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Vancouver, Wash. – The City is being awarded a nearly $17.5 million RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) federal grant to help new plans for the Height District Project become a reality.
“The development of The Heights District is vital to the future of Vancouver, and the Grand Loop is a central feature,” said Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle. “Being awarded a grant of this magnitude will enable us to construct part of the new street network, which is a key piece of infrastructure within the former Tower Mall site that will support the first phase of development and bring much-needed affordable housing to the community. We are grateful for Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) for their support of the $17.5 million RAISE Grant.”
The funding will be used to construct two segments of the Grand Loop, a two-way complete street with a linear park on one side of the street. The Loop is a reconfiguration of Blandford Drive that extends from MacArthur Blvd, across Devine Road into the Vanco Golf Range and loops back around to Devine Road.
Two more segments of the Grand Loop will be constructed in a future phase to extend back over to MacArthur Blvd to create one loop around the former Tower Mall site. The Grand Loop will knit the new development together and connect the Heights District with the surrounding neighborhoods on bike and foot, creating a more pedestrian- and bike-friendly environment.
“Investing in projects like this one – to build thriving new districts within Vancouver, produce more housing, especially for underserved residents, and create new jobs and opportunities – is exactly why I created the RAISE grant program in the first place,” said Senator Murray.
“Every city in our state needs affordable housing, including Vancouver. This grant helps build the essential infrastructure needed to support 1,300 new affordable homes including new roads, bike lanes, ADA-accessible sidewalks, and a robust wastewater system,” said Senator Cantwell.
The RAISE grant program funding is a testament to congressional support for this transformational project as Vancouver continues to experience rapid growth, and to prioritize efforts to improve livability and meet the demand for more affordable housing.
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