in the media

Grants Pass to create redevelopment plan of vacant property

In an Urban Renewal Agency Meeting on Wednesday, Grants Pass City Councilors voted to enter into a contract with the consultant firm First Forty Feet. Over the next nine months, the company will conduct commercial market and feasibility studies of a vacant 8-acre property, located next to the Dairy Queen and Hillcrest Fire Station.

Redesigning a growing city with community in mind: First Forty Feet and Enscape Premium

Vancouver, Washington, is embracing a period of rapid growth and reimagining areas that need greater connection and inclusivity. To ensure the redevelopment covered the community's needs, the city needed a partner who understood urban design as well as how to consider the people it was serving.

Work continues to fill the ‘Heritage Square hole’

The ‘Heritage Square hole’ has been many different things in its lifetime.

The site facing Duane Street between 11th and 12th streets has for the past 15 years been a bit of an eyesore to locals.

Battle Ground has seven ‘big ideas’ — from storefronts to parking — to improve Old Town

The city of Battle Ground has a new plan for its Old Town.

“We want to breathe some new life into that area,” said Kristin Lehto, the city’s community development director. “We recognize that it’s special. We want to protect it and keep it vibrant.”

‘A resounding success’: Pedestrians take over downtown Anacortes streets

Among the many attractions was First Forty Feet LLC, seeking ideas about how to improve the city’s downtown.

In July, the city council awarded First Forty Feet a contract to develop a Downtown Streetscapes Plan. They hope to host a public focus-group meeting in October and another public meeting in January before presenting their finding to the council in March.

Anacortes City Council OKs contract for downtown streetscapes plan, talks pickleball

The council voted 6-1 with council member Anthony Young opposed to awarding a $125,000 contract to Portland-based First Forty Feet LLC to develop a vision and design options for downtown street improvements sought by the Downtown Anacortes Alliance.

Inaugural open house shows Tigard residents favor shops, services in residential neighborhoods

Bringing shops and services to residential neighborhoods were among the amenities many Tigard residents ranked as important throughout the continued growth of the city. That’s according to initial feedback from the 90 or so people who attended a recent community dinner discussion on how to make their community more walkable and connected.

Lake Oswego to form committee to oversee Foothills development planning

The city of Lake Oswego is creating a committee that will help guide its efforts to transform a district in town that has long been eyed for redevelopment: Foothills. The City Council provided direction for the local government to form an ad-hoc committee made up of individuals with expertise in things like planning, design, architecture and transportation, as well as a city councilor, a planning commissioner, a Neighborhood Chairs Committee member, at least one community member under age 18 and a business community representative, among others.

Heights Bike Garden among the largest in the world, opens June 8

The city of Vancouver and its partners invite members of the community to a grand opening celebration from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 8, for the Heights Bike Garden located at 5411 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver. The bike garden – the first of its kind in southwest Washington and one of the largest in the world – offers children and adults a practical, fun and safe way to develop cycling skills and learn about pedestrian road safety.

Grow your cycling skills at Heights Bike Garden set to open at old Tower Mall site

A paved but off-street and carless space where cyclists can safely practice their riding skills is coming to the vacant Tower Mall redevelopment site in central Vancouver. A grand opening of the new Heights Bike Garden is set for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at 5411 E. Mill Plain Blvd.