Alright then...It's the first weekend after the big holiday Memorial Day weekend, so let's do a little compare and contrast, shall we? Thanks so much to Tyler, who sent in the photos below. He took them downtown, last weekend, in the Center Of It All. There were millions of people on the move last weekend, and we all know the City of Port Angeles has spent millions (and counting) on their dynamic new waterfront esplanade and Nathan's Artificial Buzzsaw Beach. So does it look like those millions ever came together? From the "action" in these photos, they look like they might as well have been taken at midnight, not high noon.
Plenty of seating available. No waiting!
At least the street signs were out and about...
Weeds, yes; people, no.
Expended: A million dollars and no sense.
Ah ha! At last! (Or is it at least?) The Memorial Day crowds!
So...If that was last weekend, a holiday weekend, with the JFFA in full swing, what does it look like this weekend downtown? Does it look like the enlightened leadership in City Hall has found the secret to success? Does it seem like the new, improved PADA is firing on all cylinders? Or, to put it in terms that the morons in charge there might (might) be able to understand, do these look like pictures of The Best Town Ever?
(Thanks again to Tyler for fighting the crowds to get these pictures.)
You miss the point CK, all these improvements downtown improve the value of property belonging to Karen's friends. Stroll along these multi-million dollar improvements and see how many abut property owned by Friends of Karen. She's still pulling the strings around here. See how the city council genuflects recently when she and her Exeltech buddies came to city hall to bestow a bauble for "thinking outside the box" for this $50 million shit storage project.
ReplyDeleteYes, but...What good does it do them to have their individual properties improved, if said properties are still stuck in a town that is, essentially, a pile of cold dog shit that no one wants? I mean, I can buy your argument up to a certain point, but then it breaks down. If the point of having property is to increase its value (make money), then how do you do that when your property is in (dead) downtown Port Angeles? Maybe you'll have the best building around, granted, but its resale value is still dragged down, down, down by the fact that it's in Port Angeles. That's where I can't quite square your circle.
DeleteRemembering how many cars were on the road that weekend, one wonders what Port Angeles did to keep people AWAY so effectively!
ReplyDeleteThink of beaches anywhere in the world on a sunny weekend day. Packed. Waterfront areas of towns on a sunny holiday? Packed.
I was over in Poulsbo yesterday, down by their waterfront. The place was packed, and it was still a work day.
Anon 7:33 reminds us about the Port Angeles city council bestowing awards and commendations to people they see as worthy. It was only a few weeks ago the council members were telling the world what a great job the "new" PADA was doing, and how great a job Revitalize Port Angeles is doing.
Proof of the pudding? The results of all their great work? Cruise ship passengers that don't bother to get off the ship. An annual festival that is poorly attended. Empty streets and sidewalks during a major holiday weekend.
But hey! They got the owners of the empty storefronts to plaster their windows with kids artwork. That way, even though they are still empty, it isn't as obvious. Reality isn't what matters, just how you can twist it so it looks different.
I recently found myself at an event to celebrate community giving. I arrived late and was seated at the nearest available table. Imagine my surprise when I discovered next to me Grant "Pound Sand" Munro. As I was not there in a personal capacity but representing my employer I could not truly express myself to Pound Sand. But I was truly revolted to find him there at this event, a public display of altruism. He could have only been there for the public relations purposes and completely tainted the entire event, staining every attendant with his malodorous slime. We were all lesser people from his presence.
ReplyDeleteFollowing up on a previous post, if anyone is interested in writing to that magazine that is doing that silly contest to let them know what Port Angeles is really like, here is the name of the editor, and his email address:
ReplyDeleteEditor: Scott Rosenfield srosenfield@outsidemag.com
I'm posting this because I really am concerned that they are unwittingly participating in fraud. It would be one thing ( and great) if Port Angeles was crowned "Best Town" by those from outside of Port Angeles, who visited and evaluated it objectively. Then the publicity would be useful for both the town, and visitors.
But the town is stacking the deck, stuffing the ballot box and completely, intentionally manipulating the outcome. This vote in no way represents anything it is representing itself as. The way Port Angeles is approaching this, the City of Industry could be crowned the "Best Town" by Outside Magazine!
So, do write Scott, and let him know how wonderful Port Angeles really is.
Downtown Port Angeles has always seemed like an afterthought to me. Let's say you're a tourist and you want to "see Port Angeles". Okay, you're coming west along 101, pass the movie theater. You're treated to a majestic view of the snowless mountains and tree-covered hills. So far so good, right? Go up the dip and see a Walmart, some car dealerships, some coffee stands, a Safeway. No big deal, kind of what you expect from a small-ish town. Hotels, strip malls, a McDonalds. Then, in the middle of this weird curve and suddenly divided highway, you see a sign welcoming you to Port Angeles. Um, thanks. Thought I was already in Port Angeles given the Walmart. But carrying on... there's a variety of shops and stores, a lot of empty buildings, what looks like some private residences. Then the road dips down, they see some buildings in front of what looks like an industrial district and... they're asking to turn left to continue with 101. Our tourists sees a grungy parking lot, a theater that's for sale, then some historic buildings, a park, another Safeway, the courthouse (is this the downtown?), some more grungy buildings before things get better... residences, a school, a Haggens... and now we're out of Port Angeles and back on the road again.
ReplyDeleteIf you're a tourist who doesn't know Port Angeles from a hill of beans, would you know where downtown was? Would you care? After all you're "seeing Port Angeles" just by sticking to 101. And how many tourists are coming here to "see Port Angeles" comparing to "see Hurricane Ridge" or "see the Rain Forests"?
I honestly believe that a (but not THE) huge impediment to downtown getting more foot traffic is the way this town is laid out. Most places the main road will cut through downtown, but not here. Here you have to consciously leave the main road to enter downtown. And it's not obvious what will happen when you do. Is there a loop around somewhere? Is there parking? Are there shops between the bus stop and the logyard? For those going to Hurricane Ridge, they've probably already turned off. For those going to the Rain Forests or Second Beach, they very well may not want to explore, just turn left and keep going to their destination. Even those who have to go downtown to catch the Coho can turn right on Lincoln and essentially skirt around downtown.
The way the city is laid out is really working against us here.
That is a good point. I haven't noticed any directional signs pointing to "Historic downtown district" like I have seen in a lot, and I mean a LOT, of other similar towns. That's kind of weird - it seems the least bit of effort that our warring economic and business development groups would have thought of?
DeleteGoing along with my comment, here's some constructive criticism of ways to make Port Angeles flow better without major, drastic changes.
ReplyDelete1. Consider making First and Front two-way streets again. First could be 101, Front could be "local traffic". It would be painful, especially to businesses over time, but those who want to stray into "Port Angeles" would have a clear way to do that.
2. If that doesn't happen then consider buying the old Hartnagles. Bulldoze it, put a parking lot with lots of inviting trees and landscaping where the building is. Further back put a new visitors center to catch tourists BEFORE they turn to Hurricane Ridge. Let it be a joint venture between the City and the County to share costs. Hire a bouncer so Russ Veenema doesn't step foot on the property.
3. The Gateway should have had a literal gateway. Our neighbor has a huge metal sign going across the street. There is no doubt to traffic that they are entering Sequim. How much more would have added to the Gateway project to do something similar? "Welcome to Downtown Port Angeles". No doubt what this is now. (That little lamppost BEFORE downtown doesn't always stand out.)
4. Re-do the point where Front and First meet. You want traffic to flow back to downtown via First, but also obviously lead to the marina and spit if people so choose. I would say a roundabout but that might not work with the truck traffic. In any case, that intersection needs to be obvious for tourists while maintaining functionality for locals.
5. This is more of a drastic change, and unlikely to happen with our group of building owners, but downtown could definitely use a theme. Is it a "historic" downtown? Does it celebrate its logging and fishing roots? Does it tie in with the surroundign parks? Or is it a hodge-podge of different styles with no underlying identity, broken by vacant lots and streets that are constantly being torn up?
6. Most people will accept a town with an industrial district, but ours blends into the commercial district, and breaks up the experience between downtown and the spit. There's no clear solution to this, but a few minor things would help. Re-doing the sidewalk along Marine drive so it's obviously part of the ODT, a few signs clearly marking the route for outsiders. Even a few signs to the spit might be a draw. This is a natural attraction, why are we not treating it as such?
7. Speaking of signs, finish the wayfinder sign project. Establish a clear visual style across all of Port Angeles, not just downtown. That worked for Sequim, right? Simplify the signage we have to make it easier to read for tourists. This is all in the AIA recommendations, and Port Angeles started it, but it needs to be finished, it needs to be consistent and it needs to be across all of Port Angeles.
Of these are just a few initial suggestions, and debatable ones at that, and money is always an issue. But most of these have one theme: spell things out for people, especially visitors. Make things easy. Try to catch the tourists and direct them to where we want them to go. Give them clear visual clues. If we want tourists downtown, try directing them downtown. Catch them before they leave.
Or maybe I'm just rambling.
Regarding your first point: Yes, the AIA recommended this, making First and Front streets both two ways again. After that report was issued, I remember that Max Mania and Brad Collins were both talking up that idea as a good next step for the city to take.
DeleteWell, of course, the official city response was to stall, and then Max left, and Brad, so far as I know, has totally dropped the idea. Classic.
Personally, I would also, for the sake of clarity, change the name of Front St. First and Front are too similar, they both could "mean" the same thing to visitors ("This must be THE main street along the waterfront..."), and I think it adds confusion to a downtown that is already struggling with enough issues.
I won't hold my breath waiting for any of this to happen, however.
Just to give you some "why nots" about the cost of replacing traffic lights and upgrading them for two more directions. A simple traffic light can cost $450,000 each. (They are a custom order, and individually made.) So, we'd need to revamp lights on Ennis, Race, Lincoln, Laurel (am I forgetting any?) One set of lights for First, one for Front -- that's a million dollars, folks.
DeleteAs much as I'd like to see the streets become two-way, I really doubt it's going to happen. $$$$
Well get off your ass and put this in a letter to the Council
DeleteSave your breath, unless these ideas come from high dollar consultants or city staff the city council cannot hear you. Remember ten years ago when private citizens told the city council they were wasting ten million attempting to put a patch on the dump. They spent the ten million back then and are now spending 20 million to do what the citizens suggested ten years ago. The only way forward is a new city council and (mostly) new staff.
ReplyDeleteEmpty streets, empty shops, empty promises of a "revitalized P.A.!" Can we have a town if our "city planners" have no real plans other than extending our already empty sidewalks
ReplyDelete?
I think there is something else at play. As has been said, Port Angeles doesn't lack for tourist traffic. There are hundreds and thousands passing by every day, throughout the year. So, talking about how to attract tourists is a waste of time. They are already being delivered to our door, and have been for about a hundred years now.
ReplyDeleteIf people want to be somewhere, or to shop for something, they don't care too much about the names of the streets, or the color of the walls.
Look at the hours people spend in long lines for concerts, shopping sales, and trips to places they want to be.
The people that didn't even bother to get off the cruise ship didn't see the names of the streets, or which directions they go in. They looked out the window, and decided it wasn't worth the effort.
As the pictures show, even though JFFA was in full swing, there was absolutely no "spill over" to anywhere else in Port Angeles. The sidewalks were empty. The sidewalk cafes empty. The streets were empty. Even though people came from outside of Port Angeles to attend the JFFA, nobody was interested in exploring anything about Port Angeles.
No one seriously thinks that if the streets were changed, that people coming off the Coho would suddenly stop in Port Angeles, and decide to buy a wedding dress or beer making supplies? Or by changing the streets names, the millions now passing through on their way to the Olympic National Park would then patronize the junk shops in Port Angeles?
I think we have to step back, and remember why these people are here in the first place. They didn't set out from Seattle, or Concrete for 2 or 3 hours drive on (often) a one lane road with the goal of buying a wedding dress. Or to "accept a town with an industrial district".
This was submitted as a constructive comment, BTW. If we are going to treat the disease, we have to accurately recognize the symptoms. So far, it doesn't look like we are barking up the right tree. The streets and sidewalks are more deserted than ever.
DeleteRun for City Council then...and get some balls
DeleteAs if that is where solutions are found and created?! Looking at the results of those in elected office, I'm not seeing much of value. Should I go do something with such a dismal track record, as I look for solutions? Or, try a different approach?
Delete"Get some balls"? Or use my brains?
Port Angeles was empty again, today. The winds returned, making doing much of anything downtown pretty miserable.
ReplyDeleteRead the article in the PDN this morning about the JFFA, and Maguire's carefully crafted "focus on the positive." He says revenue is up, but doesn't say whether that is due to the higher ticket prices, or increased attendance. It sure seems like if attendance was up, he'd surely be trumpeting that. So I have to assume it's the higher ticket prices.
ReplyDeleteHe says they sold 500 full passes, which works out to 125 full passes sold for each day of the festival. This isn't much, really. It certainly doesn't even come close to implying there's a flood of people from outside the area who actually come to the JFFA. I'd guess that the vast majority of those full passes were sold to Clallam County residents. Notice that Maguire has all this information available, but, gee, for some reason they don't have the information on out of area attendees yet. Hmmm...Like there's going to be yet another follow-up article about that? No, of course not. He's dodging the question, knowing it won't be asked again.
And then look at the part at the very end of the article, where the band from Sequim explains that they got paid about one fifth (1/5) what they get paid at other festivals. Ouch. This may help to partially explain the same old, same old nature of the JFFA. Maguire sticks with the acts he can get cheap.
That same old, same old then helps to explain the pictures here. A boring festival in an out of the way place, resulting in empty streets on what should be a very busy weekend indeed.
No kidding! Here's my favorite part from the puff piece:
DeleteYet while the festival was deemed a success, Maguire hopes to change it up.
“I'm always trying to skew the festival younger,” he said.
Skew it younger??? Don't make me laugh, Dan. The JFFA is a dim reflection of your Baby Boomer obsessed self. This festival skews older - much older. First there was the Association, as a sort of warm up act, followed by lame, lame, one hit wonders like It's A Beautiful Day, "the San Francisco band famous for its 1969 song" blah blah blah.
The JFFA is like what you'd hear if you went to Dan Maguire's house and he "played some of his favorite tunes" for you. Ballady Baby Boomer BS.
Those of us under, oh, say 40 (I'm 38) don't care about your nostalgia trip, Dan. It's pathetic. Where's the hip hop? Where's the electronica? Ever hear of DJs, Dan? No, of course not. You're too busy listening to the 1960s soundtrack in your head to notice that things have changed.
Just because "the kids" listened to it when you were a kid, Dan, doesn't mean that "the kids" today will want to have anything to do with it. I stay far, far away from the JFFA. Meanwhile, I do wish there was more music here, more to do. But those pictures show that there is very little to do here, even when there IS something to do. JFFA + PA = DOA. Boring old fools wondering why the world has passed them by.
EXACTLY. I'm in the over 50 crowd, but I wouldn't be caught dead at that dull "festival" (technically not a festival, as that implies fun. More of a siesta-fiesta. (As in SNORE-fest).
DeleteJFFA is so out-of-touch with what would bring people from out of the area that it is beyond funny. Meanwhile, where does all the grant money go? Danny's pocket?
I saw the article, too. Just shook my head. I know some people who volunteered as staff for this year's event. They said that they spent much of the time sitting around with nothing to do. Yes, there were a few people, but they were disappointed by how few.
ReplyDeleteTalked with others, who said they wouldn't have even known there was an event in town, if they hadn't made a point of driving over to the city parking lot where the vendors were located.
So, yes. Another example of failure in Port Angeles being held up as wonderful by the local boosters.
I can't help but compare the empty sidewalks in these photos to how busy little Silverton, Oregon (with half the population of PA) was on the same day - and without a music festival or any other event going on. I saw more people coming out of the movie theater there than I do in all of these pictures put together. Hell, there were more people in the Thai restaurant we went to than in all these pictures put together.
DeleteThe pictures of Port Angeles are pictures of a ghost town. I know that I usually skew towards the sarcastic regarding Port Angeles, but wow...Even I look at these photos and just think, "How sad." It's a ghost town.
Also so sad is the way the leadership is HAPPY with this! As you read the article, Dan is calling the weekend a success!
DeleteLeslie Roberts and her Revitalize folks are defending the way things are downtown!? They are so proud of this empty town, they are boasting to anyone who will listen about how fabulous it is, with so much to do. The City Council just gave Revitalize an AWARD!
And, the city council just gave the PADA taxpayers money, falling all over themselves to congratulate Josh and crew about what a great "turn around" they've seen.
Why try to do things differently, if everyone is happy with the way things are?
Realistically, it's way too early to have seen any "turnaround" at the PADA. There may have been changes, yes, but it's too soon to see if those changes will bear results.
DeleteBut why wait, right? We know that the city (and the PADA, and the Chamber, etc.) have NO standards, so we know that they'll eventually get a gold star no matter what. So why wait for the "good news" press release? Just praise them now, and move on to the next fiasco.
It's a painful, awful and obvious sham. How did this one little town get SO incredibly screwed up?
In the land of self-esteem for nothing: EVERYONE IS A WINNER, right?
ReplyDeleteHope the Revittles throw out their backs patting themselves so fervently.
What a bunch of complaining, whining lackeys. You all sit on your asses bitching about this and that, blah blah. Not a single one of you losers bitching are doing a damn thing except sitting on your asses expecting everyone else to make your worlds great. There's an old saying....if your not part of the solution then you are part of the problem. Get the hell out of town you losers and don't let the door hit your precious asses on the way out. No I'm not revitalize, no I'm not a leader, just a common citizen listening to a bunch of whining losers complaining that others aren't making things better for them. The place will start to smell a hell of a lot better when you complainers go pollute someone elses world.
ReplyDeleteUh, anyone care to address this commenter's, uh, point(s)? And no, don't be all nitpicky and go after them for all the typos, okay?
DeleteHere, I'll just cut'n'paste this post from below. Seems to answer this citizen fairly well:
Delete" Looking at those pictures, I'm seriously pissed off.
WTF! After all these years, all the talk, and all the many millions spent on "economic development" schemes, this is what we have to show for it all?
If I had results like this, after being paid to do a job, my clients would be royally pissed off. I probably would be sued to kingdom come.
And these people just keep lying their pants off. John Brewer dares to write an article about Port Angeles being in the running as a great place? Lies! All lies! Are we just supposed to overlook all our local businesses sitting empty as these idiots sit at their computers and vote for themselves?
Awards? They should be sued for abusing the public's trust. This is insanity."
Anon 6:56 says "Get the hell out of town you losers and don't let the door hit your precious asses on the way out. "
DeleteThe writer doesn't seem to realize the public is doing just as they suggest. They " get the hell out of town" as fast as they can, or don't even bother to go downtown.
Interesting, though. This citizen finds it perfectly okay to complain about what is posted here, but complains that people point out the incredible waste of millions of dollars of taxpayers money on projects that have resulted in empty streets and sidewalks.
I guess they think their complaints don't stink.
I drove through town today to do errands. I wished I had brought my camera, more than once. Hwy 101 coming into town was so quiet, I could have snapped a shot with only a half a dozen between Walmart and McDonalds. Downtown was all but dead. Looking down sidewalks on First, not a single person.
ReplyDeleteLeaving town, same thing. I could have snapped a picture with only a handful of cars from Country Aire all the way to the rise by Pen Print.
Going by the hotels, their parking lots were empty. Really amazing.
Things are worse than years past. I've been here for quite a few years now, and I've never seen it so dead.
How can those people be getting awards?
Feel free to send more photos. We can post them here, then I'll send the link to the City Council, the Chamber, etc. A picture is worth a million words - but how much is Nathan's Buzzsaw Beach really worth? They also say that photos don't lie - but I'd love to hear the lies offered to explain away the deserted, ghost town streets. On the weekend. During the tourist season. During the "big" local music festival. You get the idea.
DeleteLooking at those pictures, I'm seriously pissed off.
ReplyDeleteWTF! After all these years, all the talk, and all the many millions spent on "economic development" schemes, this is what we have to show for it all?
If I had results like this, after being paid to do a job, my clients would be royally pissed off. I probably would be sued to kingdom come.
And these people just keep lying their pants off. John Brewer dares to write an article about Port Angeles being in the running as a great place? Lies! All lies! Are we just supposed to overlook all our local businesses sitting empty as these idiots sit at their computers and vote for themselves?
Awards? They should be sued for abusing the public's trust. This is insanity.
Thanks for providing this forum, CK. I just wish that we could make the people "in charge" here read what gets posted/discussed here.
DeleteYou know Brewer & Co. will try to put the best face on this since they are the sole sponsors and McGuire is not allowed to purchase any other print promotion without pissing off Brewer & Co. That policy would be fine if they hotels were packed and the streets were packed and the stores were full but none of that came to pass. Instead, the faithful came out to support the festival and there is simply not enough faithful to make this a go. Why in the hell is the city still giving tax money to such as this and the chamber and the down and out downtowners? Oh, I forgot, Russ told them to.
ReplyDeleteI guess these photos are why Port Angeles doesn't actually appear in the Chamber's promotional video about it: https://www.facebook.com/PortAngelesChamber/videos/10153274192753399/
ReplyDeleteWhat's up with Nippon?
ReplyDeleteThere was no smoke coming out of the stacks yesterday. Not from the mill, or the bio-mess plant.
This has been happening quite a lot lately.
Knowing that they just had a shut down last month for "maintenance" , and that power plants and mills just don't get turned on and off like light bulbs, does anybody know what is going on?
Obviously Nippon has become concerned about the dangerously low flows in the Elwha and has decided to do its part in reducing the environmental threat to aquatic resources downstream of the industrial water intake point. Thank you, Nippon, for leaving 20 millions of gallons a day in the river instead of shooting it up your stacks.
DeleteThe ATMs downtown had long lines at 9:00 am on June 1st. I had a clear view from my seat in a restaurant of the able-bodied sauntering to the cash machines directly from the welfare building. They all seem to be checking account balances. What's up?
ReplyDeleteSo Doctor, were you able to use your x-ray vision without burning holes in the restaurant window?
DeleteLet's do remember that vehicles used to be parked over night in lines snaking along Railroad and Lincoln, not so long ago. Aggies had cots on the balconies for the overflow of guests who were waiting for the next mornings ferry to Victoria.
ReplyDeleteThere used to be 3 different ferries running over to Victoria, now there is just one, with reduced hours of operation at that.
All those people used to wander around Port Angeles in the evenings, waiting for the next mornings' ferry. They shopped in the stores, ate in the restaurants, and slept in the hotels.
Along came 9-11 .. and then the US embarked on it's super fear campaigns. Before, families didn't need passports. They could just go and have a visit. No big deal. Now, with the passport requirements, it is just too expensive.
We in Port Angeles are the direct victims of the US efforts to try to be uber secure. Billions upon billions of economic losses across the country, so that we can enjoy a false sense of security.
As we see here, it sure is worth it.