Lieser School Redevelopment

As the cost of housing has increased in recent years, wages have not kept up. For many people who contribute to our community, by working in retail, service jobs or in childcare, the rising cost of housing has been particularly challenging.

Vancouver Housing Authority plans to build and operate rental housing that working families and individuals can afford. This will include a mix of housing and unit types to meet the needs of different community members. The planned rental housing will be available to people earning $40,000 to $58,000 per year, depending on household size. Vancouver Housing Authority anticipates 90-100 rental housing units on the site. In addition they anticipate 7-10 for-sale affordable townhomes.

EOCF's mission is to connect, empower, and transform the lives of children and families. Since 1967, EOCF has been working to make sure that all Southwest Washington families have access to high-quality early childhood education and the resources that they need to thrive. EOCF’s service areas include Clark County, Long Beach in Pacific County, and the Woodland portion of Cowlitz County.

In addition to Head Start early childhood education programs and childcare services, EOCF also provides a wide range of wrap-around supports. These include essential nutrition, counseling supports, parent empowerment and education classes.

At the Lieser Rd location, EOCF is hoping to build an early learning center that will include two classrooms, administrative offices and a central kitchen that will make meals for all EOCF sites.

Station #3, Vancouver Fire Department's current fire station at 1110 N Devine Rd., may not be able to operate safely in the event on an earthquake. Using funds recently provided through Proposition 2, the Vancouver Fire Department is proposing to build a brand new facility for Fire Station #3 on the Lieser property.

If constructed, the new station will provide seismic safety, in the event of an earthquake, help to improve response times, and increase the department’s capacity to address the future needs of our community. The Leiser School site was selected because it is near the existing station's service area and would be large enough to meet the department's needs. The fire department also hopes to include a community room, which could be used by neighborhood and community groups, as part of the station's design.

As part of this project, the City of Vancouver plans to renovate Lieser School Park, a two-acre neighborhood park at the northeast corner of the property. In addition to relocating and updating the park's play area, improvements may include new walking paths, benches, picnic spaces or community art. Feedback from community members and those living in the Heights Neighborhood will help inform park next steps.

The Lieser School moved to 6450 MacArthur Blvd and is now called the Heights Campus.

Existing school fields south of the park will be redeveloped. The design team is looking at ways to balance housing and open space in this area. We expect existing pedestrian connections to the north and east will remain.

The project team is not currently planning to connect Northgate Avenue to Lieser Road. There will continue to be a connection to the park for those who walk or ride bikes.

Improving this intersection has long been a goal of neighbors and the City of Vancouver, however funding has been a challenge. The intersection is currently listed as part of the city's Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), which is updated each year. We encourage community members to share their thoughts about the intersection, by commenting on the draft TIP. City staff will also be exploring additional sources of funding in the coming months. Improving safety for those who walk, drive or ride a bike is a major priority for our community and will continue to be an important part of the Lieser School Redevelopment process.