A repository of all our hopes and dreams? Or just another
ill-conceived Port Angeles scam?
“I can’t comment on that today,” he said, adding that the latest construction might start is in August.
A deed
transferring ownership to Neeser had not
been filed as of Tuesday with the Clallam County Auditor’s Office.
McClaskey could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
McClaskey could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
McAleer and
Hallett expressed qualified support
for the use of the dock.
Final designs
of the phases are in flux, as decisions continue to be made on how
the buildings will be used by such tenants as Feiro.
Feiro officials are awaiting the finalization of the project but haven’t yet signed contracts, said Melissa Williams, Feiro executive director.
“I feel positive about the prospect,” she said.
Feiro officials are awaiting the finalization of the project but haven’t yet signed contracts, said Melissa Williams, Feiro executive director.
“I feel positive about the prospect,” she said.
Those plans are
under review, said Nathan West,
director of economic and community development for the city.
City officials plan to begin construction in July on a city West End Park adjacent to the proposed marine science center and the pier, said Nathan West, director of economic and community development for the city
The City Council is expected to award a construction bid Tuesday.
City officials plan to begin construction in July on a city West End Park adjacent to the proposed marine science center and the pier, said Nathan West, director of economic and community development for the city
The City Council is expected to award a construction bid Tuesday.
Given all the weasel words used here, and all the weasels
sitting in Port offices (except for Jeff Robb, who is sitting at home), and
given the dismal history of their enterprises, does anyone feel good about this
project? Given the City’s dismal record, and the glaring-but-unaddressed
conflict of interest that Dan Gase has, does anyone feel good about the City’s
role in this project? In other words, with this collaboration, do you believe
two wrongs are going to make it right?
Oak St. property = Boondoggle failure.
ReplyDeleteYou failed to comment on the city's ill-advised plan to enter into a long term lease of Convention Center space at the new center. The plans are for the city to prop up this deal or it will not fly. I asked Nathan for a copy of his study showing the city needs such space and he said no study was done. He or the city made a unilateral decision to participate.
ReplyDeleteChoosing "weasel words" to gripe about is pretty weak. There are few absolutes in the world today. As I start a trip to Seattle, I don't say I WILL be there at noon, I say I PLAN to be there by noon. I'm not weaseling, I'm recogizing that there are many factors that could disrupt my plans, and make me late. The same should be said for your examples of weaseling in this article.
ReplyDelete...After all, weasels are what made Port Angeles the great city it is today!
DeleteAnon 7:46 am, you seem to either forget that this project is proceeding based upon City/tax money.
DeleteIt is one thing for you to be a weasel, and to be as vague and obviously manipulative as you choose to be, but few will support a public entity to act in that manner.
There is a reason for a public consultation process. A reason for a planning department and an annual budget. Staff puts together a "Capital Improvement Plan" that spans years, public hearings are held, and a plan for future city developments is approved.
It is totally inappropriate to spend public funds on projects with such lack of definition and advanced planning.
If you look at Neeser Construction's website (and then dig a little deeper to verify), they appear to be a capable construction firm (emphasis on construction firm). They have successfully completed fairly large, complex projects for well heeled development clients.
ReplyDeleteLooking a bit closer, it's interesting to note that many of Neeser's clients have been tribal clients and those projects appear to be among Neeser's best. Note: I found no casino projects
.
What really stands out is that all their completed projects have had financially viable development clients and/or lease tenant mixes where leased space is part of the equation.
So far, this project proposal has no identifiable, financially viable client(s), probably because the stretch between cost of development and the financial viability of proposed lease space uses (and tenants) doesn't seem to come anywhere close to penciling out. Not even for a "break even" venture let alone a "for profit" that expects a return on investment.
If and when that equation changes, the property sale will go forward, and that'll be the first tell about what to expect as an actual outcome on what is arguably one of the best, and last remaining development sites on PA's inner waterfront.
Neeser seems a well qualified construction firm that can build a project like what's been proposed (so far), but for them to be considered as the developer, doing it out of generosity? seems a stretch.
So who/where is the financially viable developer and/or lease space tenants?
Hey Timmy, you got property nearby? Or, does your wife's family have property nearby. Why don't you clean up your trashy storefronts downtown and then take on these outside projects.
DeleteThis seems like a really solid investment. The property is right at sea level, built on fill and we're expecting at least a few feet of sea level rise in the future.
ReplyDeleteHot and cold running water - and then some!
DeleteDo you think it's even conceivable for the City to plan for and demand planning which takes into account sea level changes?
DeleteI hope so, for fuck's sake.
City staff won't push the issue because some don't believe in it, and the rest know it's a "risky" topic to broach. The council won't go there because some of them don't believe it, and all they hear is that it might "cost money" to deal with.
DeleteTo complete the circle of dumbness and denial, council can point to staff and say "they're not telling us we need to do more," while staff can point to the council and say the same thing.
Case closed.
I don't understand why the remaining businesses in Port Angeles aren't mobbing the City Council about this. Why are they not furious that the local "leaders" are their own tax money to build new retail spaces that will be in direct competition with those already trying to rent their ALREADY EMPTY retail space downtown??
ReplyDeleteThere already are NO people walking around downtown during the day. How many people are drawn to down town by the existing marine uses, given the sidewalks are empty?
Welcome to Crazy Town.
SO much of what happens in this town goes on behind closed doors. What does come out somewhat in the open is often incredibly vague like this. Then our elected officials wonder why we don't necessarily trust them. Open your doors, people! Tell us what your intentions really are, in clear, simple terms. And no more of this piecemeal BS, like clearcutting Lincoln Park a few trees at a time.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great idea, I would lease space if it was priced fairly and available. What are you all afraid of? Take the risk, be aggressive, at the very least it will look better than that ugly fucking log yard on our waterfront
ReplyDeleteBut - it won't replace the log yard; it's big shiny windows will look right out upon it. And the noise of industrial operations across the creek will blend ever so well with the dulcet tones of the speakers at the conference center.
DeleteThe Oak Street site should become a park-like open space to buffer the downtown area from heavy industry.
If you're so gung-ho about renting space downtown, what is stopping you from renting any one of all the vacant places available now?
DeleteIf you really were any kind of real capitalist, you would know to do your market research on the area before investing funds. Your research would show a huge surplus of available retail space, a city with a huge debt load, looking for ways to tax anything it can to raise more funds, a city that doesn't seem to understand that taxing residents and businesses to "the limits" (THEIR own words) is regressive, and a downtown that is economically dead.
No sane business owner would locate to such a situation.
Well said - what do we have to lose? Not much. I am increasing coming to the conclusion that very few people in our community come downtown to shop. However, people do come downtown for food and entertainment and that probably is/will be the economic driver moving forward. Having good restaurants and bars, in addition to entertainment and arts located downtown is critical to our community. But do you think the clowns at the Downtown Association or Chamber would ever consider such an idea? Spokane is one example of people returning to a once vacant downtown because of the arts and entertainment resurgence. Think about it . . .
DeleteAnd Spokane has a population of what? Anything close to Port Angeles?
DeleteComparing Port Angeles to Spokane is...really crazy, and not a good idea. As the previous poster pointed out, Spokane is a MUCH bigger place, and when you make such a ridiculous comparison, you either sound like you're crazy or...crazy.
DeleteIt's not an apples to apples comparison. It's more like a watermelon to a single green cherry comparison. A green cherry with a big pit.
This still boils down to NO VISION. We have no vision and keep grasping at straws.
DeleteA marine center? Really? Give me a break. The city can't even see that saving the Lincoln would be a good thing. They can somehow maneuver shady deals, which help NO ONE, but a small few, but they can't see that revitalizing the city begins with a PLAN.
The city of Tacoma purchased a theater to help revitalize the downtown (http://www.broadwaycenter.org/about/history.asp).
Centralia purchased and renovated the Fox Theater as part of their 2004 redevelopment plan. http://www.centraliafoxtheatre.com/
Chula Vista, CA purchased the Vogue theater, as a key investment in revitalizing the downtown.
Traverse City, Mi bought the City Opera House. There is the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor, MI......there are hundreds of examples of a theater being the center of redevelopment efforts.
Supposedly our "main street program" would push for this (as it has in many places across the country) but, our PADA leaders don't seem to read the ample literature.
Meanwhile our "economic development" seems to be into sly deals and grant chasing. A waterfront promenade. Really? A transit center. Really? Now a Marine center. Really?
WE have ineptitude and a lack of vision. Welcome to the motto of Port Angeles. Authentic Northwest, indeed.
Is our city actually insolvent? Is the grant chasing, and sly deals just ways to add more money to the coffers to make it seem "as if" it's not bankrupt? Why is it rumored that there are two sets of "books" and the one publicly displayed is total and utter, b.s.? How come no financials for public view ever show income? How corrupt is this area?
DeleteThe city council has raised tax rates as high as the law allows. If taxes go any higher locally it will be with the consent of the citizens in a vote. The only other income stream the city has available to them is the utilities they also provide. Now you see why water, sewer, garbage rates are raised again and again--this is the last resort of an insolvent city. The CSO project is stalled at the half-way point-out of money and out of dupes from whom to borrow more money. We are in one big financial hole and it is deeper than they let on.
DeleteSo, the answer is YES, the city should just give up, go belly up and let the state sort us out?
DeleteI can't handle any more rate increases. The city is sucking my bare, raw nipple dry.
Let it face the music, and let heads roll. Let the thieves get their hands chopped off, and let their boobies get in the wringer. I'm tired of all this pomp and show, for a little rinky-dink town.
Detroit isn't the only town that has gone bankrupt. So has Stockton, CA; San Bernardino, CA; Vallejo, CA Central Falls, R.I -- and, it's not like the cities just dissolved.
Or, is it because we'd see people in handcuffs if all the riff-raff, sweet-heart deals, and corruption were exposed to the light of a bankruptcy judge?
It's classic when the PDN prints these "something may or may not be happening" stories, full of ifs and thens and maybes. But gosh, their reporters never seem to ask too many questions, or dig too deep into anything that might help clarify matters.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, the "news" out of KONP is even more detail deficient, while Tom Harper's blog is more pathetic than ever. I'm grateful that there are people out there (CK, Dale Wilson) who are, for whatever reason, at least trying to get some news out, and ask some important questions. We all need to speak up. Like the old saying, silence equals death.
Is this town dead enough for you yet?
Did I hear that Tom Harper had some sort of homophobic postings recently? As if Port Angeles isn't enough behind the times, we need fools like that to make us look even more backwards to the people who might come here...
DeleteTom Harper's blog...Does anyone even bother anymore? At least the PDN, as lame as they are, does sometimes convey some actual information. Tom just parrots that back a day or two later then lets the trollfest begin. And it looks like even the trolls are few and far between.
DeleteJust another brilliant product out of Port Angeles.
Who cares what Tom Harper has. He still rants about Max Mania. Please. Ignore it. It is time you will never get back.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteIn my view, Tom Harper makes himself a public figure by putting his blog (or gossip column) out there for public consumption. He's thrown more than his share of dirt, and he is certainly open for being the subject of commentary here, even in unfortunate circumstances.
DeleteBased on the insane things Tom allows to be posted, and the insane, obsessive things he posts himself, I'd say he's not the most stable of personalities. I feel bad for Catherine.
DeleteI just came here, saw this, and checked the jail roster. Tom Harper isn't listed there now, so I assume he made bail this morning. Poor Catherine!
DeleteThere hasn't been anything posted on his blog all day - which admittedly, is par for the course, but it could also be because he's otherwise occupied.
DeleteAbusive men are scum. No wonder he gets along so well with Randazzo.
Still nothing on Harper's blog as of a minute ago. I wonder if he's left town or...?
DeleteReporters go out and gather the news and John Brewer writes it. Brewer's fingerprints are on every line of type that comes out of that building. If it is in the PDN Brewer passed muster on it.
DeleteAnd still nothing on Tom Harper's blog...Gone, Tom, gone?
DeleteWell, he hasn't left town. He's back blogging about smart meters like nothing even happened. Sad and creepy all at once.
DeleteI've heard he's done this before. Several people have told me that he has a history of this.
DeleteAnon 12:31 PM....I heard that, too. They say a man never hits a woman just once. If he hit his wife this time, it's unlikely it was the first time.
DeleteBig tough wifebeater. What a man.
Amongst the issues created by the City's crazy support of this "marine center" are : how viable is a "Marine Sciences Center" in Port Angeles, when NOAA already investigated doing much the same, flush with Big government money, and passed?
ReplyDeleteWhat is going to happen to the existing Fiero Marine Center, if they move to this new facility over on Oak St? Has anybody asked for a daily visit count at the existing facility, to see if they have enough patronage to warrant such City supported expansion?
Have any "retail demand" studies been done, to justify the City spending tax money to help build more retail space downtown?
How about the demand for conference center space? Any studies done to justify that support by the City?
Has spending tax money on projects by the City just become "Just because I want to..", and does not need any study to determine actual need?
Nathan West was asked if there was a study done to see if the city needed more retail space or more conference center space and he said "no."
DeleteDon't you just love these "artists' renditions" of projects, that oh-so conveniently exclude the less than beautiful real surroundings?
ReplyDeleteI recall going to a public meeting (elsewhere) about a proposed, and controversial, seven story hotel and parking garage. It was clearly stated that it was planned to be a seven story facility; the height was a big part of what made it controversial.
DeleteNeedless to say, their official artists rendering of the project depicted a five story building. "See? It's not so tall!"
I'm curious if they will use local union building trades to build the structure. I know our little Local Branch 252 Laborers Union sure could use the work. Or, will they ship in out of state labor.
ReplyDeleteSteve - don't hold your breath waiting for them to hire local. Everything here is consulted out, and constructed out. Our local governments are very good at exporting our money.
DeleteBut so long as Dan Gase makes his $$$ on the sale...
This is neither accurate nor fair. State Law requires all public entities (including schools) to take the lowest responsible bid for all but very minor work. The better question is why don't our local contractors submit the lowest bids?
DeleteNice Post..
ReplyDeleteConstruction projects