A long-time vision continues to become more of a complete reality in Ridgefield as more business applications are filed for the Ridgefield Junction subarea.
The subarea plan is taking shape in 2024 after Costco opened its doors in Ridgefield, and In-N-Out Burger broke ground on its site in the Union Station Town Center. Also coming to the Union Station Town Center, anchored by Costco, will be the addition of Chipotle and a second Starbucks in Ridgefield city limits. In the neighboring Ridgefield Gateway commercial development, Panda Express and McDonald’s are currently under review while a 12-pump gas station is under construction.
On the opposite side of the freeway from the Gateway and Union Station developments, Goodwill is in the pre-application stage for the upcoming Tri-Mountain Station on the opposite side of South 65th Avenue from the Tractor Supply Co.
The Ridgefield Junction subarea had been in the works for a long time before it was adopted by the city in 2015, Ridgefield City Manager Steve Stuart said.
“The vision for the junction subarea predates 2015 by about 20 years, and it was when the first plans under growth management were being considered by the city of Ridgefield, ” Stuart said. “There were longtime residents of Ridgefield who realized that the future of Ridgefield, because of where it is and what was going on around them, that the future really required a vision for the junction that diversified jobs and services and revenue beyond what it used to be 50 years ago.”
Stuart noted it was a bunch of Ridgefield farmers who had lived there for generations who began saying, “‘We need something better for our kids and our kids’ kids than what we see now,’” he said.
“So they really set the vision in motion,” Stuart said.
As part of Ridgefield’s vision to bring jobs and services to the community, Stuart said the No. 1 key was landing “unique quality” in the retail scene, which really began with the addition of Rosauers Supermarket constructed at the crossroads of Pioneer and Royle, he added.
At the junction, Stuart sees the development under construction further expanding on the quality for area residents.
“Now, this is where we are seeing an implementation of the plan that number one, creates those opportunities for jobs and services that have been planned for, and number two, is actively being pursued to create quality in everything that comes,” he said. “So, regardless of the name of the retailer or business, that whoever it is, is going to be building the highest-quality version of themselves.”
Stuart said the vision for the junction was really to create a regional economic hub and noted that large-scale businesses like Costco don’t just serve the residents of Ridgefield but a greater region from Cowlitz County to northern Clark County.
When complete, the revenue created from the businesses will directly impact city limits. Stuart said the business growth provides revenue for public services like roads, police services and more.
“The money that’s being spent from all of those people who live outside of Ridgefield, their sales tax is going to help pay for our police services, our potholes,” Stuart said.
