Imagine Aberdeen’s downtown reconnected to the waterfront, with the gateway to the city filled with floral color and attractive signs, where artists and seniors live in renovated buildings downtown where they can walk to a theater on wide sidewalks.
This is a vision presented in a lively workshop by economic development consultant Cary Bozeman on Saturday at City Hall to the Aberdeen City Council, which selected six projects they’d like to see completed in the next five years.
The workshop is part on an ongoing effort by Mayor Bill Simpson, Community Development Director Lisa Scott and other city officials to kickstart redevelopment efforts.
All 12 council members, several city officials and the new municipal court judge turned out to hear Bozeman, who with the help of local liaison Scott Reynvaan, led discussion on some 25 options they culled from listening to local authorities during the last two weeks.
While Bozeman noted that the goals may need to be achieved in a different order, may have to be accomplished block by block, and funding must be raised, here is how the ambitious list shapes up:
One: reconnect downtown to the waterfront and purchase property along the riverfront downtown, in an area that could stretch from the Chehalis River banks on F Street to the area around H Street, if possible. A public market could be located here.
Two: deal with the issue of railroad line access in terms of access to the water. The tracks “don’t have to be obstacles,” he said, “you can go over or under them.”
Three: Create good first impressions as drivers head over the Wishkah Bridge in town heading west, perhaps with gardens, signage and possibly, a new Greater Grays Harbor Inc. Visitor’s Center. Visual appeal is crucial, he stressed.
Four: Slow traffic down going through town on Wishkah, Heron and Market Streets. Spruce up streets with flowers, pedestrian paths, bicycle lanes, larger sidewalks and ample crosswalks. He envisions a loop around the waterfront or in town similar to Greenlake, one of his favorite areas in Seattle.
Five: Move the multiplex theater downtown, possibly near Hometown Feed, and provide parking.
Six: Improve and find new life for the city’s marquee buildings: the Morck Hotel, the Becker Building and the Elks Building. The first floor of the Elks is full for the first time in years. The Becker, which houses Anne Marie’s Cafe, is used mainly for storage. The Morck owners are in an ongoing discussion with Simpson on proceeding with renovation plans.
City watchers may recognize several projects identified in previous years. What seems to be different is Bozeman who has spent 40 years in community and economic development as mayor of Bellevue and Bremerton and as head of the Bozeman Group.
Reynvaan ran a presentation about Bozeman’s previous work and showed a promotional video for Wenatchee which raised funds to build the new Pybus Public Market which is helping revitalize downtown. Bozeman continually stressed that cities all over the state have had to reinvent themselves.
Reynvaan, who is from Hoquiam and commutes from Bainbridge Island to help, is acting as Bozeman’s right hand on the project to help Aberdeen’s efforts to reinvent itself. He has helped connect Bozeman to officials and others on the Harbor.
Bozeman stressed over and over how public markets can help anchor revitalization. Council member Kathi Hoder marveled at the presentations, saying it was like showing steak to the hungry.
Bozeman talked about how he raised public and private money to revamp downtown Bremerton.
As for the immediate future in Aberdeen, Bozeman plans to leverage his $60,000 year-long contract by asking for private dollars to double that budget and obtain office space in Aberdeen where people can see progress and hold the efforts accountable. He urged small, block by block changes be made soon to visibly help bring investors and the public on board.
Aberdeen Revitalization Movement, a civic group, will likely help funnel funding into projects, he said. The group will serve as a revitalization hub, a chamber of commerce-like center that serves Aberdeen’s interests in the redevelopment plans, Scott said.
Bozeman wants the city to look at him as an economic redevelopment director and part of the team, even though he is an independent contractor. He suggested branding Aberdeen as the urban core of Grays Harbor County.
Many on hand Saturday asked and answered questions.
“I love little parks downtown,” Bozeman said. Parks Department Assistant Director Stacie Barnum asked how all the new pocket parks might be maintained. Bozeman assured her it could be worked out. Municipal Court Judge Susan Solan suggested she might be able to assign work details as part of community service for some jailed inmates.
Council President Peter Schave asked how the state highway and federal laws governing privately-held railroads would be handled. Bozeman replied that one could design over or under existing tracks. “It’s doable … just because you don’t have partners (yet) in that is not a reason not to move ahead.”
The Council of Governments is working with the Port of Grays Harbor and others to improve rail and road access to East Aberdeen, Scott reminded.
Bozeman also talked about his methods of getting projects done. Have a vision for the future, be disciplined and execute that plan, have partners who trust each other and leaders who have passion for change, he said.
Funding will be key. He has a meeting soon with U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer about funding and will ask about a new federal program to provide housing for retired military veterans, who may be able to help fill one of the buildings downtown, he said.
Reinvention of Aberdeen may take 20 years, but will live as a legacy long after “some of us are gone,” Bozeman said.
Bozeman listed a set of steps to follow over the next 12 months: research, review documents, interview key people and groups. Evaluate potential projects and agree on two or three with top priority in the next 60 days. Conduct public meetings. Ask designers to compete and submit designs. Consult the general public. Report to the mayor and council and get a 36-month plan ready to go. Move forward with the first project and secure project management. He will bring aboard Gary Sexton who helped him create the ship fountain park in Bremerton. Sexton’s wife, Karen, is from the Harbor.
Then, you start building, Bozeman said. “And then cut ribbons, I love cutting ribbons.”
Bozeman and Reynvaan will be in town every week, Bozeman said. They will meet with business and property owners next at the new D&R events center, which is owned by John Yonich, who is a supporter of Bozeman’s work.
Erin Hart, 360-537-3932, ehart@the dailyworld.com, Twitter: @DW_Erin.
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