I'm pleased to report that any rumors of disagreement between the Port and the City of Vancouver over access and road connections through Terminal One (where Red Lion At The Quay is located, off Columbia Street) to the City's sparkling new waterfront development are now moot.
Sources "in the know" regarding the ongoing saga of the Port of Vancouver's desire to have Tesoro/Savage ship "oil by rail" from a yet-to-be-built terminal and refinery had indicated that the Port, piqued over City Council's opposition to said terminal, had blocked access to the new waterfront development site through Red Lion At The Quay, along with prohibiting construction of any connector roads and the like through to Columbia Street.
Hence, the long delay of (now) over six months since any construction has taken place at the waterfront site - leading to the odd spectacle of gorgeous new underpass roads at Esther & Grant Streets (complete with artsy lighting, brick pavers, landscaping, and benches) ending in construction orange barricades. To boot, access to the undeveloped site has been (and is still) completely open - meaning numerous of Vantucky's homeless folks have been using the site as a place to camp out at night and rest during the day - all fine and well until you consider the cleanup the City has to do, the policing of the area that doesn't seem to be done, and the liabilities of allowing folks full access to a construction site (including riverfront).
It seemed strange to me, walking by there the other day, that the City would allow all this to go on within full view of our shiny new City Hall building. Hence, my query to Councilmember Anne McEnerny-Ogle, as well as City Manager Holmes and officials at the Port. As upset as the Port may be over the City's opposition to their oil terminal, it seemed ridiculous that their anger would lead to the City's all but abandoning the site to transients over the winter. Likewise, the City, by not at least making the area some sort of "parklike" space (i.e., grass, maybe a doggie fenced park area, gravel culdesacs at Esther & Grant, good lighting), seemed to be basically pouting over the Port's refusal to allow connections through Red Lion. Finally, there's also the pique of the developer to consider - as The Columbian noted a while back, the waterfront site developers have threatened to pull out if said oil terminal is built.
Regardless of the oil terminal's construction (which likely won't happen, according to several Olympia and local sources), it seems that the Port, the City, and the developer are all best of friends again according to McEnerny-Ogle. In her quick and thorough response to me she noted that things were "moving forward" to finish the needed infrastructure at the waterfront site (the City's agreement with developers was to put in said infrastructure before building commenced) and that permits would be issued following a final Council vote on the finished site plan at their June meeting. Said happy amity cannot come a moment too soon, methinks.
In the meantime, I still wonder why on earth the City would think it a GOOD IDEA to allow complete 24/7 unpoliced access to what is basically a construction zone, without thinking it worthy to spend 20K or so on some gravel and grass seed, as well as a temporary fence along the dangerous river embankment. Maybe even pick up some construction debris. I can understand the City not wanting to spend money on what might not be a "sure thing" (if the developer pulled out over the oil terminal construction). But c'mon, how much is grass seed these days? I can get a 20 lb bag, enough for around 4K sq feet, for about $15 at the Jantzen Beach Home Depot.
I also wonder why on earth the Port chose (if in fact they did, the Port didn't respond to my emails, and Councilmember McEnerny-Ogle sidestepped any question of disagreement) to block access to the site in order to express their displeasure at the City's oil by rail opposition. Seems to me the Port could better spend their lobbying efforts and political clout in Olympia at Governor Inslee's office (since he has the final say on said terminal), giving folks up there alot more carrots and alot less sticks.
Ah well. Seems alls well that ends well, and everyone has kissed and made up. Which makes me happy...we'll see if this romantic reunion continues.
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