PORT TOWNSEND — Downtown stores are open despite sidewalk construction.
That’s the message of an archway that was installed over the corner of Taylor and Water streets near Lehani’s Deli & Coffee Shop on Tuesday after work began Monday on the first phase of a four-month sidewalk and street improvement project between Water and Washington streets.
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 also will allow the city to replace infrastructure in that section of Port Townsend’s Downtown Historic District.
Construction hours will be from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
“People want this to be done, and the city is working very hard to make this happen,” said Port Townsend Main Street Executive Director Mari Mullen, who supervised the installation of the arbor arch to call attention to the fact that stores are still open.
“This will be beautiful when it’s done,” Mullen added.
The 10-foot-by-7-foot arch — built by Port Townsend High School students in the Mount Baker block building during the past two weeks — is movable and will be relocated to other construction spots during the project, Mullen said.
It is decorated with yarn and branches, and people will be encouraged to add to the piece, she said.
Construction — planned after engineers determined that some sidewalks could collapse into empty areas underneath them — is broken into four phases, Taylor Street between Water and Washington streets being the first.
The other three phases are across Taylor Street near the pier and two sections along Water Street.
City officials hope all the work will be done by June, in time for the tourist season.
So far, the construction hasn’t seemed to discourage foot traffic.
On Tuesday, Lehani’s restaurant at 221 Taylor St. was packed, with co-owner Bill LeMaster saying the community has been supportive.
“A lot of people have come in, but the novelty hasn’t worn off,” he said.
“They want to come down and see our economy grow.”
At 910 Water St., Clothes Horse employee Michelle Boulter is optimistic about the street upgrades and wore a pink hard hat to work Tuesday.
“We are digging up the past and paving our way to the future,” she said.
Downtown boosters are planning a series of activities intended to lessen the financial impact on local merchants.
Mullen said Main Street is establishing communications channels among the merchants, the public and the city.
This includes several website links on www.ptmainstreet.org along with a regular weekly merchant meeting from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. every Friday morning at the Main Street office, 211 Taylor St.
Main Street also is participating in two marketing programs, a “Light at the End of the Tunnel” shopper incentive program and a treasure hunt.
The campaign includes a Loyalty Stamp Card program, now in progress, where participants can gather 10 stamps by May 31 and be entered in a drawing to win a $500 “Taylor Made for You” prize.
A visitor to a participating store can get one complimentary stamp per visit without a purchase and one additional stamp with a purchase of $5 or more.
The “Taylor Made for You” prize will feature multiple gift certificates with a total value of $500 that spotlight Taylor Street businesses.
The random winner will be drawn at the “Hard Hat and Carhartts Wrap Up Party” on Taylor Street, which is scheduled for June 2.
Participants need to turn in completed loyalty stamp cards to any participating business by May 31.
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 — which took early precautions by temporarily reinforcing some of the sidewalk sections — 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.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
