f you’ve been driving around East Vancouver lately you’ve probably noticed that the former Evergreen Airport has been collecting dust and the occasional vagrant. While it’s nice to have such an easy location to score heroin, it’s time that the valuable land got developed. Enter ELD Development LLC. The Portland-based company are planning to demolish the rusty buildings and replace them with a 59-acre “lifestyle” development of stores, offices, a hotel, and some residential space. This project should be constructed on the north side of Mill Plain Boulevard, between 136th Avenue and Hearthwood Boulevard.

The construction is expected to cost in excess of $215 million dollars and will be headed up by Thomas Kemper, Ronald Skov, and former Opus Northwest manager Bruce Wood. The initial plans were for a complex called The Landing at Evergreen, which was proposed by the Seattle company Opus. But they dropped out in July after losing their primary retailer Whole Foods and residential developer Matrix Development elected to not be involved as a result of slumping home sales in the area. Fortunately, ELD Development have stepped in to pick up the pieces and prevent the dilapidated airport from being a continual eyesore for Vancouver residents.

ELD purchased the site in December for a flat $14.5 million and are planning to break ground this summer. Successful retailer Thomas Kemper is leading the development pack and should be the first to begin construction. Kemper partnered with the Vancouver Housing Authority to develop Esther Short Commons (a 4-story downtown complex with 160 apartments), so he’s big shit when it comes to these matters. Kemper should be dropping somewhere in the neighborhood of $130 million to develop the retail sector of the new area, so the other partners better not drop the ball.

While nothing is set in stone regarding the commercial properties thus far, ELD are discussing a “power lifestyle center” that would feature classy upscale boutiques like Chico's, Mario's and Crate & Barrel. The rest of the property will be set aside for hotels and offices, but they will be the last projects to be constructed. So in one foul swoop a run-down airport that’s major contribution to the city was providing a quiet location for teenagers to drink and smash things, will soon become one of the most blue blooded complexes in the area. My, my, my, how things change...—P.B.