PORT TOWNSEND — The city of Port Townsend’s three-year strategy for economic investment has led to the Upper Sims and downtown streetscape projects now under way.
Saying the strategy was triggered after Washington State Ferries pulled the aged Steel Electric ferries from the Port Townsend-Keystone route for safety reasons, City Manager David Timmons said it gave the city an edge over other cities.
“The silver lining was that it got us ahead of the curve with marketing,” he said.
While some motorists may be swearing at work slowing traffic on Upper Sims Way, Mayor Michelle Sandoval told more than 50 attending Monday’s Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce luncheon that “in the end it’s going to look great.”
The city is now working toward grant funding to help finance Howard Street improvements that would lead north off the Upper Sims improvements to the city’s business park.
Grant dollars were also sought for improvements to Washington Street downtown.
Small business
Joining Sandoval was Timmons, who said while the private sector was responsible for developing small business in the area, the city’s responsibility was to construct the infrastructure to support such development.
Timmons said the city’s three-year strategy was City Council-initiated to make capital investments at three main economic anchors: maritime heritage, Upper Sims and Howard Street commercial corridor and at Fort Worden State Park.
The city’s corresponding three-year capital projects include improving the city and chamber’s visitor center at Haines Place Park and Ride and relocating the police station.
Also part of the plan is developing pedestrian access along Discovery Road from Sheridan Street to Hastings Street, and developing pedestrian access along San Juan Avenue from Blue Heron Middle School to 49th Street and on to Jackman Street.
Other opportunities being developed as a result of the city forming a public development authority include acquiring improving and preserving the historic Customs House, which houses the Port Townsend Post Office.
The building, as proposed, would be made more accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Sidewalk fixes
Inadequately reinforced Water and Taylor Street sidewalk improvements would also be improved.
“We are not forming relationships through the [public development authority],” Timmons said.
Pike Place Market in Seattle, for example, is the result of such an authority, Timmons and Sandoval said.
“Our focus for our [public development authority] is historic preservation and housing,” Timmons said.
Sandoval said she hoped the authority would eventually help the city form a partnership with a private developer who could build affordable housing, which Port Townsend needs.
Part of Fort Worden State Park, which is becoming a lifelong learning center, and city partnership would be to train and educate youths about such crafts as woodworking.
Early start
The early jump on a strategy, Timmons said, has left the city in better economic shape than other cities statewide.
The city hired former Chamber of Commerce president Christina Pivarnik as marketing director.
Since then several promotions have been employed to get the city’s business community through the ferries crisis, which should be eased in August when the first of two 64-car ferries is launched.
Another hurdle that marketing overtook came during the May-June closure of Hood Canal Bridge to replace its east half.
“Overall, our financial picture looks fine,” Timmons said.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
