Smith Tower Apartments sits in downtown Vancouver, Washington, and people often call it "Vancouver's beer can," "The Capitol Records Tower of Vancouver," or "Mid-Columbia Manor" because of its unique round, 15-story design that's hard to miss, and standing there since 1966, the place is finally getting a full renovation inside and out after decades, so old finishes are being updated for comfort and safety these days. The building has 170 studio and one-bedroom apartments, and seniors 62 or older can move in, with one-bedrooms ranging from about 650 to 750 square feet and studios having about 380 square feet, and some apartments have private balconies, fully equipped kitchens, air conditioning, and different floor plans for folks' needs. Residents can bring their own furniture because nothing's furnished, and the apartments offer different layouts, some specially adapted for those who use wheelchairs or have other mobility difficulties, with features like accessible appliances, wider doorways, hard flooring, lever handles, and walk-in showers or grab bars in bathrooms, plus braille signage and visible detectors for those who need them.
The tower stands close to shopping, entertainment, a quarter mile from transit, and the higher floors come with wide views-city lights, the Columbia River, snow on the mountains, and forests. Residents can use the elevator, laundry rooms, off-street parking, a recreation room, a community room, and there are common areas for gathering and socializing, and bathrooms meant to be senior-friendly. There's a structured program that encourages making friends and staying social, and the staff, managed by Manor Management with Michelle Arevalos as administrator, helps with building security, maintenance, and needs that come up. The apartments include 62 market rent units without income limits, along with 108 HUD-subsidized apartments where rent is set at 30% of adjusted income. Smith Tower Apartments accepts reusable tenant screening reports and doesn't charge HUD applicants for background and credit checks.
The community aims to meet different needs, offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care for seniors, with services focused on supporting independence, safety, and comfort, but without any mention of skilled medical care. The programs offer social, educational, and entertainment choices, hoping to keep up a good quality of life for people who live there. The building and grounds have paths, offices, and places to sit that meet ADA and Fair Housing rules, and adjustments can be made to help those with disabilities. Smith Tower Apartments provides a simple, affordable retirement living option, letting seniors stay active and independent in a well-known building.
