Projects add to Washougal’s housing stock

For the first time in more than a decade, apartments are going up in downtown Washougal. The new, multi-family developments include a 97-unit complex at 2340 Main St., site of the former Angelo soccer field; and a mixed-use project involving nine apartments and three retail/commercial spaces at 1911 Main St. Both developments will rent at market rates. "That means that the landlord is free to rent the space for whatever price they want, or what the market will allow," said Washougal Community Development Director Mitch Kneipp. He added that the apartment project applicants are not required to tell the city what the rental rates will be unless they are seeking certain bonuses for building affordable housing. There are about 500 multi-family units in Washougal. Developments of three units or more are considered to be multi-family. Jackson Contracting LLC, of Vancouver, is the general contractor for the Angelo apartments project. The development, owned by Robert Angelo, of Washougal, will consist of 12, three-story residential buildings and one single-story building that will include an exercise room and the manager's office and residence. There will be 241 parking stalls, including garages. "Rig-A-Hut" to include retail Crews from A Team Construction, LLC, of Ridgefield, are building the "Rig-A-Hut" project, at the northwest corner of 20th and Main streets. The 9,677-square-foot, two-story building will include three retail/commercial spaces and three one-bedroom lofts on the first floor and six, one-bedroom lofts on the second floor. Chad Holsinger, a general contractor with A Team Construction, said the project will include custom made 16-gauge aluminum siding and wood doors. "It's going to be the most modern looking building in Clark County," he said during a Feb. 2 site visit. Public art will be part of the east wall. Holsinger said the artist who will create a mural has not been chosen yet. The mixed-use project involves Kevin Cavenaugh, owner of Guerrilla Development Co., of Portland, and Wes Hickey, owner of Lone Wolf Development, LLC, of Washougal. Westin Glass, a project manager with Guerrilla Development Co., said the apartment rental rates will be set after construction is completed. "They will be market rate, no subsidies or discounts," he said. The three retail spaces facing Main Street on the ground floor will be between 638 and 671 square feet, while the residential and live/work lofts will range in area from 575 to 906 square feet. The project is expected to be completed by early July. Glass said there are no tenants signed on yet. Glass said the name, Rig-A-Hut, came from Cavenaugh's daughter. "The building is all about right angles -- on the outside with the siding, doors, and windows, and in the floor plans," Glass said. "When his daughter was young and first learning to read, she would pronounce the word 'right' as 'rig-a-hut.'"

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