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Main Street Promise (Planning and Design)

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Initial engagement on this project has concluded. Please visit https://www.cityofvancouver.us/mainstreet or  beheardvancouver.org/mainstreetpromise for more information/

12.13.2024 Coffee Corner event was a success! Thank you to the business owners, property owners, residents and community members who attended our inaugural event at Softea on Main. Your questions and local business support are greatly appreciated. We hope to see you at our next Coffee Corner in early January, once construction begins.


Thank you to all the community members who have shared feedback on draft designs. Your input has helped to create a Main Street that is safe, connected and accessible for all users. We especially want to acknowledge those who have shared suggestions for how to make Main Street safer and more welcoming for those who walk, bike or use a mobility device.

Main Street Virtual Fly-over Animation

Vancouver breaks ground on Main Street Promise project by Dylan Scott at Fox 12 Oregon. Published on December 6, 2024

City of Vancouver partners with SBA and the SBDC to Offer Free Business Advising to Main Street and Other Vancouver Businesses. Published October 2, 2024

Main Street Promise will spend $21 million to overhaul Main Street from Fifth to 15th Streets - The Columbian by Brianna Murschel. Published August 31, 2024

Transforming Downtown: The Main Street Promise Project Begins - ClarkCoTalk (clarkcountytalk.com) by Danica Carlson Keener. Published June 27, 2024

Main Street in downtown Vancouver ready for makeover as city strives to assure businesses - The Columbian by William Seekamp. Published December 2, 2023

In Our View: Main Street Promise is a forward-looking idea - The Columbian. Published November 4, 2023

City of Vancouver Press Release for 11/29 Open House event and design update. Published: November 1, 2023

Vancouver approves final design of Main Street Promise, focusing on ‘moving people and not vehicles’ - The Columbian by Carlos Fuentes, October 25, 2023

Main Street Promise project featured on KOIN 6 News "Mayor Monday." Hosted by Ken Boddie on October 23, 2023

Infrastructure roundtable with White House Senior Advisor Mitch Landrieu & Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez. Hosted by CREDC on September 25, 2023

10 Blocks of Vancouver's Main Street to be transformed in $20M project - KGW News by Tim Gordon. Published July 21, 2023

Main Street Promise: Vancouver fine-tunes design for 10-block zone - The Columbian by Carlos Fuentes, Columbian staff writer. Published July 19

Vancouver’s Main Street to get a makeover - The Columbian by William Seekamp, Columbian staff writer. Published June 13

Project Team discussion with Greater Vancouver Chamber: Watch video at Mind What Matters: Main Street Promise Project Overview - YouTube

Improvements are coming to Main Street in downtown Vancouver from 5th Street to 15th Street. The city of Vancouver is investing in making Main Street safer, more accessible and connected for businesses, residents, and visitors. That is the Main Street Promise.

Transforming from its industrial roots, downtown Vancouver is moving into a new era with Main Street serving as the heart of the city. We are creating a safe, welcoming and timeless place that respects its storied surroundings while paving the way towards a vibrant future. With quality living, thriving businesses and modern amenities for an active and inclusive lifestyle, there's something for everyone.

A community-led effort nearly 30 years in the making, this project will reconstruct Main Street from 5th Street to 15th Street. The roadway, sidewalks, and adjacent outdoor spaces will be reconfigured to improve safety, foster a sense of community, and ensure economic prosperity. This project builds on planning work that began in 1993 with the goal of improving and invigorating the heart of Vancouver.

Funding to complete this project is provided through a combination of American Rescue Plan Act federal funds and local funds. Approximately $12 million in federal dollars will be used to reconstruct the lower Main Street streetscape. Final construction costs will depend on the final design chosen.

Community involvement is critical to the success of this project. The City of Vancouver is working closely with Vancouver’s Downtown Association, Main Street businesses and with property owners to ensure collaboration and to help mitigate construction impacts. Community members throughout Vancouver are encouraged to get involved and provide input throughout the design process. Feedback collected will inform final design decision-making and will help ensure that Main Street meets the needs of all users.

  • Increase safety for people and vehicles
    • Widen sidewalks and enhance pedestrian crossings
    • Add new LED streetlights to improve visibility
    • Rearrange parking to improve sightlines
    • Address potholes, crumbling sidewalks, and uneven pathways
    • Modify existing traffic signals
  • Welcome visitors and support Main Street businesses
    • Increase opportunities for sidewalk commerce (i.e., outdoor seating for restaurants)
    • Improve pedestrian connections to the waterfront, Esther Short Park, and Historic Reserve from Main Street
    • Encourage community gathering on Main Street and utilization of outdoor space through integration of outdoor spaces, street furniture, art, landscaping, restaurant seating and decorative lighting
    • Improve aesthetics while honoring the history and character of Main Street
  • Improve infrastructure
    • Upgrade the water lines, sewer lines, and stormwater facilities
    • Repave and restripe Main Street

In 1993, the City of Vancouver first developed the downtown Main Street Streetscape Improvement project. The project was divided into two project areas: North Main and Lower Main.

In 1996, the North Main Project, also known as Uptown Village, was funded and constructed to include complete reconstruction of the street and pedestrian areas from building face to building face,

The City then designed the Lower Main Street Streetscape Improvement Project (MSSIP), including a variety of project objectives:

  • Create a stronger sense of community identify and provide a welcoming place to attract Vancouver residents and other visitors.
  • Create a conducive environment for renewed investment by business and property owners.
  • Begin to establish a connection between Esther Short and waterfront areas west of downtown with the Historic Reserve and East Waterfront.
  • Create an attractive, visual image of Vancouver’s downtown that can be a model for future improvements.

The City investigated funding sources for the MSSIP for the next 25 years without success, employing funding strategies in 2003, 2006, 2014, 2019. At each attempt, due to the substantial cost, the project was not funded. Although significant design and planning work for Lower Main Street Improvements has been accomplished, the resources necessary to construct the project were substantial and the work was not funded until 2021, when funding was identified as one of the City’s future American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) projects.

The Main Street Promise, as it is known today, began in 1993 when the Main Street Improvement Project was envisioned. Then, in 2003 the first conceptual design and cost estimate was completed and in 2009 the project got to 95 percent design. A second and third design update were developed in 2014 and 2019 respectively.

In 2021, the City secured funding from a combination of federal and local funds and, in June 2022, MacKay Sposito, Point North Consulting and First Forty Feet were selected to lead the streetscape design and public involvement efforts. 

The City of Vancouver selected MacKay Sposito and their consultant team for the Main Street Streetscape Project, from 5th Street to 15th Street. This local and community-invested project team includes:

  • MacKay Sposito - Project Management / Landscape Architecture / Civil Engineering / Environmental Permitting / Public Outreach Support / Private Utility Coordination
  • Point North Consulting - Public Outreach Lead
  • First Forty Feet - Urban Design / Placemaking
  • DKS Associates - Traffic Engineering / Signal Design / Street Lighting Design
  • NV5 - Geotechnical Engineering / Hazardous Materials
  • LUMA - Decorative Lighting
  • AINW - Cultural Resources
  • Kramer Gehlen - Structural Engineering
  • Vancouver's Downtown Association - Public Outreach & Business Retention Support

The plan will also include a wide range of design improvements aimed at increasing safety and accessibility:

  • New ADA accessible curbs and wider sidewalks
  • Enhanced pedestrian crossings at intersections
  • Pavement resurfacing on Main Street
  • Pavement resurfacing on Evergreen Boulevard, 12th Street and 13th Street
  • Replacement of water and sanitary sewer mains
  • Modifications to the existing stormwater system
  • New street furnishings, decorative lighting and electrical receptacles
  • New landscaping and irrigation system, including street trees
  • New street lighting and traffic signal modifications

A variety of sources will be used to fund the Main Street project, including:

  • The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
  • City Transportation Fund
  • Multi-family Tax Exemption Public Benefit Fund
  • Utility Funding
  • City of Vancouver General Fund

Several goals and principles are also guiding the project team's work. These include:

  • Honor and celebrate the history of downtown Vancouver
  • Build upon existing, and establish new, positive relationships and partnerships with local businesses and community members
  • Create a stronger sense of community identity and provide a welcoming place to attract Vancouver residents and other visitors
  • Create a conducive environment for renewed investment by businesses and property owners
  • Establish continued connection between the Esther Short Neighborhood, the Vancouver Waterfront and Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
  • Create an attractive, coordinated and quality visual image of our downtown that can be a model for future improvements

There are many opportunities to learn about the project, speak with project staff, and provide input. Join upcoming Stakeholder Forums and recurring drop-in Coffee Corner events at various locations throughout the project area.

Downtown Stakeholder Forum – Attend in person or virtually on the 3rd Tuesday every other month at 1pm to stay up to date on key progress updates. Learn more and sign up to receive meeting notifications here.

  • September 2022 – Ongoing throughout the lifetime of the project

Coffee Corner events – During construction, the project team in partnership with the Vancouver Downtown Association will host recurring drop-in communication-sharing events at various locations within project area. These public events are open to Main Street business/property owners, residents and workers. Help us support local: buy a beverage, join and meet the contractor and project team.

  • December 13, 2024, from 12:00-1:00 pm at Softea located at 808 Main Street
  • Early January 2025 - TBD
  • Late January 2025 - TBD
  • Early February 2025 - TBD
  • Late February 2025 - TBD

Block Captains – Designed to support business and property owners along the project area, prior to the start of construction, a project captain will be designated for each block from 5th-15th Street. Block Captains will be regularly briefed on the latest project construction updates and will serve as a resource for members of their designated block, collecting and sharing feedback, questions or comments back to the project team.

  • Winter 2024 – Fall 2026

Open Houses – A mix of in-person and virtual open house events will be offered throughout the project’s design phase, where the public can hear directly from project staff and share their feedback on design options, considerations and tradeoffs.

  • Open House 1 - November 30, 2022 from 4:30-6:30pm at the Downtown Vancouver Library - Preliminary design considerations and tradeoffs
  • VDA Office drop in on First Friday - December 2, 2022 from 5:00-7:00 pm at 811 Main Street
  • Open House 2 - June 8, 2023 from 4:00-6:00pm at the Downtown Vancouver Library - 60% Design
  • Open House 3 - November 29, 2023 from 4:00-6:00pm at the Downtown Vancouver Library - 90% Design

Project Advisory Group – To ensure the design process is informed by the needs of the community, a Project Advisory Group (PAG) made up of a representative range of Main Street key stakeholders—including businesses, property owners, and residents—as well as the general Vancouver community and visitors kicked off in November 2022. The open application process for PAG members occurred 11.22.2022 until 12.9.2022.

The PAG will meet three to five times over the course of the project’s design phase (January until Winter, 2023) to provide critical feedback and input that will be leveraged to shape and narrow the design options. Visit the Project Advisory Group page to learn more.

Contact the project team – Send questions or comments directly to the project team via email to MainStreetPromise@cityofvancouver.us or call (360) 487-8770.

Sign Up for Email Updates

Sign up to receive email updates about the project, including upcoming meetings and events, directly to your inbox.

Community Outreach - Community outreach has occurred since September 2022. Visit the complete list of outreach opportunities to learn more.

We invite you to learn more with these FAQs. You can also view past input, safety and design ideas or join us in person at one of the events listed above.

Current efforts build on nearly 30 years of past planning and community engagement.

The Main Street Promise, as it is known today, began in 1993 when the Main Street Improvement Project was envisioned. Then, in 2003 the first conceptual design and cost estimate was completed and in 2009 the project got to 95 percent design. A second and third design update were developed in 2014 and 2019 respectively. In 2021, the City secured funding from a combination of federal and local funds and, in June 2022, MacKay Sposito, PointNorth Consulting and First Forty Feet were selected to lead the streetscape design and public involvement efforts.

1993: The downtown Main Street Streetscape improvement project was first developed by the City of Vancouver with two project parts: North Main and Lower Main.

May 1995: The "Downtown 2000 Committee" of the VDA recommends an implementation plan, actions and improvements for Main Street, between 5th Street and McLoughlin Boulevard. However, no funding was identified at that time.

May 2003: Engineering firm hired for Main Street Project updates and considerations. A Conceptual Design and Cost Estimate Report was prepared by Harper Houf Righellis and the City of Vancouver. This report took into consideration "the public concern over the past 10-15 years of the safety and character of Main Street ... and its impact on the downtown retail businesses."

Spring 2006: Initial Main Street Streetscape project meeting led by a 10-member Main Street Steering Committee comprised of business owners, property owners, architects, historic preservation advocates and local community members. Most are still active in the downtown community.

6/30/2006: Main Street Project initial Concept Design and Recommendations Report prepared by Harper Houf Peterson Righellis, Inc. Report findings and ideas were shared and presented to the public in a series of meetings, including two community Open House events, two property owner meetings and two business owner meetings. In addition, surveys, comment forms and various newsletters were distributed to businesses, property owners and the public at large. These public involvement forums provided opportunities for the community to review the design recommendations and be part of the planning process.

2009: Main Street Project initial Concept Design and Recommendations with 95% design completed

2014: Main Street Project initial Concept Design and Recommendations - obtained a Design update and report

2016: Main Street Project initial Concept Design and Recommendations - obtained another Design update and report

2021: The City of Vancouver secures funding from a combination of federal and local funds

June 2022: MacKay Sposito, PointNorth Consulting and First Forty Feet selected to lead the streetscape design and public involvement efforts

12.13.2024 Coffee Corner event was a success! Thank you to the business owners, property owners, residents and community members who attended our inaugural event at Softea on Main. Your questions and local business support are greatly appreciated. We hope to see you at our next Coffee Corner in early January, once construction begins.


Thank you to all the community members who have shared feedback on draft designs. Your input has helped to create a Main Street that is safe, connected and accessible for all users. We especially want to acknowledge those who have shared suggestions for how to make Main Street safer and more welcoming for those who walk, bike or use a mobility device.

Main Street Virtual Fly-over Animation

Vancouver breaks ground on Main Street Promise project by Dylan Scott at Fox 12 Oregon. Published on December 6, 2024

City of Vancouver partners with SBA and the SBDC to Offer Free Business Advising to Main Street and Other Vancouver Businesses. Published October 2, 2024

Main Street Promise will spend $21 million to overhaul Main Street from Fifth to 15th Streets - The Columbian by Brianna Murschel. Published August 31, 2024

Transforming Downtown: The Main Street Promise Project Begins - ClarkCoTalk (clarkcountytalk.com) by Danica Carlson Keener. Published June 27, 2024

Main Street in downtown Vancouver ready for makeover as city strives to assure businesses - The Columbian by William Seekamp. Published December 2, 2023

In Our View: Main Street Promise is a forward-looking idea - The Columbian. Published November 4, 2023

City of Vancouver Press Release for 11/29 Open House event and design update. Published: November 1, 2023

Vancouver approves final design of Main Street Promise, focusing on ‘moving people and not vehicles’ - The Columbian by Carlos Fuentes, October 25, 2023

Main Street Promise project featured on KOIN 6 News "Mayor Monday." Hosted by Ken Boddie on October 23, 2023

Infrastructure roundtable with White House Senior Advisor Mitch Landrieu & Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez. Hosted by CREDC on September 25, 2023

10 Blocks of Vancouver's Main Street to be transformed in $20M project - KGW News by Tim Gordon. Published July 21, 2023

Main Street Promise: Vancouver fine-tunes design for 10-block zone - The Columbian by Carlos Fuentes, Columbian staff writer. Published July 19

Vancouver’s Main Street to get a makeover - The Columbian by William Seekamp, Columbian staff writer. Published June 13

Project Team discussion with Greater Vancouver Chamber: Watch video at Mind What Matters: Main Street Promise Project Overview - YouTube

Improvements are coming to Main Street in downtown Vancouver from 5th Street to 15th Street. The city of Vancouver is investing in making Main Street safer, more accessible and connected for businesses, residents, and visitors. That is the Main Street Promise.

Transforming from its industrial roots, downtown Vancouver is moving into a new era with Main Street serving as the heart of the city. We are creating a safe, welcoming and timeless place that respects its storied surroundings while paving the way towards a vibrant future. With quality living, thriving businesses and modern amenities for an active and inclusive lifestyle, there's something for everyone.

A community-led effort nearly 30 years in the making, this project will reconstruct Main Street from 5th Street to 15th Street. The roadway, sidewalks, and adjacent outdoor spaces will be reconfigured to improve safety, foster a sense of community, and ensure economic prosperity. This project builds on planning work that began in 1993 with the goal of improving and invigorating the heart of Vancouver.

Funding to complete this project is provided through a combination of American Rescue Plan Act federal funds and local funds. Approximately $12 million in federal dollars will be used to reconstruct the lower Main Street streetscape. Final construction costs will depend on the final design chosen.

Community involvement is critical to the success of this project. The City of Vancouver is working closely with Vancouver’s Downtown Association, Main Street businesses and with property owners to ensure collaboration and to help mitigate construction impacts. Community members throughout Vancouver are encouraged to get involved and provide input throughout the design process. Feedback collected will inform final design decision-making and will help ensure that Main Street meets the needs of all users.

  • Increase safety for people and vehicles
    • Widen sidewalks and enhance pedestrian crossings
    • Add new LED streetlights to improve visibility
    • Rearrange parking to improve sightlines
    • Address potholes, crumbling sidewalks, and uneven pathways
    • Modify existing traffic signals
  • Welcome visitors and support Main Street businesses
    • Increase opportunities for sidewalk commerce (i.e., outdoor seating for restaurants)
    • Improve pedestrian connections to the waterfront, Esther Short Park, and Historic Reserve from Main Street
    • Encourage community gathering on Main Street and utilization of outdoor space through integration of outdoor spaces, street furniture, art, landscaping, restaurant seating and decorative lighting
    • Improve aesthetics while honoring the history and character of Main Street
  • Improve infrastructure
    • Upgrade the water lines, sewer lines, and stormwater facilities
    • Repave and restripe Main Street

In 1993, the City of Vancouver first developed the downtown Main Street Streetscape Improvement project. The project was divided into two project areas: North Main and Lower Main.

In 1996, the North Main Project, also known as Uptown Village, was funded and constructed to include complete reconstruction of the street and pedestrian areas from building face to building face,

The City then designed the Lower Main Street Streetscape Improvement Project (MSSIP), including a variety of project objectives:

  • Create a stronger sense of community identify and provide a welcoming place to attract Vancouver residents and other visitors.
  • Create a conducive environment for renewed investment by business and property owners.
  • Begin to establish a connection between Esther Short and waterfront areas west of downtown with the Historic Reserve and East Waterfront.
  • Create an attractive, visual image of Vancouver’s downtown that can be a model for future improvements.

The City investigated funding sources for the MSSIP for the next 25 years without success, employing funding strategies in 2003, 2006, 2014, 2019. At each attempt, due to the substantial cost, the project was not funded. Although significant design and planning work for Lower Main Street Improvements has been accomplished, the resources necessary to construct the project were substantial and the work was not funded until 2021, when funding was identified as one of the City’s future American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) projects.

The Main Street Promise, as it is known today, began in 1993 when the Main Street Improvement Project was envisioned. Then, in 2003 the first conceptual design and cost estimate was completed and in 2009 the project got to 95 percent design. A second and third design update were developed in 2014 and 2019 respectively.

In 2021, the City secured funding from a combination of federal and local funds and, in June 2022, MacKay Sposito, Point North Consulting and First Forty Feet were selected to lead the streetscape design and public involvement efforts. 

The City of Vancouver selected MacKay Sposito and their consultant team for the Main Street Streetscape Project, from 5th Street to 15th Street. This local and community-invested project team includes:

  • MacKay Sposito - Project Management / Landscape Architecture / Civil Engineering / Environmental Permitting / Public Outreach Support / Private Utility Coordination
  • Point North Consulting - Public Outreach Lead
  • First Forty Feet - Urban Design / Placemaking
  • DKS Associates - Traffic Engineering / Signal Design / Street Lighting Design
  • NV5 - Geotechnical Engineering / Hazardous Materials
  • LUMA - Decorative Lighting
  • AINW - Cultural Resources
  • Kramer Gehlen - Structural Engineering
  • Vancouver's Downtown Association - Public Outreach & Business Retention Support

The plan will also include a wide range of design improvements aimed at increasing safety and accessibility:

  • New ADA accessible curbs and wider sidewalks
  • Enhanced pedestrian crossings at intersections
  • Pavement resurfacing on Main Street
  • Pavement resurfacing on Evergreen Boulevard, 12th Street and 13th Street
  • Replacement of water and sanitary sewer mains
  • Modifications to the existing stormwater system
  • New street furnishings, decorative lighting and electrical receptacles
  • New landscaping and irrigation system, including street trees
  • New street lighting and traffic signal modifications

A variety of sources will be used to fund the Main Street project, including:

  • The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
  • City Transportation Fund
  • Multi-family Tax Exemption Public Benefit Fund
  • Utility Funding
  • City of Vancouver General Fund

Several goals and principles are also guiding the project team's work. These include:

  • Honor and celebrate the history of downtown Vancouver
  • Build upon existing, and establish new, positive relationships and partnerships with local businesses and community members
  • Create a stronger sense of community identity and provide a welcoming place to attract Vancouver residents and other visitors
  • Create a conducive environment for renewed investment by businesses and property owners
  • Establish continued connection between the Esther Short Neighborhood, the Vancouver Waterfront and Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
  • Create an attractive, coordinated and quality visual image of our downtown that can be a model for future improvements

There are many opportunities to learn about the project, speak with project staff, and provide input. Join upcoming Stakeholder Forums and recurring drop-in Coffee Corner events at various locations throughout the project area.

Downtown Stakeholder Forum – Attend in person or virtually on the 3rd Tuesday every other month at 1pm to stay up to date on key progress updates. Learn more and sign up to receive meeting notifications here.

  • September 2022 – Ongoing throughout the lifetime of the project

Coffee Corner events – During construction, the project team in partnership with the Vancouver Downtown Association will host recurring drop-in communication-sharing events at various locations within project area. These public events are open to Main Street business/property owners, residents and workers. Help us support local: buy a beverage, join and meet the contractor and project team.

  • December 13, 2024, from 12:00-1:00 pm at Softea located at 808 Main Street
  • Early January 2025 - TBD
  • Late January 2025 - TBD
  • Early February 2025 - TBD
  • Late February 2025 - TBD

Block Captains – Designed to support business and property owners along the project area, prior to the start of construction, a project captain will be designated for each block from 5th-15th Street. Block Captains will be regularly briefed on the latest project construction updates and will serve as a resource for members of their designated block, collecting and sharing feedback, questions or comments back to the project team.

  • Winter 2024 – Fall 2026

Open Houses – A mix of in-person and virtual open house events will be offered throughout the project’s design phase, where the public can hear directly from project staff and share their feedback on design options, considerations and tradeoffs.

  • Open House 1 - November 30, 2022 from 4:30-6:30pm at the Downtown Vancouver Library - Preliminary design considerations and tradeoffs
  • VDA Office drop in on First Friday - December 2, 2022 from 5:00-7:00 pm at 811 Main Street
  • Open House 2 - June 8, 2023 from 4:00-6:00pm at the Downtown Vancouver Library - 60% Design
  • Open House 3 - November 29, 2023 from 4:00-6:00pm at the Downtown Vancouver Library - 90% Design

Project Advisory Group – To ensure the design process is informed by the needs of the community, a Project Advisory Group (PAG) made up of a representative range of Main Street key stakeholders—including businesses, property owners, and residents—as well as the general Vancouver community and visitors kicked off in November 2022. The open application process for PAG members occurred 11.22.2022 until 12.9.2022.

The PAG will meet three to five times over the course of the project’s design phase (January until Winter, 2023) to provide critical feedback and input that will be leveraged to shape and narrow the design options. Visit the Project Advisory Group page to learn more.

Contact the project team – Send questions or comments directly to the project team via email to MainStreetPromise@cityofvancouver.us or call (360) 487-8770.

Sign Up for Email Updates

Sign up to receive email updates about the project, including upcoming meetings and events, directly to your inbox.

Community Outreach - Community outreach has occurred since September 2022. Visit the complete list of outreach opportunities to learn more.

We invite you to learn more with these FAQs. You can also view past input, safety and design ideas or join us in person at one of the events listed above.

Current efforts build on nearly 30 years of past planning and community engagement.

The Main Street Promise, as it is known today, began in 1993 when the Main Street Improvement Project was envisioned. Then, in 2003 the first conceptual design and cost estimate was completed and in 2009 the project got to 95 percent design. A second and third design update were developed in 2014 and 2019 respectively. In 2021, the City secured funding from a combination of federal and local funds and, in June 2022, MacKay Sposito, PointNorth Consulting and First Forty Feet were selected to lead the streetscape design and public involvement efforts.

1993: The downtown Main Street Streetscape improvement project was first developed by the City of Vancouver with two project parts: North Main and Lower Main.

May 1995: The "Downtown 2000 Committee" of the VDA recommends an implementation plan, actions and improvements for Main Street, between 5th Street and McLoughlin Boulevard. However, no funding was identified at that time.

May 2003: Engineering firm hired for Main Street Project updates and considerations. A Conceptual Design and Cost Estimate Report was prepared by Harper Houf Righellis and the City of Vancouver. This report took into consideration "the public concern over the past 10-15 years of the safety and character of Main Street ... and its impact on the downtown retail businesses."

Spring 2006: Initial Main Street Streetscape project meeting led by a 10-member Main Street Steering Committee comprised of business owners, property owners, architects, historic preservation advocates and local community members. Most are still active in the downtown community.

6/30/2006: Main Street Project initial Concept Design and Recommendations Report prepared by Harper Houf Peterson Righellis, Inc. Report findings and ideas were shared and presented to the public in a series of meetings, including two community Open House events, two property owner meetings and two business owner meetings. In addition, surveys, comment forms and various newsletters were distributed to businesses, property owners and the public at large. These public involvement forums provided opportunities for the community to review the design recommendations and be part of the planning process.

2009: Main Street Project initial Concept Design and Recommendations with 95% design completed

2014: Main Street Project initial Concept Design and Recommendations - obtained a Design update and report

2016: Main Street Project initial Concept Design and Recommendations - obtained another Design update and report

2021: The City of Vancouver secures funding from a combination of federal and local funds

June 2022: MacKay Sposito, PointNorth Consulting and First Forty Feet selected to lead the streetscape design and public involvement efforts

  • Community Survey

    We invite you to share your questions, comments and ideas by taking the survey below. You'll also have the chance to help guide upcoming communications, by letting us know how you would like to receive project updates.

    Initial engagement on this project has concluded. Please visit https://www.cityofvancouver.us/mainstreet or  beheardvancouver.org/mainstreetpromise for more information/
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