Vancouver Heights Equitable Development Plan

ECONorthwest developed an equitable development plan for the Heights District in Vancouver, WA with a focus on equitable development and anti-displacement. The plan outlines how the City can achieve the housing, business opportunity, employment opportunity, and community service goals of the original Heights District Plan (adopted by City Council in 2020) in the context of Vancouver’s current market conditions and housing needs. ECONorthwest conducted a residential and commercial market analysis, evaluated development feasibility, identified financial and regulatory incentives, and crafted a development strategy to support equitable development. This plan identifies best practices for how the City can maximize benefits of new Heights District development for the entire community while minimizing negative impacts of new development on existing businesses and lower-income residents. The plan identifies a range of small business, affordable housing, anti-displacement, and funding strategies to support the vision of a community-serving redevelopment project on the former Tower Mall site in Vancouver.