PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles Waterfront District is working on a lot of initiatives.
The history of the district, its initiatives and more were provided during a speech from Executive Director Sam Grello to the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce during its monthly luncheon Wednesday at the Red Lion Hotel.
The primary project Grello is working on is receiving a Main Street designation.
“This is really important and a big deal for our community,” Grello said. “We anticipate being a Main Street city by January.”
National program
Main Street is a national program, he said, and the designation would open the waterfront district up to more grant funding.
Another initiative the district is working on is improving Port Angeles’ welcoming vista.
The district has a 10-year management plan with the city, Grello said, and is working on bluff stabilization and view restoration. The next work party is from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday with the group meeting behind the Red Lion Hotel.
“We’re spending a lot of money on this because we think it’s important,” Grello said.
The Waterfront District receives funding from several sources, Grello said. They include a contract with the city for the Parking and Business Improvement Area, city and Clallam County lodging tax grants, state commerce grants, event revenue and sponsorships.
The boundaries of the district extend north to the water, south to Second Street, east to Peabody Street and west to Tumwater Street.
Within the district are 277 housing units and 176 total buildings, including 150 buildings that are 50 or older, Grello said. The street-level vacancy within the district is 7 percent — a figure based off of units, not square footage — while the upper floor vacancy is about 49 percent. Both figures are lower than the national average, Grello said.
The district is comprised of many different types of businesses. There are 51 retail shops, 45 restaurants, 64 services, 29 professional offices, 39 government or nonprofits, 22 industrial and two religious.
“There are very few chains in the Waterfront District, and that is unique and special in the U.S.,” Grello said. “We are starting to see more third places — places where you can hang out.”
The district’s startup philosophy is to maximize its impact with a limited budget, Grello said.
“Our action plan is kind of our bible. It has a lot of items in it,” he said. “This is not how we will operate forever. We are trying to find the things that really hit.”
Looking to the future, the district has an upcoming initiative it’s working and that is to pursue a creative district designation. Having a creative district indicates vibrancy and that there’s a lot going on, Grello said.
“There are 600-plus performances a year in the Waterfront District,” he said. “If you come to the district on any given night, you’ll come across something.”
There are seven art galleries within the district and 10 arts-oriented nonprofit organizations throughout town, Grello said.
Another aspect the district is working on is the Greater Port Angeles Conference Committee, which was created by the Red Lion and Field Arts & Events Hall.
“We want conferences in Port Angeles. We’ve wanted them for years,” Grello said. “This is what we’re trying right now.”
The committee will work on selling Port Angeles as a destination for conferences, he said.
For the fall and winter, the Waterfront District has several events planned. There will be the Fall Crawl, downtown trick-or-treating, a Howl-o-Ween Pet Parade, the tree lighting and Santa Saturdays.
The Waterfront District also has monthly meetings. This month’s meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 29 at Wander Fuca, 102 E. First St.
For more information about the district, email Grello at director@pawaterfront.org or go to www.portangeleswaterfront.com.
________
Reporter Emily Hanson can be reached by email at emily.hanson@peninsuladailynews.com.
