Democracy for Vancouver

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Tuesday, November 20, 2007
BY BRETT OPPEGAARD for The Columbian

A nonprofit group’s plans to build a performing arts center in Clark County are growing bolder, despite previous setbacks.

The Southwest Washington Center for the Arts recently released the results of a $30,000 feasibility study - conducted by Vancouver’s E.D. Hovee Co. - which calls for a $100 million mixed-use arts, retail and housing development on a city-owned vacant block adjacent to downtown Vancouver’s Esther Short Park.

**SCHNIPP**

Please go read that article in the Columbian from this past Tuesday. In the shuffle for Thankgiving, I did not want this worthy project to escape notice or comment.

I really like the way this is being presented, as compared to some of the other controversial projects the City has been involved with over the years. This is a lot different, and I think it’s worth taking a close look at, and monitoring as the funding search gets underway.

My only point of contention is the proposed location. I understand the intention, but no arts center is going to free Downtown of it’s nighttime denizens and overall seediness, and I can’t imagine going to any event at night that would potentially require transiting Ester Short Park with my family and/or small children, and it isn’t worth paying additional monies to have the Vancouver PD swarm the park for every event like they do now. I think there are other sites that would make excellent candidates for something like this, one being the former Evergreen Airport property.

A proper arts center there might make a great anchor for some development that is not just retail driven, and could potentially provide a permanent residence for groups like The Vancouver Symphony.

That said, I think Val Ogden’s involvement in this is an excellent way to ensure the success of the fund raising drive, and I hope that they immediately find a way to start up a small donors method of donation as well. Selling named or decorative pavers for example, for a future walkway would be an excellent vehicle, and one my wife and I would be willing to purchase for a modest sum, if offered…

Please take a look.