americanempress

The American Empress steamboat docks at Terminal 1

By Jim Hagar, Port of Vancouver USA Economic Development Project Manager (As published in the Vancouver Business Journal on Nov. 11, 2016)

Did you know that the largest overnight riverboat west of the Mississippi River docks right here in Vancouver? The American Empress, part of the Memphis, Tennessee-based American Queen Steamboat Company, begins its luxury cruises at the Port of Vancouver USA’s dock at Terminal 1 on the Columbia River. From Vancouver, the sternwheeler travels up the Columbia and Snake rivers to Clarkston, Washington, stopping along the way to take in the sights and experiences of the Pacific Northwest.

Since 2014, the Empress has been bringing people to Vancouver to shop and dine, experience history at Fort Vancouver and enrich their lives through day trips to local wineries, Mount St. Helens other nearby attractions.

The growth of river cruise tourism is well-timed: Soon, river cruise-goers and other guests in our community will have the chance to experience more of our food, creativity and culture as the port and the City of Vancouver continue redeveloping properties along the Columbia River.

It took over a decade of partnership to get us here, during which we, the city and other partners collaborated to piece together properties, move railroad tracks, open up corridors between downtown and the river, and build the infrastructure necessary to support a waterfront worthy of our community and its distinctive history.

While we finalize our plans to redevelop 10 acres adjacent to the Interstate 5 Bridge, the port is fortunate to have a new restaurant by Beaches owner Mark Matthias – WareHouse ’23 – keeping things vibrant in the former Quay Restaurant at the Red Lion hotel. We are also using that same space at the Quay to host the monthly Night Market Vancouver. Night Market Vancouver brings scores of small business vendors together with shoppers and those looking for a fun night out. The port has also just received proposals from a half dozen development groups looking at the Vancouver waterfront as a prime location for its master planned mixed-use development, and Vesta Hospitality – a Vancouver-based company – will begin construction on their AC Hotel by Marriott this year.

Just upriver from Terminal 1, the city has completed construction of its 32-acre public park that features a cable stay pier that just out over the Columbia, and a very large fountain that depicts the entire Columbia river system.

Columbia Waterfront LLC – the city’s developer – has completed construction on two major buildings that hold two restaurants and a wine tasting room for the Maryhill winery and more major restaurants are expected to open their doors this year. In addition, the Murdoch Charitable Trust has completed and opened its offices and the Rediviva apartment complex is completed and leasing to new tenants. As work on the waterfront rolls on, we continue to hear from citizens excited about what’s happening and businesses looking to be a part of the site’s future.

A century ago, when the port was young, Terminal 1 was an active shipping hub moving Pacific Northwest goods from our fields and forests to the world. It’s still a hub of activity, but today we’re importing people who are drawn to the rich history and culture of our community.

It’s exciting to be a part of reinventing Terminal 1, bringing it into a new era and preserving access to the Columbia River for future generations.

Jim Hagar joined the Port of Vancouver in June 2015. His responsibilities include cultivating relationships with the port’s economic development partners, including the City of Vancouver, Clark County, Columbia River Economic Development Council, Greater Portland Inc., the Regional Transportation Council and others.

 Jim has two decades of experience in economic development at the community and state level. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Idaho State University and a Master’s in Public Administration and has conducted doctoral studies in political science.