The city will reopen public discussion Sept. 24 on the five-story, 60,000-square-foot office building proposed for the former Denny’s site on Mill Plain in downtown Vancouver, as well as a 90,000-square-foot office and retail building across the street. The development plans, submitted by the Al Angelo Co., include closing “D” Street as part of the project. A subsequent plan to make “C” Street two ways has also been proposed.
Much has been made of Vancouver’s “entryway” – it must be pleasant and inviting, making the right “statement,” pedestrian friendly and so forth.
Until now, Vancouver’s entryway has been a rundown Denny’s and a whir of truck traffic redirected from Fourth Plain. The Arnada Neighborhood Association has accomplished some traffic calming measures and some beautifying measures on nearby McLoughlin. But we have to wonder why the Angelos are saddled with creating Vancouver’s entryway?
The Al Angelo Co. has a proven track record with the city and has made significant investments in Vancouver, including the much lauded Heritage Place – which has more than a small element of urban beautification. A developer looking to build 150,000 square feet of office and retail in downtown Vancouver at a time when other developers are frequently passing over the available and underutilized lots there for larger spaces in East and North Vancouver and Clark County should be aided by the city.
The discussion regarding these proposed developments should be about recruiting businesses into them, creating jobs, catalyzing other developments and raising the value of nearby homes and businesses. That is the potential for this development – this is where the focus should be. The inconvenience created by the vacation of “D” Street is small potatoes compared to the potential of this development to inspire growth and value in the area.
This will not be a faceless corporate development. The city plans to commit $75,000 for landscaping alone, and the Angelos plan to dedicate the building to their father, the late mayor. A pedestrian walkway is planned, and there is a push to transform “C” Street into a two-way road.
As far as we are concerned, any high quality local investment downtown brings great potential to the area and outweighs small inconveniences for drivers.
