PORT TOWNSEND — Mark Hering said he sees business challenges ahead at Quimper Sound on Taylor Street, one of the last surviving music stores in the state and now known for selling more used long-play records than new CDs.
Come Feb. 20, Strider Construction of Bellingham will begin to replace the sidewalk in front of Hering’s store at 230 Taylor St.
Construction hours will be from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
The work will be the first phase of a four-month sidewalk and street improvement project between Water and Washington streets.
“It’s a tough business to be in right now,” Hering said while standing on the old, uneven sidewalk in front his shop.
“I just wonder if I can pay my bills and survive it.”
Hering and more than 50 merchants crowded into the Silverwater Cafe on Taylor Street on Tuesday morning to hear officials with the city of Port Townsend and Port Townsend Main Street explain what to expect of the project and how a city-Main Street marketing partnership will help merchants get through the project at the heart of downtown.
The city of Port Townsend is funding the nearly $2 million sidewalk replacement project that also will fortify hazardous unreinforced lids of tunnels to shops below Taylor’s street level.
The project will allow the city to replace infrastructure in that section of Port Townsend’s Downtown Historic District.
City officials said aging sidewalks over the tunnels in some instances are deteriorating to the point where preventive restoration is necessary to avoid sidewalk collapse in the event of
an earthquake.
The city has taken early precautions by temporarily reinforcing some of the sidewalk sections that could collapse in a severe earthquake.
The city has received three Federal Emergency Management Agency grants to evaluate the structural condition of the tunnel areas and repair them.
Repair of these sidewalk tunnel areas presents an opportunity to refurbish the surface and street-level public spaces in a way that creates a pedestrian-friendly, welcoming and safe public environment that respects the historic nature and economic vitality of downtown Port Townsend, city officials said.
The Main Street program and city officials hope an ambitious marketing plan will help offset business losses to merchants during construction.
The marketing plan, called “Light at the End of the Tunnel,” includes such special offers as loyalty cards for local residents, coupon books and key dates to promote.
Mari Mullen, Main Street program executive director, said the joint marketing effort with the city is intended to reinforce connections with business neighbors and customers to help to sustain businesses during downtown construction.
The program includes an offer for low-interest micro-loans of between $500 and $4,000 to help merchants offset any possible losses incurred during street work.
Samantha Trone, a city engineer who is the project’s manager, said steel has been ordered for the sidewalk-tunnel upgrade, and a storm main would be replaced during the work.
“I know where people are most concerned is how their businesses will be affected,” Trone said, holding up drawings of the work areas.
She said merchants can expect temporary planking to be installed leading to business entrances while the sidewalks are repaired.
Noise levels may be an issue when workers cut steel and concrete between historic buildings and the sidewalks, she said.
“It’s going to be loud for those cuttings,” she warned.
Compacting the street base for new paving may also add to noise and vibrations that merchants hear and feel.
The city’s sign code will become more lax during construction, she said, with sandwich boards tolerated through a fast-tracked city sign permit.
The city and Main Street will produce signs showing that besides the construction, it’s business as usual, Trone said.
Hering urged the city to extend the normal two-hour parking on downtown streets to encourage visitors to linger in shops.
Kara Rogers, who is handling communications for the city, said a blog is being set up that automatically sends email updates about the project’s schedule to merchants who sign up for it.
The project informational blog can be found at www.sidewalktunnels.wordpress.com.
Information can also be found at Main Street’s site, www.ptmainstreet.org.
“We’re trying to keep everyone informed as much as possible,” Rogers told the merchants.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at jeff.chew@peninsula
dailynews.com.
