Longtime city of Vancouver Economic Development Director Steve Burdick will join the Killian Pacific staff as director of development. He will depart his post at the city at the end of April and pick up at the Vancouver-based development company in May.
Killian Pacific approached Burdick after he made it known he was leaving the city with unset plans at the end of March, he said. During his time at the city, Burdick worked with the company on several projects, including the West Coast Bank Building that was finished around 2002.
“They’ve seen that I can do unique projects,” Burdick said.
In his role at Killian Pacific, Burdick said he will essentially act as a project manager, taking projects through the development process up to the construction phase.
“The types of projects (Killian Pacific) does are very exciting, often mixed use, in that have a big positive impact on the community,” he said. “I like that – there’s something very gratifying about working on a project and seeing something physical that’s going to be there for 100 years or more.”
Active Killian Pacific projects include the Riverwest redevelopment at Evergreen and “C” streets and the Grand Central project at the former Jantzen Swimwear site on Grand Avenue that is set to have a Fred Meyer store as its anchor tenant.
Burdick said he made the decision to leave the city because it was the longest he’d been at one job and that the city is wrapping up one era of development, centered on the Hilton Hotel project, and is in the midst of kicking off a new development era.
“It seemed like a good time to make a transition,” he said.
From 1984 to 1990, Burdick was the project manager for Officers Row and represented the city in public-private partnership agreements for Riverview Tower and the Evergreen Retirement Inn.
After serving seven years as Vice President of Operations for Key Property Services, Burdick returned to the city in 1997. He managed the Vancouver Convention Center and Hilton Hotel project and, through 2005, the rehabilitation of the West Barracks. In addition to the West Coast Bank Building, Burdick represented the city in public-private partnership agreements for Heritage Place, Vancouvercenter, Kirkland Union Manor, Lewis and Clark Plaza and Esther Short Commons and was instrumental in securing a permanent home for the Vancouver Farmers Market adjacent to Esther Short Park.
In a statement, Vancouver City Manager Pat McDonnell said he is pleased Burdick’s skills and energy will continue to be focused on development in Vancouver.
