Cascade Mill Vision Storyboard

Cascade Mill District

Preliminary Masterplan

On the edge of downtown Yakima lies the remnants of the Boise Cascade Mill lumber mill. The site is bisected by the original railway and is nestled just on the other side of the I-82 highway from the confluence of the Naches and Yakima rivers. Uniquely positioned, the property is activated on all sides by all types of users and presents an opportunity to provide connection to the waterways and the Yakima Greenway trail system from the surrounding neighborhood and downtown. This masterplan seeks to re-imagine the mill site in a way that celebrates Yakima’s industrial, agricultural, and community heritage by cultivating a series of experiences that acknowledge the community’s connection to the river.

The Boise Cascade Mill was once a part of the rich history of Yakima - a newly envisioned district would offer a vibrant and significant contribution to the community’s future.

Yakima, Washington

Yakima

Centrally located in the heart of Washington, Yakima is an agriculturally rich city of a quarter million people. Founded in its current location based on the confluence of the Yakima and Naches River, the Northwest Pacific Railroad which linked Puget Sound to the Midwest was essential to the continued prosperity of the city. Excellent climate and soil enabled Yakima to become and, remain to this day, a leading agricultural producer in the country, particularly famous for apples and hops, and, more recently, vineyards.

A Legacy Rooted in Timber

In the beginning, Timber was the main first export for the City of Yakima. The Cascade Lumber Company chose this site specifically based on the proximity to the rivers, allowing them to float logs from the surrounding forests in multiple directions. The Cascade Lumber Company started operation in 1903, before merging with the Boise Payette Lumber Company in 1957 to become Boise Cascade. Early in its operation, three log ponds covered approximately 60% of the site and log floats were the primarily method of transporting logs until 1917, when the railroad spur was constructed on site.

Agricultural Heritage

Timber is no longer a main export from Yakima, as the valley’s rich agricultural soil was discovered to be much more fruitful. More than 30 varieties of fruit and vegetables are grown and packaged in the Yakima valley as well as 75% of all the hops produced in the entire United States. Agriculture forms the backbone of the community with every step of the process; from packaging and processing to purchasing.

Community Parks and Recreation

Over the last 125 years, Yakima has grown to be a vibrant community with a diverse mixture of people from many cultural and ethnic backgrounds. One thing that makes this community so special is it’s shared reverence for the vast and beautiful natural environment that surrounds it in every direction. The city is enriched with many parks, trails, and natural areas that provide recreation opportunities such as playgrounds, athletic fields, hiking, cycling, watercraft, and fishing.

Connectivity

The Cascade Mill District has the potential to become not only a community center, but showcase the agricultural industry that defines Yakima. With a mix of industrial manufacturing/ processing as well as community, commercial, and retail spaces; it offers opportunity for employment, education, and enjoyment. The masterplan seeks to not only provide a community hub and destination for the city, but also reflect and venerate the history of the site and the city.

Phasing

Planned for three separate phases of development, this masterplan focuses on Phase 1, a mixed use development combining industrial, retail, and commercial uses.

Contextual Fabric

The masterplan envisions creating an activated space for community members and visitors alike. It has nearby connections to the pedestrian-friendly boulevard of Naches Avenue as well as the Yakima Greenway trail paralleling the river. It serves as a link that actively connects the residential areas on the east and west sides of the river.

Masterplan

One of the driving principles for re-imagining the site is to create direct access to the river for the community. A strong diagonal boulevard serves as the main organizing element of the site, connecting the neighborhoods bordering the site to the river. Flanked on either side by retail and commercial spaces, this dedicated serves as a combined pedestrian, cyclist, and motorist access-way. Large industrial buildings hold the northern edge of the site.

Destination

The existing mill building serves as an anchor for creating an amenity for both residents and visitors to experience. Multiple design features around a rehabilitated building would provide opportunities for interaction and connection for community. These design elements are explored in a series of vignettes and include: an open-air market, plaza space, a water fountain feature, an orchard, a large pond, and sports fields.

Site Overview

The masterplan imagines a site of mixed industrial and retail use along with a strong public community component. It provides multiple pocket parks and a variety of experiences along a pedestrian-friendly connection between the residential neighborhood and the river.

Water

Water was an essential element to the history of the Cascade Lumber Mill, as well as the overarching industrial history and economy of Yakima. The remaining water rights would allow it to be utilized throughout the site in different ways to create a series of varying and layered experiences that link visitors to the river.

Along the main diagonal of the site, the walkway encourages movement, inviting pedestrians and motorists alike to move through the site, flanked on either side by the main retail and commercial spaces. Small pocket parks and plazas offer points for pause and interaction with water on smaller scale.

Pocket Parks

Small pocket parks along the diagonal river-walk provide opportunities for pause and reflection in smaller, more intimate surroundings than the large main plaza space.

Beer & Wine

The mixed use nature of the site offers ample opportunities for visitors to not only gain greater understanding of the industrial processes within the Yakima valley, but enjoy the local products.

Natural Landscape

As emphasized throughout the site, the importance of water cannot be overstated. As one nears the river access and greenway trail, recreational rental equipment retailers provide community benefit to encouraging and promoting greater use of the naturescape of Yakima.

1. Western Ways, Inc. photo studio, “Cascade Lumber Company, Yakima.” June 25, 1935. Photograph. https://wshs-collections.s3.uswest-2.amazonaws.com/1999.124.39.40.jpg, Washington State Historical Society. December 2, 2020.

2. Marion, W.C. “Yakima County (1921).” 1921. Map. https://content.libraries.wsu.edu/digital/collection/maps/id/1326/. Washington State University Digital Collections. December 2, 2020.

3. Still of Hotel Maison, Yakima. N.d. Photograph. https://wineyakimavalley.org/10-best-places-to-stay-in-the-yakima-valley-for-everytype-of-traveler/. Web. Yakima Valley Wine. December 2, 2020.

4. Bird’s Eye View of Yakima. N.d. Photograph. https://www.weather-us.com/en/washington-usa/yakima-climate. Web. Weather Atlas. December 2, 2020.

5. Yakima City Map. N.d. Map. https://gis.yakimawa.gov/citymap/. City of Yakima Bureau of Land Management. December 2, 2020.

6. Still of man on horseback floating logs. N.d. Photograph. https://archives.yvl.org/handle/20.500.11867/9279. Yakima Valley Museum, Web. December 2, 2020.

7. Martin, George, “Cascade Mill,” 1904. Photograph. https://archives.yvl.org/handle/20.500.11867/9292. Yakima Valley Museum, Web. December 2, 2020.

8. Lantermen, Frank P. “Naches River,” 1885. Photograph. https://archives.yvl.org/handle/20.500.11867/10961. Yakima Valley Museum. Web. December 2, 2020.

9. Still of two men cross-cutting tree. 1908. Photograph. https://archives.yvl.org/handle/20.500.11867/9267. Yakima Valley Museum. Web. December 2, 2020.

10. Still of vineyard. N.d. Photograph. https://wineyakimavalley.org/climate/. Wine Yakima Valley. Web. December 2, 2020.

11. Cowiche Grower’s Inc, “Apple Kids: Washington Apples.” 1930s. Photograph. https://wshs-collections.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws. com/1996.58.7.jpg. Web. Washington State Historical Society. December 2, 2020.

12. Still of apple orchard, Yakima. N.d. Photograph. https://www.yakimaimplement.com/used. Yakima Implement and Irrigation Co. Web. December 2, 2020.

13. “Albert C. Price Harvesting Apples, Othello, WA,” September 22, 1960. Photograph. https://wshs-collections.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/2005.24.35.jpg. Washington State Historical Society. Web. December 2, 2020.

14. Still of hop field in Yakima. N.d. Photograph. https://hollingberyandson.com/about. Web. Hollingberry and Son Inc Hops. December 2, 2020.

15. Ring, Tom. Still of Mount Adams at sunset. N.d. Photograph. https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/today-in-native-history-forest-land-returned-to-yakama-nation-csSvFcPfrUacUyQ2dMav4Q. Indian County Today. Web. December 2, 2020.

16. Ray, Amanda. Children kayaking at Sarg Hubbard Park, Yakima. September 2, 2019. Photograph. https://www.yakimaherald.com/ news/local/it-happened-here-yakima-greenway-reclaims-riverfront-property/article_124983d6-5f24-59ba-988f-631e4ddace52.html. Yakima County Herald. Web. December 2, 2020.

17. Still of rainbow trout in net. N.d. Photograph. https://emeraldwateranglers.com/seattle/yakima-river-washington/. Emerald Water Anglers. December 2, 2020.

18. Trinca, Mason. Still of children playing at Miller Park, Yakima. March 24, 2017. Photograph. https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/ local/yakima-city-council-will-discuss-miller-park-improvements-at-tuesday-meeting/article_327760b8-1125-11e7-8280-235de158bc22. html. Yakima Herald. Web. December 2, 2020.

19. Still of Yakima River. N.d. Photograph. https://www.americanrivers.org/river/yakima-river/. American Rivers. December 2, 2020.

20. Prechtel, Brian. Aerial view of apple and pear orchards near Yakima, Washington. Photograph. https://www.ars.usda.gov/oc/images/ photos/k5900-7/. USDA Agricultural Research Service. Web. December 2, 2020.

21. Ferenbecher, Jill. “Concrete and rail.” June 9, 2009. Photograph. https://inhabitat.com/new-yorks-high-line-park-in-the-sky-openstoday/img_4662/. Inhabitat. Web. December 2, 2020.

22. Scott, Kevin. “Washington Fruit & Co Headquarters in Yakima, WA.” October 3, 2018. Photograph. https://www.yakimaherald.com/ news/local/central-washington-architects-honored-for-projects/article_24fc24e8-c725-11e8-85e4-77159d731dcf.html. Yakima Herald. Web. December 2, 2020.

23. Whitehall, Jack R. “Cascade Mill.” 1914. Photograph. https://archives.yvl.org/handle/20.500.11867/9282. Yakima Valley Museum. Web. December 2, 2020.

24. Nasa. Still of tree end. N.d. Photograph. https://www.upr.org/post/revealing-historic-winter-climate-using-tree-rings. Utah Public Radio Web. December 2, 2020.

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