Reporter's Notebook

- Steve McDonagh can be contacted at smcdonagh@vbjusa.com

Tis the Season

Despite the still tight credit markets and less than desirable vacancy rates, the development and construction industry is alive and well in Clark County. The construction season is in full swing and although it isn’t as frenetic as 2006 or even 2007 there is activity, activity which bodes well for our local business community and is a herald of good things to come.

The Al Angelo Company is almost finished with the first phase of what will be the welcoming face of Vancouver -- The Mill Plain Center -- just west of the Mill Plain exit from I-5 it is a gorgeous 18 million dollar, LEED certified (gold) five story building that delivers a much more substantial impression to visitors than the old Denny’s restaurant did….. Many of the buildings along Evergreen Boulevard adjacent to the old Copps dealership have been raised to make ready for construction of the new Main Library…..Another mixed use building is going up at the Union Corner site out in Ridgefield…. Clark County and the City of Vancouver are gearing up roadwork projects, (as evidenced by the drilling, concrete cutting and loading coming from East Evergreen Blvd up above my house) including the SR 501 interchange project on I-5 at Exit 14.

Meanwhile, last year’s Top Projects host site, Battle Ground Village is continuing to fill. On top of the soon to open Laurelwood Brew Pub and the recently announced Bones Steak & Chop House Restaurant, the new Battle Ground public library is scheduled to open next week. Carmen Villarma of The Management Group said they anticipate 85% occupancy of the existing retail space by this fall.

So all in all things are not as gloomy as they were just a few short months ago. It’s warming up outside and with it we have seen and should see even more of an increase in construction work and the accompanying jobs will help put a little kick into our local economy.

For those of you who broke ground on a project after June 1, 2008 we would love to hear from you so that we can include your project in the 2009 edition of the TOP PROJECTS magazine coming out this July. You can submit your information online; or you can fax over the information to 360-695-3056.

Certainly, relative to the economy, there is much yet to be done, but the long steady trek out of the doldrums has started. Once again the development and construction arena appears perched, with lessons learned, to lead the way.