marketing tact of offering the site, as is, through a bidding process, which closes March 17.

The Boise sale is the second industrial site along the river to go on the market in the past year.

Portland's Schnitzer Investment Group wants to sell the 226-acre Columbia Business Center complex about a mile upriver. The business park is expected to remain a site for a mix of businesses, including industrial tenants.

Boise's all-day event gave possible buyers a detailed financial outlook for the property; a look at environmental issues tied to the site; and information from city, the Port of Vancouver and transportation agencies.

Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard gave a short presentation to the group as it met at the Hilton Vancouver Washington. He said he recognized a few faces in the group. He was not surprised at the number of people that came for the tour.

"This is a big opportunity," he said.

Pollard said he went to the back of the room after his comments and watched a lot of notes being taken.

While the city can't directly influence the direction of the Boise project, it made its wishes known in 2005 when it adopted a development plan for the Main Street corridor and along the riverfront, west of the Interstate 5 Bridge.

The conceptual design included much of the Boise property, but sale of the company's land was nothing more than a dream.

Boise wanted to go to market with the property in June, but a rail line that runs through the site caused a delay. Enough progress has been made on a solution to the rail link issue that Boise decided last month to move ahead.

The land's industrial history began in 1905 when it was home to a sawmill and later a paper mill.

Boise bought the property in 1962, eventually closing its papermaking operation in 1996, a move that eliminated 200 workers.

Production was retooled for a work force of 50 people who have made a variety of coated security papers, primarily for the banking industry.

Jonathan Nelson covers the Port of Vancouver. He can be reached 360-759-8013 or via e-mail at jonathan.nelson@columbian.com.


Update

Previously: Boise Cascade said in June it would sell its Columbia River waterfront property.

What's new: Prospective buyers toured the site Wednesday.

What's next: Bidding remains open until March 17.
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  #19  
Old Posted Feb 20, 2006, 5:01 PM
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If the city does its job right, it could become a proper gateway city into the state for northbound travelers. Crossing fingers.

How tall can they build?
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  #20  
Old Posted Feb 20, 2006, 7:06 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mSeattle
If the city does its job right, it could become a proper gateway city into the state for northbound travelers. Crossing fingers.

How tall can they build?
From my understanding, and I think it was due to someone's reasearch in this forum, that the height limits are 300' for the West end of Downtown Vancouver. This waterfront area might be a little more in line with Pearson Airpark's flight path though.
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