Clark County Business

Clark County's housing market is heating up compared to previous months, but low inventory and high interest rates are still presenting challenges for first-time homebuyers.

Clark County home sales, listings surge in March, still more buyers than sellers

April 10, 2023, 5:15pm Business

Clark County’s housing market is heating up. Jumps in new listings and sales activity in March show homebuyers are making moves this spring — a typically busy season for buying. Read story

Jerrad Isch walks down the exterior stairs of his Airbnb in Vancouver. He been renting out the unit for about five years and says that it has been a largely positive experience for him and his neighbors.

City of Vancouver turns focus to short-term rentals on Airbnb, Vrbo, other sites

April 10, 2023, 6:05am Business Subscriber Exclusive

There are more than 300 short-term rentals — such as Airbnbs and Vrbos — in Vancouver. Due to zoning laws, almost all of them are illegal. Read story

The Georgia Pacific paper mill as seen from Northeast Fifth Avenue in Camas. The mill downsized in 2018, and shuttered its pulp mill, but still operates one paper line.

Camas paper mill cleanup group hopes for second grant from state

April 9, 2023, 6:15am Business

Members of a citizen advisory group that acts as a conduit between the public and environmental cleanup work at the Georgia-Pacific paper mill in downtown Camas say they hope to receive a second public participation grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology. Read story

Lyle Rinearson of Walsh Construction, left, talks with Scott Davidson of the Vancouver Housing Authority as they tour the roof at Fourth Plain Community Commons, a low-income development with environmentally friendly features in compliance with Washington's energy code. The white roof cuts down on the heat dome and keeps the building from overheating in the summer.

Affordable housing vs. Climate: Code creates clash of crises in Clark County

April 9, 2023, 6:06am Business

The grim news in late March that the Earth is on target to heat up by another 2.7 degrees in the next decade is adding to the challenges of a seemingly separate crisis: housing and homelessness. Read story

Low-income Vancouver apartment complex Fourth Plain Community Commons features LED lighting, one of its many environmentally friendly features.

Washington’s updated building codes seen as vital tool to fight climate change

April 9, 2023, 6:05am Business

Updating building codes might just be one of Washington’s most promising tools in combating climate change. Read story

Clark County mulls smaller residential lots

The number of houses for sale dropped in Clark County in February despite seeing a surge after the holidays.

April 9, 2023, 6:00am Business

Across Washington, local governments and agencies are brainstorming ways to diversify the current housing landscape while also tackling the persistent home shortage. One solution that Clark County and other areas are considering is decreasing lot sizes in neighborhoods to allow more homes to be built. Read story

More brews, food on tap in Clark, Skamania counties

A bartender pours a taster of a beer at Vice Beer in east Vancouver. Vice plans to open a taproom in downtown Vancouver, as well. Top: Beers sit on the bar at Vice Beer in east Vancouver.

April 7, 2023, 6:01am Business

Local brewers are branching out with new breweries and taprooms throughout Clark County and spilling into Skamania. Opening more taprooms gives these businesses a higher percentage of the profit per pint along with space to establish their brands through decor and food. Read story