This video and story are from May 2010, but it will provide some nice background to how far the project has come as featured in this post.

Here’s the gist of the original story by Joe Smith that ran with this video on the KGW website:

VANCOUVER, WA — You may hate traffic. But, for business owners along 192ND in East Vancouver it’s a green light to move forward with more development.

One shopping center under construction is the 192ND Avenue Plaza, which sits at what could be the new gateway to Camas. It may eventually roll out the red carpet for more business and jobs to Clark county.

“We’re really looking at 192nd as the place to go,” said Dawn Stanchfield, owner of Lilly Atelier.

Dawn is a business owner expanding with another store in the Plaza development.

“This is 100-percent leased,” said Dean Kirkland, Chairman of Kirkland Development.

This is Dean Kirkland’s biggest project to date. It’s worth $12 million and is slated to be completed by the end of August.

“We started out as an 18,000-square-foot building. Then, as we picked up momentum, we went to a 29 and now we’re at 35,” Dean Kirkland said.

Along with the construction will come much needed jobs. Tim Kofstand is a superintendent with Perlo Construction.

More jobs will come when Phase Two begins next year. It is across 20th street on eight acres. It’s all part of major building boom in East Clark County.

“We’ve got a new Costco going in 200 yards to the north. We’ve got Fisher Investments going in right over here to our Southeast, that will bring almost 500 employees,” said Dean Kirkland.

Traffic patterns now bring in about 21,000 vehicles. Research indicates that could more than double when Costco opens.

New residential developments began in 2008 on 20th Street and then the street will be expanded into Camas.

“Drawing that linkage over to 20th becomes paramount, especially when we’re looking at commercial retail,” said Camas Mayor Paul Dennis.

The project will cost between $2- and $8-million. Plans are drawn up, now it’s a matter of getting the funding.

The 192nd Avenue Plaza will be completed in August. Tenants hope to move in by fall, in time for the holidays.

Mon May 17 17:26:43 PDT 2010
East Clark Co. sees major building boom
Heavy traffic patterns along 192nd Ave. in East Vancouver are spurring more business for eastern Clark County. View full article