The city is in the midst of improving a 173-acre area east of Pearson Field once described as “one of the primary entrances to Vancouver.”
City officials are making moves to improve deteriorating roads and improve infrastructure in the area, known as the Lower Grand Employment Area.
“This is a very visible area with great road access that has a number of long-standing industrial businesses,” said Bryan Snodgrass, the city’s principal planner. “This is an opportunity to work with them to grow industrial jobs in an area in the heart of Vancouver.”
In a presentation given to the city council on Monday evening, Snodgrass said the city has an “opportunity to resolve some of the long-standing flood and surface road issues.”
The state Department of Ecology awarded the city a $1.1 million grant to help with the stormwater and road-surface improvements, but it wasn’t funded for 2017 because of budget shortages.
“We’re cautiously optimistic it will happen,” Snodgrass said.
As part of the overall improvements, the city also is considering an agreement with JH Kelly Development, which has proposed a new 58,000-square-foot building at Grand Boulevard and First Street.
The deal would include the city and JH Kelly Development swapping right-of-ways and put JH Kelly on the hook for paying to replace an existing sewer pump on First Street. The city would be responsible for purchasing the pumps, equipment and materials, with a cap on spending of $120,000.
JH Kelly, an industrial mechanical contractor, has operated in the area for a long time. The city considers helping them expand and increase the number of full-time jobs from 60 to 80 a benefit to the area.
The industrial land is near the Grand Central development, whose largest tenant is Fred Meyer. The parking lot is often full in the area, and now includes a variety of restaurants and retail space.
“The Grand Central development is commercial and is doing great,” Snodgrass said. “Part of the focus of this plan is to make sure the surrounding industrial lands meet their full potential.”
During World War II, the land that is now the Lower Grand Employment area was used for temporary housing for Kaiser shipyard workers. After the war, the housing was removed and the area became known for industrial uses.
The city council will have a public hearing on the agreement at its Sept. 19 meeting.
