The project team will share updates on current planning efforts and the latest designs for the Heights District

VANCOUVER – After completing demolition of the Tower Mall earlier this year, work on the Heights District is entering a new phase. Area residents are invited to join the city of Vancouver for a project open house from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thu., Oct. 6 at McLoughlin Middle School (5802 MacArthur Blvd.).

The project team will share updates on current planning efforts and the latest designs for the Heights District, a 205-acre area in the heart of Vancouver. Community members will be able to ask questions and share feedback with the project team.

Team members will also share updates on the Heights Equitable Development Strategy, which will help ensure that the development benefits all residents and businesses. The city is working with consultants at ECONorthwest to identify equitable development models adopted throughout the U.S. that have created wealth, economic opportunity and access for all residents and businesses, while minimizing displacement.

The strategy builds on Reside Vancouver, a citywide anti-displacement plan developed in 2019. The strategy will also incorporate recent input on affordable housing and an explicit focus on the needs of historically marginalized community members, who have been traditionally excluded from the redevelopment process. The Equitable Development Strategy is expected to be completed by early 2023.

About the Heights District

Vancouver City Council adopted the Heights District Plan in August 2020, marking the culmination of more than two and a half years of public engagement and participation in the planning process. The plan also resulted in a community vision for how the district will develop over the next 20 years.

The Heights District is envisioned as a new destination in Vancouver for the community to live, work and play – a vibrant neighborhood center that is sustainable, healthy, equitable, accessible and safe. The district will include public parks, retail and commercial space, and diverse housing options affordable to a wide range of community members. Innovative street designs will make it easier for residents to safely walk, bike or access public transit. 

The district is a 205-acre area, generally located between East Mill Plain Boulevard to the north, MacArthur Boulevard to the south and west, and Andresen Road to the east. It includes several city-owned properties including the former Tower Mall shopping center, a water facility, fire station and Park Hill Cemetery, plus three public schools and commercial and residential areas.

To sign up for updates or to learn more about the history of the Heights District project, visit the public engagement platform, Be Heard Vancouver. If you have questions about next steps for the Heights District, email Real Estate Project Manager Amy Zoltie or Economic Development Director Patrick Quinton.

Information provided by city of Vancouver.