A strip mall where a new six-story tower is proposed. Property owners Al Angelo Co., who built the five-story building in the background, submitted a pre-application Dec. 14. Ariane Kunze/The Columbian Photo Gallery
Two new developments could come storming onto Mill Plain Boulevard soon, according to newly released pre-applications filed with the city of Vancouver. They are miles apart, but both could make a big splash.
The first: Al Angelo Co., the property development firm, plans to add another cluster of Class A offices and ground-floor retail in downtown Vancouver.
Bordering C Street, between East Mill Plain Boulevard and East 15th Street, the proposed building would stand six stories tall. It would look like a sibling to the five-story office just east, Al Angelo Co.’s headquarters, where East Mill Plain Boulevard and East 15th Street fork.
The eight-page pre-application from the 500 Mill Plain building — which does not guarantee any actual construction — sketches plans for office, retail and a considerable amount of parking. A parking garage with 225 spaces would make up the first three floors, bordered by 4,400 square feet of retail. Floors four, five and six would each add about 22,000 square feet of office.
The filings don’t mention the futures of a handful of businesses there. The new building would rise from four separate tax lots, each owned by Angelo Property Co. Two strip malls already house Arlo’s Barber Shop, Firefly Atelier, N.W. Plaza Coin Shop and a FedEx Office Print & Ship Center.
Robert Lutz, owner of Arlo’s Barber Shop, had not yet heard about the plans but said he wasn’t too concerned.
“Personally, I’ve been cutting hair here in Vancouver for 60 years, so it’s not going to worry me too much if they tear this building down,” he said. “If I don’t retire, I’d just find another location.”
Angelo Property Co. offices were closed Tuesday and could not be contacted. Wilson Architects, attached to design the new building, could not be reached for comment.
Bennington apartments
The second potential splash would bring more residences to a highly commercial area in east Vancouver’s Bennington neighborhood.
Fore Property Co., headquartered in Portland, aims to turn a 7.6-acre field at 16516 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd. into a 179-unit apartment complex. The development would have 305 parking spaces.
If built, it would be neighbor to numerous businesses in the area. Its west side would border Chick-fil-A, Mexican restaurant Catedral Tapatia, a U-Haul neighborhood dealer and a real estate office. To the south, it would be across the street from a shopping center anchored by craft store Michaels and Ross Dress for Less.
The complex’s north and east sides would abut residential developments.
Donald Eby of Escondido, Calif., is listed as the field’s property owner.
Developers for both projects will meet with the city of Vancouver on Jan. 11.
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