The Walden opens in downtown Washougal

DaShon Stevenson smiled as he cast his gaze east over building rooftops, toward the Columbia River, and, in the distance, Mount Hood, while standing in the center of the rooftop deck on the sixth floor of The Walden, Washougal’s newest residential complex, on an overcast mid-December afternoon.

“(I love) the sky views,” said Stevenson, The Walden’s community manager. “Even if one doesn’t wake up to mountain views, they can walk up (here) with their morning cup of coffee, and (they’re right there). I wish I could experience at least one sunrise up here. The photos (that people will be able to take), they’ll be literally Hallmark-type.”

The complex, located at 1625 Main St., in downtown Washougal, features ground-level commercial space and 46 apartments with studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floorplans.

“I’m just ready to showcase Washougal and what Washougal has to offer,” said Stevenson, a community manager for CloudTen, the Reno, Nevada-based property management company that will operate The Walden. “This is a beautiful, phenomenal opportunity for one to (join) the Walden community, to be the first residents at The Walden. I’m so excited.”

Portland-based Walsh Construction built The Walden in 2024, and said the mixed-use development, which is located next to a space dedicated for a new Washougal library facility and across from the city of Washougal’s planned town center project, will “foster community connection.”

“The Walden project stands as a testament to honoring Washougal’s rich history while providing a unique and special space for people to connect,” Walsh Construction leaders stated in an April 2024 social media post previewing the new development.

Residents will begin moving into the building on Thursday, Jan. 9.

“I would say (we’ve had) at least two showings a week,” Stevenson said, adding that the building is garnering attention from older Washougal residents who are ready to downsize, desire great views and don’t want to leave their community.

“People are stoked about it,” Stevenson said. “The homeowners on the hills (have nice views), but their property tax is increasing, (and their children) have left the nest, so they don’t need a 6,500-square-foot home for just the two of them and their dog. They already are invested in Washougal because they’ve lived here for five, 10, 15, 20 years. They’re so excited (about) not having to drive into town.”

The Walden features several community amenities for its residents, including controlled access for mail and packages, a parking system that uses fobs and phone apps, a coworking lounge, on-site conferencing, electric vehicle charging stations, an art gallery, bicycle parking, a fire pit and a barbecue.

Its units include high-end appliances, natural light, separate heating and cooling systems, “smart” thermostats, balconies, floor-to-ceiling glass windows and private terraces.

“The Walden is where simplicity meets elegance,” Stevenson said. “(These) are not your average apartments. They’re built to be homes.”

According to the company’s website, apartments inside The Walden will lease for between $1,675 a month for a 565-square-foot studio apartment to $4,200 a month for a 1,570-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bathroom “summit suite.”

The Walden “provides the best of both worlds — vibrant local amenities and effortless access to the Pacific Northwest’s urban hub,” according to its website.

“You can immerse yourself in what Washougal has to offer,” Stevenson said. “We’re within walking distance of local shopping and attractions, but rural and far enough away from the hustle and bustle.”

Stevenson said the building owners are attempting to earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification, a environmentally conscious rating system that provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving “green” buildings that offer environmental benefits.