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Plazas, parking and painted streets: Anacortes imagines downtown improvements
Art-filled intersections with painted curb extensions and traffic circles. A 76-space public parking lot in “the pit” on 10th Street. Half-block pedestrian plazas with plenty of seating just off Commercial Avenue at both 5th and 7th streets.
These are just a few of the “big ideas” for Anacortes’ downtown that consultant First Forty Feet LLC presented Jan. 21 during an open house at City Hall.
Nicholas Johnson / Anacortes American
January 27, 2026
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.
Natalie Sirna / KOBI-TV NBC5
December 19, 2025
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.
Allanah Faherty / Chaos
December 09, 2025
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.”
Doug Flanagan / Columbian
October 2, 2025
‘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.
Nicholas Johnson / Anacortes American
August 27, 2025
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.
Nicholas Johnson / Anacortes American
July 8, 2025
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.
Ray Pitz / Valley Times
June 28, 2025
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.