Commercial buildings to be demolished near Clark College

Demolition crews will be hard at work this week taking down the commercial buildings on the southwest corner of Fourth Plain Blvd. and Fort Vancouver Way in Vancouver.

The buildings (approx. 9,800-square-feet) and property are owned by Clark College Foundation and will be converted into parking to help offset parking losses due to the construction of the college’s new 70,000-square-foot STEM building.

“The Foundation has purchased these properties over the last several years [knowing] that we have space needs on the campus,” said Chato Hazelbaker, Clark College’s chief communications officer. “It made sense for us to look at that particular set of buildings in our long-term planning.”

Eight businesses once located in the soon-to-be-demolished buildings (I Like Comics, A&D Computers, among others) established new locations months ago. Just west of the demolition work, a barber shop and an auto repair business will remain, though Hazelbaker said the foundation would like to acquire those properties as well.

“We’re in constant conversations with [those business owners] knowing long-term, that [property] would fit within our plans,” he said.

While the extra parking will help address an immediate need at the school, Hazelbaker said it’s a short-term plan. Eventually, he said, the corner of Fourth Plain Blvd. and Fort Vancouver Way could be re-developed. It could also become a bus rapid transit (BRT) station.

“We’re still in talks with the city about bus rapid transit. There are some stops that are going to go in that area that will affect long-term what happens there,” he said. “Currently, there are no conversations taking place with developers, but when you look at a piece of property like that we’re sure there will be some interest.”

The demolition is expected to be completed by the end of the week.

Correction: Article has been updated to reflect demolition at southwest corner of intersection, not northwest corner.

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