The Columbian: Give me a break!

These two stories ran today from The Columbian. Will somebody please tell me WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON?*


Vancouver envisions new City Hall
Thursday, October 9 | 2:08 p.m.
By ERIK ROBINSON

The sudden availability of a six-story downtown office building is prompting Vancouver city officials to reconsider a plan to build a new City Hall.

Columbian Publisher Scott Campbell announced Wednesday that the newspaper will move its business and newsroom operations back to its former facility at 701 Eighth Street after just 10 months in the new building.

The newspaper building at 415 W. Sixth St. could be an ideal resolution to the city’s decade-long effort to consolidate city operations under one roof, said Eric Holmes, the city’s economic development director. He said the building is the right size, in the right place and the price is in line with the $35 million to $40 million the city expects to spend redeveloping the Esther Short Building into a new City Hall.

“We’re actually very close to issuing a request for proposals for development teams to look at that site,” Holmes said. “But with this new information about The Columbian building being listed, the responsible thing for us to do would be to look at it.”

The newspaper moved into its $30 million building in January, but a severe downturn in advertising revenue and high building costs are forcing the company to move back to Eighth Street. Read full story...

City may want to buy Columbian building
Thursday, October 9 | 11:39 a.m.
By JEFFREY MIZE

A potential buyer emerged on the same day The Columbian announced plans to vacate its downtown office building.

The city of Vancouver intends to see if the building could fit into its long-range plans to consolidate operations in downtown.

“This is something we’re serious about looking at,” City Manager Pat McDonnell said. “I just don’t know if we can afford it.” Read full story

Related stories:
Columbian Newspaper considering bankruptcy

Columbian plans return to former offices

Columbian newspaper publisher announces plan to build $30M office in Vancouver (from Sept. 15th, 2005)

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