Council adopts amended condemnation ordinance to acquire right of way for Grand Loop project

Vancouver City Council on Oct. 13 adopted an amended condemnation ordinance authorizing the city to acquire permanent right of way and temporary construction easements from an ABC Homes parcel near the former Tower Mall to construct Grand Loop street improvements.

Ryan LaPosa, transportation manager, said the city needs approximately 15,125 square feet of permanent right of way (identified as Areas 4, 5 and 13 in project drawings) and about 3,925 square feet of temporary construction easements to build sidewalks, landscape buffers and to relocate an existing fence as part of the roadway design. LaPosa said the property owner holds a parking easement over the former Tower Mall parcel that must be extinguished for the Grand Loop project to proceed as designed.

LaPosa said staff negotiated with the property owner for roughly a year but were unable to reach agreement; negotiations continue and the city intends to keep negotiating concurrent with legal action if needed. He explained temporary construction easements (TCEs) are for contractor staging and fence relocation and that the city compensates owners for TCEs and repairs any construction damage. If the ordinance is adopted the next procedural step is to file a petition in Superior Court to initiate eminent‑domain proceedings, though LaPosa said staff still hope to reach a settlement without litigation.

Council adopted the amended ordinance on a roll‑call vote with all members recorded as "Aye." Adoption authorizes the city attorney to prosecute eminent domain proceedings and stipulate mitigation of damages if a negotiated settlement cannot be reached.