Work out at the gym, grab a cup of coffee, go to work, then pick up fresh produce and meat for dinner on the way home – all without going near your car.
Sound like a fantasy? It's reality for those who make one of Clark County's "live-work-play" developments their home.
All About Community
According to Next American City, a national quarterly magazine about making cities better, "live, work, play" is marketing talk for the less sexy term, "mixed-use development."
But there's more to "live – work – play" than just mixed-use development, said Wes Hickey, manager of Lone Wolf Investments, which is developing Washougal Town Square. It's less about development than improving the community and establishing a long-term vision.
Hickey said Washougal Town Square, which offers retail and office space, as well as underground parking, is at about 25 percent occupancy, with six business tenants including a massage studio, a psychologist, a financial planner, a physical therapy office, and an ice cream store. A seventh tenant, 3E Enviro-Sciences, will be moving in soon. Hickey said he looked for business tenants that "care about how they do business and that believe in Washougal."
Echoing Hickey's assessment of what "live – work – play" really means, 3E's vice president of sustainable practices, Kerri Alstrom, said "ultimately it was the sense of commitment and momentum toward sustainable practices" that attracted them to locate their corporate headquarters at Washougal Town Square.
Similar interest in building a sense of community led Umpqua Bank to open a "neighborhood store" in mid-May on the corner of Esther Street and 8th, in Esther Short Commons, a "live – work – play" development in downtown Vancouver.
"We wanted to provide an inviting place to hang out," said Lani Hayward, Umpqua's vice president of creative strategy. "Our store engages people to do more than cash checks and make deposits."
For example, the branch offers a computer café, a community calendar, local vendors' wares, and a large sidewalk space that will be used for community events.
The Chicken and the Egg
Pam Lindloff, associate vice president at NAI Norris, Beggs and Simpson, handles office and retail leasing at Vancouvercenter, another downtown Vancouver "live – work – play" development. Lindloff said that filling office and retail space is a "cat and mouse game."
"Retailers look for rooftops [residents] and office tenants," she explained, "but office tenants and residents look for retail suppliers."
Hickey agreed, saying "office and retail feed off each other."
You could see this principle in action at Battle Ground Center, another large "live – work – play" development in Clark County, when the Battle Ground Community Library opened in May.
Carmen Villarma, president of The Management Group, which handles Battle Ground Center's marketing, said that 36,000 people pass through the library each month, and this has helped bolster existing tenants and attract new ones. For example, Laurelwood Brew Pub will open soon, the Bones Steak and Chop House will open Au gust 20, and LuLu's Boutique and My Favorite Things will open this fall.
Making it Work
Villarma identified the economy in general, and availability of financing in particular, as the major challenge of filling the office and retail space at Battle Ground Center.
"It takes money to start a business," said Villarma. "If the availability of credit would loosen up just a little bit, developments like ours would see so much more activity."
Hickey stated that people should understand that developing a successful "live – work – play" community takes time.
"The first phase is the most difficult," said Hickey. "You need people to believe in the vision, and develop energy."
Hayward underscored the importance of long-term vision when participating in these types of developments.
"To get the space you really want, you've got to go in early and pay the price," she said.
Four Unique Developments, One Common Theme
Clark County is home to four large "live – work – play" developments. Each has its unique features and feel. However they have one common goal: create a place where people can feel at home, and meet all their needs without having to roam. Here are some details about each of these developments.
Battle Ground Center
Covering 108 acres, this project features single family dwellings, townhomes, retail, office, and industrial space. Later this summer, said Carmen Villarma, president of The Management Group, they plan to begin building 118 apartment units.
- Battle Ground Village — 140,000 RSF retail center consisting of nine buildings already completed
- Battle Ground Corporate Center — 12 shovel-ready office/medical pads
- Commerce East Industrial Park –divisible and shovel-ready 12-acre parcels
- The Oaks at Battle Ground Village — 40 townhomes (under construction)
- Sixth Street Station/Commerce Parkway —
167 single-family homes
Esther Short Commons
Bounded by Esther and
8th Streets, Esther Short Commons offers affordable housing, retail and office space, as well as easy access to I-5, Esther Short Park, and the outdoor Farmer's Market
- on the east side, the City of Vancouver leases
8,500 sf of retail space (previously the indoor farmer's market) from the Vancouver Housing Authority - on the north side, a separate property manager handles more retail space
- 160 apartment units
Vancouvercenter
Three high-rise buildings offer luxury condos and penthouses as well as office and retail space.
- North Tower has seven floors of office and retail space, and four floors of condos
- Total of 165,000 sf office space
- Other two residential towers have a total of 194 units
- underground parking
Washougal Town Square
A collection of four architecturally distinct buildings situated around a landscaped public plaza, this project takes up an entire city block, with the goal of serving as a community gathering space.
- 22,000 sf retail space
- 25,000 sf office space
- 88 underground parking spaces
