Clark County could see 1,000s more apartments in 2024 as developments in Vancouver, Camas, Washougal take shape

January 11, 2023 at 3:39 pm PST

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Four neighborhood developments — Fisher’s Quarry, the Heights, Waterfront Gateway and the Camas-Washougal waterfront — will be moving into their next stages of development next year. Combined, the mixed-use developments are expected to bring thousands of new residential units and tens of thousands of square feet of retail space to the county.

Camas-Washougal Waterfront

The effort underway to transform the Camas-Washougal waterfront into a mixed-use destination is well underway with the development of projects such as Ninebark. But next year, the Port of Camas-Washougal is expected to start work on its Hyas Point development. RKm Development will start the first phase of construction in spring 2024, including a main street along the river. Hyas Point’s four buildings are expected to include 276 apartments and 56,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. Developer Killian Pacific opened its 246-apartment Ninebark complex along the Camas-Washougal waterfront this fall.

Fisher’s Quarry

The Columbia Palisades project was announced in 2016, an effort to transform what was once the Fisher’s Quarry along state Highway 14 into a planned community. Although some pieces of the site have been developed, more work is expected in the coming year, such as construction of the 14.31-acre central, mixed-use development being built by Cascadia Development Partners and Romano Capital. That central piece is the largest section of Columbia Palisades, expected to include 12 buildings with more than 800 units. The project could begin late next year. Already, construction in the area is booming with projects such as Kirkland Development’s Ledges at Palisades underway and the Boulder Ridge townhomes partially completed.

Vancouver Heights

For now, the former Tower Mall property sits empty. But the city of Vancouver has big plans for the property, part of its Heights District projectThe city expects the Heights development to create about 1,800 housing units, half of which are planned to be classified as affordable housing. The city expects to complete initial design work for the Heights project next year, said Amy Zoltie, real estate project manager for the city of Vancouver. The city also plans to advance designs for a roundabout at MacArthur Boulevard and Lieser Road and create other key improvements that will support the Heights’ development. Initial infrastructure improvement designs are expected to be completed next summer, Zoltie said. But construction on the projects will be done in phases. The city plans to break ground in 2025, depending on funding. The city does, however, expect to issue a request for proposals next spring for the first three development sites that sit along Mill Plain Boulevard. The mall was demolished in 2021 to make way for the city’s vision of converting the 63-acre site into one that incorporates thousands of residential spaces and space for businesses, as well.

Waterfront Gateway

The Waterfront Gateway project between The Waterfront Vancouver and downtown Vancouver is expected to dive into the design and permitting process next year before breaking ground in 2025. More than 30,000 square feet of retail space, a parking garage, 2 acres of outdoor spaces and eventually an office building are expected to be built as part of the project. A public design process for the planned public plaza is expected to start early next year, Zoltie said. The city plans to hold an open house in January. The four-building project will incorporate 435 residential units, as well as ground-floor retail space. This fall, the city hired California developer LPC West to lead the project and cleared the site of a homeless encampment that was there.

*This article was first published in The Columbian on December 15, 2023.