News Archives
The Columbian: Block Party
January 9, 2008
BY DEAN BAKER, Columbian staff writer
WASHOUGAL - After transforming the city's downtown core this year, officials and business leaders say they intend to keep city center renovation on a roll in 2008.
"We're hoping to break ground on Block 9 in the middle of 2008," said Wes Hickey, referring to construction planned by his company, Lone Wolf Development, on the corner of Love and Main Streets.
That's directly across Main Street from Lone Wolf's new $13 million Washougal Town Square mixed-use development.
Block 9 will be a much smaller project, providing additional office and retail space in the city center.
Hickey said development of his other two downtown properties will follow.
On Block 7 at 16th and C streets, some condominiums or apartments are planned, with construction to begin in 2009, followed by development of Block 8 on three-quarters of a city block at Main between 16th and 17th Streets, including a specialty grocery store.
In other downtown planning, Pendleton Woolen Mills in designing an expanded outlet store and retail complex for its property on Pendleton Way.
Tunnel vision
The city is angling for finances to build a pedestrian tunnel under state Highway 14, linking its renovated downtown with Steamboat Landing and the dike trail. It leads eastward for two miles to the new Capt. William Clark Park at Cottonwood Beach and Steigerwald National Wildlife Refuge, where more trails, parking and tourists amenities are planned.
"Our intention is to complete the tunnel in mid- to late-summer and to open in late September," said City Administration Nabiel Shawa. "And, of course, 2008 is Washougal's centennial year, so we plan lots of activities and opening the tunnel then and call it something like the Portal to the Columbia."
The city also expects to upgrade the Steamboat Landing area at the south end of the tunnel where it connects to the dike trail, as well as Pendleton Way leading to the tunnel, Shawa said.
E Street widening
Across the BNSF tracks from the downtown renaissance, Washougal plans to widen 26 blocks of E Street. The city has landed $5 million in grants for the project from Sixth to 32nd Streets, with a continuous left-turn lane and a roundabout at 17th Street, replacing the present traffic light.
Two miles to the west, Killian Pacific is building The Crossing on the northwest corner of Third and C Streets, one block north of state Highway 14. A Columbia Credit Union office, a Quiznos deli, a Starbucks coffee and a dentist's office are intended in the 20,000-square-foot building, planned to open in March. Another 80,000-square-foot building also is planned for the 4-acre site.
The Port of Camas-Washougal also plans to develop 14.7 acres along the river, although it has backed away from the proposed $350 million, 65-acre RiverWalk project after it failed to purchase some of the private property involved.
Tenants sought
In the city center, Lone Wolf is shopping for tenants for its new Town Square. Psychologist Martha Martin and Hickey's own Lone Wolf Developments office plan to be the first tenants. Others are likely to come along in good time, Hickey said.
He said he feels good about the development, although it needs some occupants.
"It's going good," he said. "You're trying to do something new, to bring a vision to downtown, to do something a little bit different, and that obviously takes a lot of time, effort and patience. I think you've seen similar things in downtown Vancouver, trying to re-establish that urban core. You've got to work at it."
Hickey said the outside shell of the Town Square is complete, and that will encourage prospective tenants.
"We felt once people could see it and touch it, that would be when you can start marketing. People will be able to see how it fits into the community, and we are optimistic about leasing."
He pointed out the city has wrapped up a $6.5 million downtown overhaul of Reflection Park, adding a 70-foot campanile tower that can be seen from state Highway 14, as well as rebuilding downtown streets, laying in brickwork, widening sidewalks, adding underground utilities, water fountains, trees and bike racks.
Eventually, the city also wants to re-engineer access to Washougal from state Highway 14, possibly placing a roundabout traffic circle at the intersection, slowing traffic a bit so tourists have a chance to be attracted by the new amenities developing in the old river town.
Did you know?
Washougal's population is 12,980, double what it was eight years ago, making it the 14th-fastest-growing city in Washington.
Washougal has annexed 2,000 acres of hillsides overlooking the Columbia River, and many upscale homes now fill much of that land.