Leland Consulting recommends upscale, river-focused hotel on Port of Vancouver USA waterfront property
The port is moving through a master planning process to develop 10 of its 13 acres of property at Terminal 1 – its birthplace on the Columbia River
The master planning process for the Port of Vancouver USA’s waterfront property continued July 14 as Brian Vanneman, principal with Leland Consulting, presented a Waterfront Market Analysis to the port’s Board of Commissioners. The presentation showed the economic impact of some of the potential future development options discussed in earlier workshops.
Port Director of Economic Development Katy Brooks kicked off the workshop and shared her perspective on the unique benefits the port, as a public agency, brings to Vancouver’s waterfront development.
“The Port of Vancouver is an economic development engine,” said Brooks. “The spectrum and variety of tools we have, and the mission we have, as a public developer, allows us to invest tax dollars into assets that truly belong to the community.”
During his presentation, Vanneman discussed the great potential the port’s 13 acres of waterfront property has due to its location and proximity to important Vancouver landmarks such as downtown, the Waterfront Renaissance Trail and Fort Vancouver. “We really do see everything you’re doing here as having a tremendous economic development impact,” said Vanneman.
Vanneman shared Leland’s analysis of a mixed-use office building, which the company believes is economically viable due to its key location near Columbia Street – a main access point to the waterfront – and the dearth of similar office space locations in the Portland-Vancouver metro area.
Leland also discussed its market analysis of a hotel on the port’s waterfront property. Best practices prescribe a hotel that’s between three and five floors with approximately 120 to 150 rooms. Leland also advised that the hotel should not focus on conference spaces and restaurants, since similar amenities are available at the Hilton Convention Center, just up the street from the port’s property. Instead, Leland recommended the hotel focus on providing an upscale experience that directly overlooks the river and is physically integrated with the other proposed buildings. Different configurations of building designs were also discussed during the hour-long meeting.
The commissioners will take this information and Leland’s market analysis into account as the port continues its master planning process. Master planning consultant NBBJ will present preliminary design concepts to the commission at a regularly scheduled board meeting on Aug. 11.
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