Southwest Washington ports win communications awards
The Port of Vancouver, USA, and the Port of Longview have both received Awards of Merit in the American Authority of Port Association’s Communications Awards program. The Vancouver port won in the category of Advertising Series for “Port Tenant Ad Series.” Longview won an award in Promotion Literature for “Marine Marketing Brochure.”
Nautilus to acquire Xiamen, China, facility
Nautilus Inc. has exercised a purchase option to acquire the assets of its largest contract manufacturer, Xiamen, China-based Land America Health and Fitness Co. Ltd.
The all cash-transaction of approximately $72 million is expected to close Jan. 2, 2008, and improve company gross margins by at least 1.5 to 2 percentage points in 2008.
Land America has made Bowflex home exercise gyms for more than eight years and began manufacturing Bowflex TreadClimber cardio trainers for the company last year.
In addition, Nautilus and Land America teams have built a new production line to manufacture and ship additional products from the facility later in 2007.
The acquisition of Land America involves four modern buildings on a 15-acre site in an economic development zone near Xiamen, China, as well as a trading company, Treuriver Investments Ltd.
Real Estate and Development
Port leases land to waterfront developers
Port of Vancouver commissioners on June 26 unanimously agreed to lease 3.26 acres of waterfront port property to developers Columbia Waterfront LLC.
The parcel is next to the 29-acre Boise Cascade property the private developers – Tualatin-based Gramor Development with a group of local investors – are buying for a master-planned waterfront community that includes a hotel, retail, offices and restaurants with public open spaces and access to the water.
The 50-year lease has an option for two 15-year extensions, for a total of 80 years. However, the lease is contingent on the developers successfully buying the former Boise Vancouver Mill Site.
Terms of the lease include unrestricted public access to the waterfront, a monument that commemorates the port’s original marine terminal and replacement for the 1.3 acres currently used as free parking for Vancouver Landing and amphitheater.
After construction is complete, the monthly rent will be $16,492 with annual increases.
The lease area is expected to be the gateway to the waterfront project via the future Esther Street extension from Esther Short Park, as well as via Columbia Street and the extended waterfront trail.
Port approves Alcoa sales agreement
Port of Vancouver commissioners unanimously approved a purchase and sale agreement for about 107 acres of industrial waterfront property currently owned by Alcoa Inc., providing the Industrial Development District levy passes on Aug. 21.
The port and Alcoa reached a general agreement on the sale in January, and the parties signed a letter of intent on Feb. 1. Negotiations have been ongoing since then.
The purchase price will be $23.75 million, closing no earlier than Dec. 31 and no later than June 30, 2008.
The agreement includes the alumina unloading dock, silos, conveyors, rail load out and accessory structures, and provides that Alcoa will clean the site to the state’s Model Toxics Control Act industrial standards, enforced by the state Dept. of Ecology.
County seeks input on infill housing
The Board of Clark County Commissioners has asked staff to prepare recommendations for possible changes to the county’s 2002 regulations intended to encourage residential uses on vacant land in existing neighborhoods.
A public meeting has been set from 6 to 8 p.m. on July 25 at the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St. in Vancouver.
The infill ordinance is available on the county website, and questions may be directed to Marlia Jenkins at marlia.jenkins@clark.wa.gov.
Part of $26 million from CTED to fund local projects
The state Dept. of Community, Trade and Economic Development awarded more than $26 million for 36 housing projects in 18 Washington counties. A range of projects are being funded, including 22 homeownership projects.
Inland Empire Residential Resources was awarded $60,000 for acquisition of a unit at Teammates Townhomes in Vancouver, which serves homeless and developmentally disabled people.
Columbia Non-Profit Housing received $500,000 for a First Home Loan Program for low-income households in Clark and Cowlitz counties, and the Housing Authority of Longview was awarded $414,700 for a SHARE Homeownership Program for low-income households in Cowlitz and Lewis counties.
Funds came from the state Housing Trust Fund.
Darryl Gilmour moves to new location
The Darryl Gilmour Agency of American Family Insurance moved into its permanent location last month. The new office is located at 521 S.E. 155th Ave., Suite 103 in Vancouver. The company is licensed to offer property, casualty life and business insurance and has a staff of three full time licensed agents.
Tanning company targets Vancouver for growth
Maple Valley, Wash.-based Desert Sun, an indoor tanning salon chain, has plans to open two Vancouver locations through franchise ownership with six more by 2012. One franchise is already open here.
RMLS adds commercial category
The Regional Multiple Listing Service has launched a commercial lease property category to its database of properties in Southwest Washington and Portland. Realtors who are RMLS subscribers can now post commercial and industrial properties for lease on the private multiple listing database – previously, they were only able to post commercial properties for sale.
Design and Construction
Channel deepening awarded $15M from senate panel
The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee approved $15 million for the Columbia River Channel Improvement project for fiscal year 2008. This additional funding will further advance deepening the channel from 40 to 43 feet between the ocean and the Vancouver-Portland metro area.
The Senate Appropriations Committee also approved $14.8 million to maintain and repair the jetties at the mouth of the Columbia River. This appropriation exceeds the president’s $12 million budget request to repair winter storm damage.
Application period open for historical grants
Each year, Clark County awards grants to encourage historic preservation and programs – applications for 2008 grants must be received by the Historical Promotion Grants Advisory Committee by 5 p.m. on Sept. 14.
Forms are available by contacting Kelly Sills at kelly.sills@clark.wa.gov or 360-397-2232 and may be mailed to the Board of Clark County Commissioners, attn: Kelly Sills, P.O. Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666-5000.
USGBC makes million-dollar commitment
The U.S. Green Building Council has committed $1 million to green building research in the areas of energy and water security, global climate change prevention, indoor environmental quality and passive survivability in the face of natural and man-made disasters.
The USGBC, nonprofit, sets the standards for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) projects.
