The La Center City Council on Wednesday, May 28, authorized Mayor Tom Strobehn to negotiate a land purchase agreement tied to the city’s long-range Downtown 2.0 development plan, marking a critical step in the effort to transform the western edge of town into a walkable, mixed-use hub.
The approved motion allows the mayor to negotiate and enter into a purchase and sale agreement for an unspecified parcel of land, with a not-to-exceed price of $4 million or the appraised value, whichever is lower. The purchase would be funded through real estate excise taxes (REET) and park impact fees, revenue sources already earmarked for capital projects under the city’s adopted plans.
The Downtown 2.0 vision, first introduced by Strobehn in late 2023, outlines a long-term transformation of the area west of La Center’s existing downtown into a vibrant, pedestrian-focused community center. Central to this plan is the construction of a public plaza overlooking the East Fork Lewis River, which is expected to break ground by late 2025 or early to mid-2026.
The plaza is just the first step in a phased development strategy. Over time, the city plans to introduce a network of pedestrian-only streets, open-air gathering spaces and mixed-use buildings designed to host retail on the ground level with apartments above. The emphasis is on keeping housing affordable and accessible to residents rather than bringing in high-end developments.
Parking will begin with surface lots, but future phases may include a multi-level parking structure to support increased foot traffic and residential density. The broader design moves away from vehicle-centered infrastructure and instead focuses on creating a lifestyle-oriented downtown that prioritizes walkability, community events and small business activity.
Earlier this year, La Center requested $4 million in state funding to support the Downtown 2.0 initiative but received only $400,000, likely due to broader budget constraints at the state level. The city is now relying on its own capital funding sources to move forward with land acquisition and early-phase development. Additional details about the pending land purchase are expected to be released in June.
In other action on Wednesday, the council unanimously approved an ordinance finalizing the vacation of a portion of right-of-way along La Center Road. The motion supports a future roundabout planned for the intersection of Northwest La Center Road and Northwest Paradise Park Road.
The roundabout, first approved on Dec. 18, 2024, is part of a collaborative project with the Cowlitz Tribe and aims to improve traffic flow and accommodate increased development activity near the Interstate 5 Exit 16 interchange. The intersection is currently controlled by stop signs.
As part of the agreement, developer Minit Management will dedicate approximately 350 square feet of right-of-way at the intersection’s northwest corner. In exchange, the city will vacate an equivalent right-of-way area on La Center Road. No compensation will be required from either party, as both are contributing equal value.
The city has committed $545,659.86 for the roundabout’s design phase, with half of that amount to be reimbursed by the Cowlitz Tribe.
