American Institute of Architects — Recommendations for Port Angeles
Some of the recommendations from the American Institute of Architects made sense. But some of the sensible recommendations were too “feel good” and didn’t have enough how-to specifics — i.e. making the city more user-friendly for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Other suggestions were just re-runs of what everyone’s been saying all along, like bringing the Farmers Market back downtown. Gee, ya think?
Their one specific suggestion was so far out to lunch, these “architects” either were never actually here, or they were all blindfolded. Converting First Street into a four-lane highway???
Uh, FYI, “architects” — that section of First Street already has hundreds of BUILDINGS along both sides of the street. Inside each of those buildings, there are PEOPLE already working and/or living there. HELLLOOO!?!?!?!?!!
The real world can be so confusing. You can go back to your ivory towers now.
Other suggestions were just re-runs of what everyone’s been saying all along, like bringing the Farmers Market back downtown. Gee, ya think?
Their one specific suggestion was so far out to lunch, these “architects” either were never actually here, or they were all blindfolded. Converting First Street into a four-lane highway???
Uh, FYI, “architects” — that section of First Street already has hundreds of BUILDINGS along both sides of the street. Inside each of those buildings, there are PEOPLE already working and/or living there. HELLLOOO!?!?!?!?!!
The real world can be so confusing. You can go back to your ivory towers now.
posted by Tom Harper at 2:44 PM
12 Comments:
It's typical PDN-ese. Whatever the architects really said was lost in translation by the reporter or whoever edited the story.
Keep your powder dry, Tom. Simmer down.
at the meeting they said that there is enough room to do a four lane highway on first street if you consider that they would eliminate all of the street side parking and move it down to front or in between the buildings. they also said that this was a long term plan (like 15-20 years) in which things like moving parking and new buildings are a consideration.
They should do a tunnel, just like Seattle. Start down about Sequim, come back up around the Elwha.
I think the city should be buried underground!
I've only read the Daily News article, and AIA won't finish the detailed report for a couple months, but the City links their PowerPoint presentation at:
http://www.cityofpa.us/CommEconDev.htm
if you want a bit more detail. I need to sit down and read through that thing myself.
I think making both first and front two ways streets is a GOOD idea. It's stupid to have one-way streets, and it's never been good for business. That would also allow for Lincoln to have parking between 1st and Front, and bring some life back to the struggling businesses that can't survive on that block.
I think that town, in it's normal "we never did it that way before" short sightedness will reject all the suggestions, anyway. Town will keep dying as it is....and all the newcomers will pull up roots and move....thereby accomplishing what the old timers want...a boarded up ghost town with a lot of rotting art. But meanwhile, every left can run around congratulating themselves on how "great it is".
All right, read that presentation... Hmmm.
Okay, I kind of agree with them on the street. I mean, I think there should be a bypass for the highway, but that could take decades. It's just odd that we have the main highway running through town, then suddenly taking a 90 degree angle and running up a side street and then turning onto another street before continuing on its way. Making First the highway would at least be a stepping stone towards dividing the "travel" district from the "business" district.
I also agree that we aren't using our natural resources to our advantage. We have wide stretches of forested ravines that would be perfect for parks. But all we're using them for is hobo encampments.
I like the idea of an information kiosk near the ferry terminal... or something more attractive. I also like the idea of the wayfinder signs, giving information to both cars and pedestrians. And I agree we're too car-centric, to the point where it's downright unfriendly to pedestrians, let alone bicyclists.
I mean, I guess the whole point is "market your assets". Port Angeles does a horrible job of it, squandering the beauty of the area. The only problem is, while this report is really nice and I'm nodding my head going "yeah, yeah, yeah", I'm pretty pessimistic about anything ever changing. Even if one person stands up and goes "yeah, yeah, yeah!" there's going to be a hundred old-timers and naysayers to shout her or him down. That makes me pretty apathetic about even trying to help on this stuff.
I'd like to get rid of those one way streets on First and Front. I can't see widening the streets but they could change them from one way to two way without spending much money. It would be a lot easier for locals to find their way around, not to mention out of towners.
First Street used to be a two-way street with angled parking. Contemporary downtown is a product of bad design and '70's style urban uglification.
I agree about making First St. and Front St. two-way -- and it would be great to have more parking available for that "dead zone" on Lincoln between First and Railroad where no businesses can survive.
YES make the streets two way, put in angled parking (because no one can parallel park), but make Front the highway. It's already killed most businesses downtown, anyway. The Red Lion, the Gateway...no loss there no one needs parking. Downtown would have two way traffic, the businesses on First and Front would benefit from 2 way traffic, and it wouldn't seem do damn stupid to everyone who's not "local".
But, how much does anyone want to wager that nothing will come of this suggestion....
What would it take to have Lee Plaza move all their housing tenants to an apt out of town somewhere and have nice apartments that people with money and style would want to live?
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