Around downtown Vancouver and Battle Ground, there is ample evidence of the impact Prestige Development has had; from local cinemas to business parks and living centers, their projects continue to give back to the community.
Elie Kassab and the Beginning of Vancouver’s Revitalization
In 1995, after the four-plex cinema at Jantzen Beach was decommissioned, Kassab realized there was a new gap in the market. As a result, Prestige Development created a 12-plex, 2,200 seat cinema at the end of 8th Street in 1998, the first new building in downtown Vancouver in many years. Still in operation, Kassab said the City Center 12 Cinema project helped spark a revitalization of downtown Vancouver.
Several years later, the Lewis & Clark Plaza was developed by Prestige. This 46-unit residential building on Broadway was built as part of the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program, providing affordable and convenient housing for low-income senior residents in downtown Vancouver.
One of the hallmarks of Kassab’s endeavors is arts and aesthetics featured along with functionality; Kassab incorporated a street-level interpretive center and art gallery featuring sculptures from renowned local artist Jim Demetro of Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and Sacagawea in time for the 200th Anniversary of the Lewis & Clark Expedition.
A Leader in the Community
While helping to build needed attractions and accommodations in Vancouver, Kassab has been a great contributor to the city as a whole. He served on the board of the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce for seven terms, and has been on the board for Identity Clark County since 1998.