A Change of Washougal's Heart?; City to abandon restrictive historic zone to create modern downtown
By Dean Baker, The Columbian Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
WASHOUGAL -- Moving to solidify its plan to reinvigorate and spruce up this town's sleepy core, the city council plans to abandon its historic zone and create a new "Town Center" zone for development.
Mayor Stacee Sellers said the new zone will allow Washougal to keep its historic buildings, yet upgrade its streets and Internet capacity to create a modern atmosphere that will attract stores, offices, cafes, a health club and child care. A Washougal Planning Commission public hearing on the zone is scheduled for 7 p.m. March 28.
The proposed zone is designed to replace the city's Historic Downtown Commercial Overlay Zone District and make room for new growth.
In the center of the area, city leaders want to create a village square, a new heart of the town, or a city "living room" such as Esther Short Park in Vancouver or Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland. From there, they'll build outward to make a livable community where residents are encouraged to walk, ride bikes and mingle.
The idea is to create a stronger sense of community, enhance the quality of life for residents and bring in new stores, professional offices, and apartments, condominiums and houses, officials said.
In a series of meetings over the past four years, the city has been working with the nonprofit Downtown Revitalization and Implementation Committee to breathe new life into downtown. It has created a downtown blueprint and plans to spend $4 million this spring to polish up the downtown with new trees, bike racks, benches, street lamps, stormwater improvements, drinking fountains and Wi-Fi connections.
Pervious pavement will be used along with landscaped swales to collect, treat and dispose of stormwater runoff from the streets and sidewalks. The new zone lays down regulations for new structures, streets, sidewalks and signs.
A major element in the proposal is Lone Wolf Development's planned two-story, 44,000-square-foot building on the block bounded by A, B, 17th and 18th streets. The project includes a pedestrian plaza and 90 underground parking spaces. Lone Wolf, a corporation of Vancouver businessman Wes Hickey, plans to build on the block now occupied by the former Thriftway supermarket and the former Los Jalapeos Mexican restaurant.
This first phase of construction will be from 15th Street to about 27th Street and between state Highway 14 and the BNSF Railway tracks. This is the heart of the commercial district. It's called the Town Center Core and will have the highest density uses, including retail, restaurants and hotels.
From 15th Street west to Eighth Street, in an area called the West Village, the district will be mostly residential with some low- rise housing added. From 27th to 32nd streets, the area is called the East Village and will be higher density housing and retail with possible automobile businesses and open spaces.
The city, which is the west gate to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, aims to protect the environment using "green" building methods and make the downtown pedestrian and bicycle- friendly, Sellers said.