SEQUIM — Port Angeles’ director of economic development is envious that two shopping center developers are looking at Sequim as the future hub of the North Olympic Peninsula’s regional shopping.
“I wish it was coming to Port Angeles,” said Tim Smith, Port Angeles economic development director.
Smith says he lives in Agnew, works in Port Angeles and shops in Sequim. He also owns property in Sequim.
Port Angeles’ hopes, Smith said, were based on The Home Depot’s apparent interest in the vacant Kmart building in eastern Port Angeles just off U.S. Highway 101.
But the giant home improvement retailer is mentioned as one of several “big box” stores that are likely to locate in one of two regional malls that competing developers are envisioning near U.S. 101 south and east of downtown Sequim.
Tacoma-based developer Christopher Kang’s Commercial Development LLC filed plans Thursday to construct a regional retail center on 64 acres along Washington Street near its terminus with U.S. 101.
Plans show that the 12-building center would have more shopping space than the main building at the Kitsap Mall in Silverdale.
The development is known as Sequim Town Square.
Bell Homestead LLC, represented by partner Mark Burrowes of Sequim, is awaiting a City Council decision on a rezoning that would allow construction of a regional shopping center on 72 acres south of downtown near Sequim Avenue and U.S. 101.
No shopping center development plan has been submitted for the Bell Homestead LLC development, but Burrowes has said he wants to build a regional shopping center with at least three “big box” retailers.
The City Council is scheduled to discuss the Bell Homestead LLC rezoning application Monday night. A public hearing on the rezoning request took place two weeks ago.
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