Fort Vancouver and Hayden Island properties in IBR crosshairs

John Ley 
for Clark County Today

Six months after public comment ended for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program (IBR) released a map showing historic areas negatively impacted by the proposal in Vancouver. Of interest to the greater Clark County community are impacts to several areas of the historic Fort Vancouver in addition to properties on the west side of Interstate 5.

The Historic Built Environment Resources Treatment Plan was released May 9, with public comment now open through June 8. Four “historic” properties are subject to “complete destruction” including both current bridges, the “harbor shops” and a water tower on Hayden Island. There will be a “partial destruction” of the Jantzen Beach Moorage. Officers Row, Vancouver Barracks and other parts of the Fort will see “partial destruction” as well.

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act requires agencies to assess whether federally-funded projects could harm cultural resources and, if so, determine how to minimize that harm. The map provided along with a brief description does not go into details, leaving one to wonder how citizens can provide proper comment when specifics are omitted. 

But local citizens complain that they were either blindsided, and/or their input has been ignored by the program staff. “We were blindsided last October when a news story said property owners were notified,” said Dean Irvin. He and other property owners hadn’t heard a thing from IBR staff. That complaint is echoed by people on Hayden Island who feel their concerns have been ignored.

There is a choke point on I-5 between the movie theater on C Street, just south of the Vancouver Library on the west, and the Post Hospital at Vancouver Barracks. The graphic appears to show Anderson St. and possibly the hospital as being part of the “Project Permanent Impact Footprint.”

A 2023 engineering report by an outside agency reported the following about the hospital. “The second obstacle for the revitalization of the building is the anticipated Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, which could start as early as 2025 and may include expansions to I-5 immediately adjacent to the hospital. The vibrations caused by construction could negatively impact the hospital’s stability and surrounding soil condition. Retrofitting the building before construction begins would be ideal to mitigate potential damage to the structure.”

One interactive graphic shows “WA 150,” which appears to be The Academy, a cherished historic Vancouver property. But the documents and website don’t provide a description of what “WA 150” actually is nor what will be done to the property by the proposed project. 

Property owners & residents blindsided

On the west side of I-5, the Vancouver library parking lot appears to be set for demolition. The Normandy Apartments at 318 E 7th Street would be partially destroyed if the west shift were adopted for the bridge. The Regal Cinema appears to be gone as well.

Irvin owns the Normandy Apartments. They’re on the Historic Register. “They’re also affordable housing,” he shared. “Some tenants have been there for 30 years.”

Two tenants shared comments on social media, in response to a Dec. 16, 2024 news story.

“If The Normandy apartments were to be demolished, it would be a significant blow — not only to its residents but to the housing market. This would be the extinction of basically the only truly affordable rent left in Vancouver,” said Valerie Eliason, 38, a resident of The Normandy in downtown.

“If this outcome is only under one of the options,” said Roger Neilson “then what about the commitment to equity the IBR website makes a big deal about? Shouldn’t this disqualify an option which requires the removal of about the only downtown housing which low income working people find affordable? Also, is the Regal theater on the chopping block?”

Yes, the Regal theater is on the crosshairs of the project. Two years ago, the city of Vancouver bought the vacant land just north of the theater. The $12-million acquisition of 3.18 acres of property dubbed Library Square, is located at Evergreen Boulevard and C Street and consists of five vacant parcels. Current library parking is on three of those parcels, and is included in the IBR list of “impacted” properties.

The city borrowed $4 million from the Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) fund and $8 million from the General Fund to make the purchase. They also gave Killian Pacific out of Portland, Oregon, a $6 million tax write off, on property previously assessed at $6.2 million.

Irvin took the opportunity to expand on the horrible process, keeping people in the dark.

When the relentless push for a new bridge overrides careful planning and consideration for the individuals and communities who will be directly impacted – at an as-yet-unknown date & time – it raises serious concerns about the entire process and those driving it. The community expects elected officials to protect their interests, prioritize public safety, involve them in key decisions, and manage local, state, and federal tax dollars responsibly.

That imbalance of power became glaringly apparent on October 01, 2024, with another front-page follow-up story on December 14, 2024, when press reported that the Normandy Apartments, a truly affordable downtown apartment building on the Clark County Historic Register of significant places – home to 30 families – would be demolished to make way for the bridge. Although the article proclaimed that the property owners were notified, we, the property owners, were not. 

The announcement blindsided not only the residents but also the property owners. While the use of eminent domain might be on the table, the failure to communicate transparently and proactively is inexcusable. Both the residents and the building owners were denied the opportunity to prepare, support each other, and respond constructively.

We are deeply troubled by the arrogance of political leaders and their staff – individuals whose salaries are funded by taxpayers – who behave as though they are the sole arbiters of public interest. Their dismissive approach reflects a troubling presumption: that they know better than the very people they are elected to serve.

It’s frustrating – and unacceptable – when government officials ignore the voices of the community, all while operating on the public’s dime.

One news report indicates: “the Harbor Shops along 11915 N Center Ave. and Jantzen Beach Water Tank at N Center St and N Jantzen Ave. are the two Portland sites that could be completely demolished. In Washington, around one-third of an acre of the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site and nearly one-quarter of an acre of the Vancouver Barracks Historic District would be demolished.”

On Hayden Island, “up to 35 floating homes in North Portland Harbor would be displaced by the Modified LPA, Clark County Today reported last year. Floating homes would be treated as personal property and would be relocated to moorages within the area if available.” Additionally, 14 Hayden Island businesses would be displaced, plus an unspecified number of “marine businesses” on the south side of the north Portland harbor.

That information was initially released by the Just Crossing Alliance, via a Public Records Request, not the IBR program. Resident Sam Churchill shared concerns of the Hayden Island community last fall. The REAL impact for Hayden Islanders includes “the closing of 15-20 businesses, the elimination of two dozen homes, and a toll that KILLS the Hayden Island Mall.”