Ridgefield’s first office building is more than 80 percent full, and although owners expected it to fill more quickly, the quality of tenants has been an advantage, said Nanette Walker, who owns the building with her husband Ned Walker and Vancouver couple Carole and Weldon Burton.
The longtime acquaintances make up Flightpath LLC.
Heron Gate, a 20,000-square foot, two-story yellow stucco building at 2 S. 56th Place near the Ridgefield Junction, was completed in July 2006, and Nanette Walker’s certified public accounting firm was the first tenant.
Since then, the development has attracted other professional services, such as a dentist, physical therapist, chiropractor, driving school and an iQ Credit Union branch. An eye care specialist and auto licensing location are slated to move in Feb. 1.
The $3 million building is the first commercial project for both the Walkers and the Burtons. Ned Walker owns Ridgefield-based Scarpelli Construction and had previously developed residential projects, but it was the couple’s long-term goal to venture to the commercial side.
The opportunity was born out of necessity.
Nanette Walker was working out of her Ridgefield home, and was looking for an office to move into nearby. There wasn’t one.
The couple looked into buying the old post office in downtown Ridgefield, but the deal fell through when the California owner – who had never seen the building or downtown Ridgefield – ventured up to close the sale.
As Nanette Walker tells it, he took one look at the old post office, which is smack dab in the middle of the developing city, and announced that he would not sell.
This led to Flightpath purchasing the Heron Gate site from the Port of Ridgefield.
City Manager Justin Clary, who then was the city’s director of public works, told the developers there was a great opportunity before them because they were the first to build a speculative office building, Walker said.
“We saw it as a responsibility to build a high-quality building because we needed to set the tone,” she said. “We wanted it to be high-class because we don’t want Ridgefield to get a bunch of the crappy, slap-up stuff that you see other places.”
Until Heron Gate opened, most of the commercial development in Ridgefield was owner-occupied, such as the Corwin Beverage Co. and Parr Lumber sites. There also is a single-story strip mall near the junction.
Vancouver-based architect Kevin Cooley designed Heron Gate to capture the outdoor spirit of Ridgefield.
Wood and glass were incorporated into much of the design, and a large glass atrium welcomes visitors. There are plenty of sofas and chairs in the lobby along with a glass etched mural of herons and other wildlife likely to be found at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.
And true to its name, a large heron sits atop the building outside.
The design was expensive, Walker said, but Flightpath saw it as a personal investment – they’re not looking to sell any time soon – and an investment for Ridgefield.
“Ridgefield is still in some peoples’ minds an outpost, and it’s a big investment to open an office in a small town,” she said. “We’ve had quite a bit of housing development here, and I think we were right ahead of the curve for commercial. But it’s great for Ridgefield to have those professional services here.”
Because of the city’s development standards that discourage street parking, the building was designed with the back facing Pioneer Street – a rule Walker is unimpressed with. She is, however, looking forward to the addition of more roundabouts on Pioneer Street – one of which is planned for right in front of Heron Gate.
“I applaud the city and the Department of Transportation for looking ahead and saying we don’t want to create another 134th Avenue,” Walker said.
There is up to 3,200 square feet of space left in the building, which leases for $19.50 triple net annually.
