Market Assessment "Disappointing" for Harbor-Works
I'm sure it's disappointing but it can't be surprising.
Jeff Lincoln said: "The market assessment is disappointing. There's very limited demand in Clallam County for industrial or light-industrial land, and there's a good stock of that land available off of the waterfront. Given the natural site of that, with the berthing potential there and access to deep water, we'd be looking for marine-related industrial or light-industrial activities to make the best use of the land."
By next August, Harbor-Works will have decided whether or not to acquire the Rayonier site.
Jeff Lincoln said: "The market assessment is disappointing. There's very limited demand in Clallam County for industrial or light-industrial land, and there's a good stock of that land available off of the waterfront. Given the natural site of that, with the berthing potential there and access to deep water, we'd be looking for marine-related industrial or light-industrial activities to make the best use of the land."
By next August, Harbor-Works will have decided whether or not to acquire the Rayonier site.
posted by Tom Harper at 4:18 PM
75 Comments:
Duh!!!!
Harbor Works wants to buy the land from Rayonier with OUR money, and then develop it. Maybe another bus station after the $15 million one we didn't need? That gets Rayonier off the hook for the cleanup, and screws you and me.
A few months ago, you may or may not have read my posts about it, but I went to Cascade Locks, Oregon to meet a lady blogging buddy.
The Cascade Locks port authority developed big plans for an area on the east edge of town and put in paved roads and such expecting that if they built it others would come.
It's a lovely place to camp and fish being as no one came. Weeds are growing up through the cracks in the pavement but campers and fishermen don't care.
And they are on a railroad line, there is nothing going to happen here for some time, it's just a way for them to justify their sorry ass existence.
Fire them and save the money.
Rumour has it that HarborWorks and the Port are going to "fall back" to a bio-mass incineration plant proposal for the property to get more Federal and State money for the site (and their salaries!!)
Once again, the City will demonstrate how out of touch with reality it is if it goes down that path. The residential areas around the FORMER Rayonier mill and it's smokestacks remember well what their neighborhoods were like, and will need little incentive to organize very effective protests to such proposals. I lived in Gales.
The last sentence in the PDN article about this quotes Linclon as saying "It is not a pretty picture down there". We all knew that long ago, and did not need to spend $380,000 to pay out-of-town consultants to tell us that.
When will this town get it together to actually work towards an acheivable, positive future?
Maybe when all the taxpayer-money leeches get driven away...
"The Cascade Locks port authority developed big plans for an area on the east edge of town and put in paved roads and such expecting that if they built it others would come.
It's a lovely place to camp and fish being as no one came."
But, I'll bet all the "players" got their salaries paid, anyways. Jeff Lincoln will be getting his $115,000 a year, no matter if nothing gets built. Just like Jim Haugewood got his $5,000 of taxpayer money each month for the last 3 years, regardless of whether he actually produced ANYTHING.
Where are those "conservatives" and their railings about "cutting the fat" when you need them?
As is the case in most towns in this country, there's a huge sense of entitlement passed from generation to generation for those who are calling the shots. Even during rotten economic times, those with a blessed pedigree somehow manage to live very, very comfortably at the expense of the masses.
"Where are those "conservatives" and their railings about "cutting the fat" when you need them?"
But it's okay when conservatives are the ones wasting taxpayers money. That's different.
Why slam Haugewood? You clearly do not have a clue as to what it takes to manage the Incubator. Why don't you ask Linda Rotmark, she's learning fast.
Harbor Works is a goof. It's all over the map..from wanting to get condos and a Rolls Royce dealership and high end shops (that none of US can afford) to putting in industrial, to whatever else they can dream up.
The reality is....this town needs JOBS, it needs education, it needs a focus and a goal.
We're like a cheap hooker...willing to do anything for anyone, if we think there is some money there. But, like a cheap hooker, we are starting to look a bit ragged around the edges.
Man, y'all are angry and pessimistic people!
Please note: Bellingham is the model for this enterprise. Their port bought the Georgia Pacific facility for $1 and GP paid a pittance for cleanup and cleared out of town. Let's have a series in the PDN about what is happening there now!
The then president of GP is the now president of Rayonier.
This community needs to start investing in local companies, like Angeles Composites, Westport and any other business utilizing materials and process's that are here for our future. This money would be well spent creating jobs for our children. STOP EXPORTING CHILDREN!
The reality is....this town needs JOBS,
Na, not really, a lot of people just need to move somewhere else so that we have a nice quite little county town again.
"This community needs to start investing in local companies, like Angeles Composites, Westport and any other business utilizing materials and process's that are here for our future. This money would be well spent creating jobs for our children. STOP EXPORTING CHILDREN!"
But, as you see, the Economic Development money (taxpayer's money)the city and Port of Port Angeles got for the Graving Dock fiasco is being used (squandered) to fund Harbor Works. Harbor Works is not supporting existing businesses here. The money is going OUT to consultants and other from outside Port Angeles.
And, the purpose of HarborWorks is to create a business/industrial center that will COMPETE with existing businesses in Port Angeles.
Why the PABA supports Harbor Works is beyond me. The chickens think the fox is their best buddy!
Rick said...
Man, y'all are angry and pessimistic people!
10:37 AM, December 11, 2009
Not angry enough, I'd say. This crap keeps happening year after year.
Why slam Haugewood?
Gee, I don't know. The guy can position himself to get $5,000 a month for 3 years, to produce next to nothing, and to run the Incubator out of money. And..
The paper says there were 3 "graduates" over 3 years, one of whom was another well positioned person, who owns Capacity Provisioning. (Look at who they have contracts with.) They existed before the Incubator was formed, so I'm not exactly sure what kind of taxpayer assisted "incubation" they required.
Interestingly, their offices are right next to the Incubator's past Prez and current Secretary, Karen Rogers, who is also a current council member and past mayor. Did the city council vote to provide money for the Incubator while she was mayor/ councilmember/Prez/Sec?
Another of the 3 Incubator graduates was the "Remediators". Oh, I seem to remember hearing they were also clients of Karen Rogers Consulting, and that Karen wrote a letter on their behalf on city letterhead, while mayor.
All SO cozy and cute.
Of COURSE nothing improper about any of it.
Well, if you want more jobs here I guess you'll just have to keep paying overpaid idiots from the big cities to try to bring them here for you. Then you can keep bitching about the overpaid idiots that are moving in here. So put those beans in your pipes and smoke them.
Don't export kids my butt, for thousands of year kids have left the home grounds to see what is in other parts of the world seeking fame and fortune and bright lights.
Some return and help you start screwing up your little town, Cherie Kidd for example, she'll never be happy with this just being a little town, she wants to be a bigger fish in a bigger pond.
Just saying.
Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha!
You simpletons may gripe and moan and fulminate in your morning cream of wheat all you want, but the man with the $$$$ controls all!
Haven't you learned that yet?
Doctor Nosferatu
I envy your use of the word "fulminate".
"Don't export kids" makes it sound like we're selling local children to China. Thanks free trade! We don't need to export them, they'll leave voluntarily.
Other than that, I agree with you. The money we're spending to find out we shouldn't spend any more money would be better served elsewhere. If this town really wants to grow, it's going to have to give kids a reason to stay and outsiders a reason to visit or move here. Decent jobs would be kind of nice.
But that's IF it wants to grow. Really should make up its mind what it wants to do. Personally I think it should forget growth for now and work on maintaining what it's got. Build from there. But, whatever.
"From Radio KONP web site:
PA city manager says storage tank efforts still on track
December 11th, 2009 - 2:17am
(Port Angeles) -- The Port Angeles city manager says the city is still pursuing a large storage tank now on the former Rayonier mill property.
The efforts continue, despite a report earlier this week the property may be tougher to market or use as had might been earlier thought."
Makes me think of that 60s' movie "Hombre". " Badge? I don't need no stinkin' badge.." In the Port Angeles version, we have Kent Meyers saying: " Economic viability? I don't need no stinkin' economic viability.."
Umm.. here is a thought. Port Angeles wants the 5 million gallon tank on the Rayonier property for it's CSO project. Why not ask Rayonier to buy JUST that old, used tank, instead of getting involved in the whole property? The city could move it the few hundred feet to their own property at the current sewer plant facilities ( city owned property), and be done with that issue.
I can't imagine Rayonier sees that old tank being an important feature in any of ITS' development plans, or any body elses'.
The four years I lived in Utah it was in a small town of under 4000 other monkeys. The unemployment rate was about 25 percent but I started a business and did just fine there.
Everyone there got by okay, it wasn't a fancy life, but a good life for us all. The cranky bastard that owned the only bar put out a great steak so that was cool.
I guess what I really need to do is find a smaller place to live being as I like them much better. Then I wouldn't give a rats ass what goes on here.
I have a love/hate affair with this stupid town, you can hardly afford a slip at the marina anymore unless you are wealthy.
The rich fucks want to take this place over, and as far as I'm concerned they can have it, I can live without them, they bother me.
They want you to pay for what they want, screw them.
"But, like a cheap hooker, we are starting to look a bit ragged around the edges."
Umm.. STARTING to look a bit ragged?? When was the last time this party girl DIDN'T look like she was in rough shape?
Why slam Haugewood? Because he and the other members of the EDC ran the original head of the incubator out of town for not funneling business their way, and then put themselves in charge of the operation. All they are incubating is their own businesses and bank accounts. Such a corrupt situation up there. $180,000 for 3 years of doing nothing. Harborworks, the landing "mall", and the 15 million dollar bus stop look real nice next to all the empty shops downtown.
"Slam Haguewood?...... you are stupid and don't know what the fuck you are talking about."
Ah, yes. That sure convinces ME. Okay, based on your comment, I can clearly see that Haguewood actually DID justify his $5,000 a month salary. Thanks.
Anon, 11:39 a.m.: I already deleted the comment that you're responding to. I'm not censoring opinions, just namecalling.
There is no way to "justify" a $5k a month salary for an organization that did NOT do crap for MOST people who sought help. They helped friends of friends, family of friends, and didn't "incubate" any new industry.
We have way too much of the nepotism and too little real dedication to the greater good in this town. The self-serving "old timers" have sucked this town dry, and they're the morons who have all the pipe dreams and illusions of grandeur.
I'm tired of it. Tar and feather the lot of them, and run them out of town. Make them go live in the "real world" until they come back with their tail between their legs. Won't take long. They should be ASHAMED of themselves!!!
"Don't export kids" makes it sound like we're selling local children to China
I'm sure there are ads on Chinese television encouraging the new monied classes to spare a Yuan or two so that a malnourished, dirt ignorant American child can get a hot meal and an education. You know, a chance at a better life.
If those people really cared about us they would work for half the money they do. Don't kid yourselves for a minute, they're here for them, not you.
This story in the PDN was, in essence, a red herring. The actual plan for the old Rayonier site is going public next week, and it should surprise (and shut up) many of the critics here.
And it is a plan that could only have come from someone who is an outsider - i.e., Jeff Lincoln. As many have noted here, the home-grown local "leaders" are too busy lining their own pockets to actually do something to move Port Angeles forward. Love him or hate him, Jeff Lincoln will have changed the nature of the game regarding the old Rayonier site - and that's a good thing.
BBC said...
"If those people really cared about us they would work for half the money they do. Don't kid yourselves for a minute, they're here for them, not you."
THAT is one of the fundemental problems in this community. People like Haguewood, Rogers, Williams, Johnson and others don't understand that when they "arrange" things so that they get these "special deals" for their personal financial benefit, they suck the life and spirit of hope right out of the town. " Why bother.." becomes the attitude, which we see VERY prevelant in Port Angeles.
It is NO secret in this town. Most everyone with half a brain and a bit of involvement in this community knows " the fix is in", if the issue is at all important. " Why bother.."
As Rogers and Williams enjoy their last week or so in office, I want to say "Maybe someday you will see what damages you have brought to so many lives." But, I'm not holding my breath.
Ah, yes....so much of what is being talked about here is exactly why I voluntarily "exported" myself from PA as a young person back in 1983.....and never looked back. I can see that the level of population isn't the only thing that's remained unchanged since then.
"This story in the PDN was, in essence, a red herring. The actual plan for the old Rayonier site is going public next week, and it should surprise (and shut up) many of the critics here."
Why the deception? Why bother to stand before the area leadership and lead them to believe the decision may be to walk away from the Rayonier site as not economically feasible?
Why intentionally lead the public in a wrong direction with the comments in the PDN?
If true, this is not a great start.
".. Jeff Lincoln will have changed the nature of the game regarding the old Rayonier site - and that's a good thing."
Oh Boy! Boom Times are going to return to Port Angeles!All Hail Jeff Lincoln!
The rest of the country is struggling through difficult economic conditions, but thanks to the brillance of Jeff Lincoln, we here in Port Angeles will not have to worry about such things.
Maybe the Prez will snatch him away from HarborWorks so he can work his magic on the US economic problems. Why waste this incredible talent on Port Angeles, when so many are in need?!
I don't care how "great" the idea....it will be poorly executed, with less than stellar effort, and whatever is done, will end up a.) costing too much for the taxpayers, b.) not be done anywhere near on time, and c.) will be built with every corner that can be cut, cut, and everyone who's pockets are accustomed to lining be lined, and then some.
That's HOW PA does business.
Look at the Gateway that was forced down our throats! Primo got the job (shock). The pavillion and surrounding areas was poorly thought out...lack of plugs, not situated for the area (why IS the pavillion sunken?) or for multiple uses, unable to withstand traffic (so all must be hand loaded/unloaded)....and so on.
It wasn't really well thought out, now was it?
Meanwhile....there is literally NOTHING else in this town that has been executed well. NOTHING. It's all about greed. The city has no vision, no execution skills, and the motto should be 'good enough'.
And, this city saw the $$ for their pockets 30-some years ago when they RIPPED OUT (and sold for scrap) the railroad tracks from here to Port Townsend. What a tourist dream....but, nope, they wanted loggers and to hell with the tourists. (In fact, 18 years ago, when I was first here, I routinely had my car spit on and told to 'go back where I came from". I was told many, many times by many people that I'd never be accepted, and they didn't want anyone new.)
I think the red-neck ignorance still shines brightly. I don't think it will ever change.
Anon 6:06 said: "In fact, 18 years ago, when I was first here, I routinely had my car spit on and told to 'go back where I came from". I was told many, many times by many people that I'd never be accepted, and they didn't want anyone new."
Good God, why did you stay here?
I first got here about the same time. I didn't have that experience (I guess it helped moving from one hick Washington town to another), but I did find this place to be clique-ish and hard to make new friends. Or "expand my social network" as the kids say these days. Never got spat on though. If I had, I'd have left quickly and not looked back. Sorry, but this area doesn't have enough to offer. Small towns are a dime a dozen in this state, and trees and water aren't so rare either.
So, selected folks in this town know of Jeff Lincolns' plan, but are sworn to secrecy until he gets to do his performance, part of which was his "update" to the Clallam County Commissioners last week, saying the market assessment was "disappointing", and that the "consensus" may be that the redevelopment proposals are not economically viable. But he will be giving the town his "Christmas Surprise" tomorrow, and the story will be a Christmas miracle. Don't we all like being played like the stupid chumps we obviously are?
Yeah, real inspiring.
Quote from today's PDN by Karen Rogers "Every local blog is filled with hate."
Quote from today's PDN by Karen Rogers "Every local blog is filled with hate."
5:24 AM, December 15, 2009
Yeah, I saw that. And this, too:
"Rogers, who spoke for about 40 minutes, said although she enjoyed her time on the council, she did not run again because of the attacks from throughout the public."
Good reasoning! If you are not liked by the public, and know it, it is probably a good idea not to run for elected office!
These folks need to think about what they have done to generate the public disgust for them, and the "attacks" they perceive.
And Larry Williams blames the PDN for sabotaging the realtor/contractor's cabal to seat their candidates on the council.
Karen Rogers "Every local blog is filled with hate."
Awww.. Did Kawen get her itty bitty little feewwings huwrt?
She sure didn't lose any opportunities to savage anybody she disagreed with. Ya can only piss off so many people for so long, before they stop making excuses for ya.
There IS a rumor floating around that she is going to try to run against Kevin Van de Wege... as a Republican.
Sigh.
In that case Kevin Van de Wege hasn't got too much to worry about. It will be easy to reference her reign of error, her incompetence and her crookedness.
She's gonna be like Edna ... she's goin' down!
"In that case Kevin Van de Wege hasn't got too much to worry about. It will be easy to reference her reign of error, her incompetence and her crookedness.
She's gonna be like Edna ... she's goin' down!"
No kidding. As I seem to remember, there is no money for street repair, and none budgeted ahead for years to come, as was reported a few weeks ago. But, there sure was money for Gateway.
Great planning and leadership there! The city is in shambles, and struggling to survive after 8 years of the Karen and Larry show. It will be a GREAT record for her to run on.
With ANY luck, the new members of the council won't make the same mistake Betsy did: vote with the old regime, and alienate her constituency.
pathetic, that's all i can say about this blog
"Said Rogers: "I support investigative reporting. Bring it on. Bring out the truth.""
Hey, I'm all for that. I'd love to see some investigative reporting on the Incubator. Always thought there was something fishy about that place. City Council creates this entity and directs funds through it. Some members of the Council join the incubator and directly benefit from the funding of this. New Council gets elected, questions funding and the City Manager (who is a part of the Incubator) throws a hissy fit and resigns taking a golden parachute with him. Please, investigate that.
Oh, was I just "full of hatred" there?
Seriously, I know media bashing is in vogue with politicians, but seems like everyone here is scared of blogs because of "the hate". Sure, sometimes the comments get out of hand, but that's the nature of the thing and it's also balanced by some good, thoughtful discussion and some legitimate questions and complaints. I think local politicians don't want to hear anything that rocks their boat or forces them to consider not everyone is happy with what they're doing.
Not that this is new to blogs. I remember when the Council wanted to shut off the water to the area east of P.A., force them to become annexed. Anyone who objected to that were slammed as a bunch of malcontents. And Karen Rogers was right in the middle of that. God, I hope she doesn't become senator. Anyone who would do that to the people she governs over should not be holding office.
Tom, I want to join everyone else in thanking you for this blog. Despite Roger's lip service to free speech, it's a valuable commodity in this town. It's good to have a place to vent and hash over ideas. I just wish politicians would get out of their bubble and listen to people, realize we're not the enemy or this bunch of hate-mongers. We're the people they govern over, who elect them.
"pathetic, that's all i can say about this blog"
Who are you ... Karen? Larry? Edna? Bob?
" The Watcher said...
This story in the PDN was, in essence, a red herring. The actual plan for the old Rayonier site is going public next week, and it should surprise (and shut up) many of the critics here.
And it is a plan that could only have come from someone who is an outsider - i.e., Jeff Lincoln."
Umm, other than hear recognition of the obvious as it pertains to the ancient village under the site in the context of a cultural center, I sure did not hear anything "new" unveiled by Jeff Lincoln yesterday.
In fact, in reading the article, I'm a bit stunned that ALL of the options he is proposing rely on EXACTLY the development elements he says studies are showing are absent at that site! Hunh? All are relying on industry, housing and marine uses, the very things he just told the County Commissioners there was no market for.
So, he continues to promote as viable options essential elements he himself knows aren't available for the project.
THAT is why he gets paid the big bucks!
"pathetic, that's all i can say about this blog"
Yeah, why talk about the issues and policies affecting your community when you could be blogging about Britany Spears, and whether she is wearing underwear or not?
I repeat.....pathetic, you should all be ashamed
The full proposal (as not-too-clearly reported by the PDN) doesn't just have a "cultural center" as a part of the redevelopment - a "CULTURAL CENTER" would be the CENTERPIECE of the redevelopment. This would take the artifact issue off the table as a block, and instead turn it into a positive. This (proposed) center would involve research, reporting, tourism, and would lend itself to leaving a larger portion of the site as open space.
The fact that this is even being talked about at all - instead of only maritime uses and another mill - is a BIG step forward. If we could get it approved, it would represent a HUGE step forward for our town in numerous ways.
Yes, the site itself has baggage. Yes, Jeff Lincoln has baggage. But please, let's consider this idea on its own merits. I think it has many.
"I repeat.....pathetic, you should all be ashamed"
Narrows it down to Edna or Karen. Although the sentence is gramatically incorrect so it could be Barb.
"I repeat.....pathetic, you should all be ashamed"
Okay, please tell us exactly what we SHOULD be discussing.
Really... I'd like to know.
"The Watcher said...
The full proposal (as not-too-clearly reported by the PDN) doesn't just have a "cultural center" as a part of the redevelopment - a "CULTURAL CENTER" would be the CENTERPIECE of the redevelopment. This would take the artifact issue off the table as a block, and instead turn it into a positive. This (proposed) center would involve research, reporting, tourism, and would lend itself to leaving a larger portion of the site as open space. "
Okay, I do agree that recognizing some of the realities of the the thousands-years-old village that lays under that site is a step in the right direction, but it still envisions residences, industry and more built over other portions of the site. The very things Lincoln himself says are needed to make acquisition viable, and also says there is no market for in this area.
And, let us remember we are not just talking about arrowheads and clay pots when we talk about "artifacts" at that site. We are talking about burials. Portions of bodies have already been dug up at that site. How many, and where other bodies may be located, nobody knows. This village is known to be considerably larger than Tse-Whit-Zen, and they stopped after digging up 335 bodies there. Who knows how many more are there.
That site dated back 2,700 years, and that was not an extensive exploration/evaluation of the site.
You really think that over a span of around 3,000 years, the people living at what is now the Rayonier site did not cross Ennis Creek, and inhabit both sides of that creek? This is Lincoln's position, that the "cultural resources" are only on the East side of Ennis creek, and the west side is "safe" for development.
So, yes, I agree that the village should be protected and that aspect of the region explored for archaeo-tourism. But, it will have NO such value with industry and residences built over the top of it, even if that could be done.
Remember, the property is privately owned, currently. The city is trying to impose it's development ideas on the owners and taxpayers.
"I repeat.....pathetic, you should all be ashamed"
Okay, please tell us exactly what we SHOULD be discussing.
Really... I'd like to know."
Don't waste your time with this person. They clearly have nothing constructive to offer.
How about discussing solutions, rather than criticizing every little thing or one. Trolling around this blog, putting down others is "pathetic".
Jeff Lincoln says the Market Assessment is "Disappointing" for Harbor-Works. Doesn't that depend on what the expectation of the studies' outcome is/was?
I'll bet if someone conducted a survey of Port Angeles residents months ago, and asked if they thought there was any interest in developing new retail businesses, industries or residences ANYWHERE in Port Angeles, much less in the admittedly "isolated" (again, quoting Jeff Lincoln), problem plagued former Rayonier mill site, few would answer in the positive.
Look around. For the last two years, mills have closed, former employees left for jobs elsewhere, school enrollment has dropped, foreclosures have hit record highs, residences and storefronts sit empty, unemployment is at 10% and more. It might be a different situation if the rest of the nation were doing well, and some shining knight of a corporation wanted to/could afford to relocate to the isolated community Port Angeles is, and save the day.
My point is not to harp on "Doom and Gloom", but to point out that the expectations were/are unrealistic.
You may want your son or daughter to be a rocket scientist, but if they have a heavy appetite for meth, with no aptitude for math, it probably is an unrealistic expectation.
The most pathetic person is the one who wishes to stifle conversation, distract from the topics being discussed, and keeps repeating themselves.
It's the work of a feeble, narrow, uncreative mind. Ignore the troll.
say something constructive, stop being insecure, weakness oozes from your comments
"Trolling around this blog, putting down others is "pathetic"."
And we're all doing that, are we? ("pathetic, you should all be ashamed")
Your comments are so all-encompassing it's insulting.
"What we need to look very carefully at is the potential impacts of the development on the business core of Port Angeles," Lincoln said.
"Although this is an isolated site, its impacts are not isolated."
Gee.. these look a LOT like the very same concerns raised recently in posts at this site. Could it be that Jeff Linclon, who has posted here before, is raiding this site for inspirations?
Ya better tell Karen Rogers it isn't all about her.
"pathetic, you should all be ashamed"
Everyone here but you, of course.
I say we put in a big wooden roller coaster, and a theme park! It could be "redneck wonderland" (spelled cute, with the R's backwards). The urban areas (i.e. those with money) can come and have a great time with games such as "guess how many teeth" and "find the meth head", whack a moron....
One section could be an old indian village archaeologic site, and another could be the pipe-dreams of the city of Port Angeles.
I vote for a theme park at the old mill site.......Mr. Lincoln, are you listening?!!
At least the kids would have somewhere to hang out on Friday night.
"I say we put in a big wooden roller coaster, and a theme park! It could be "redneck wonderland" (spelled cute, with the R's backwards). "
I'll bet Jackson could even make up those signs!
I just about fell off my chair laughing when I read this, this morning:
"PORT ANGELES -- Four specially trained dogs were barred from major portions of the waterfront when they recently sniffed for Native American remains.
Officials at the Port of Port Angeles, Nippon Paper Industries USA, Rayonier Inc. and an unidentified business refused to allow the canines on their property when the dogs were in Port Angeles from Nov. 30 through Dec. 4, said port, company and city of Port Angeles officials Thursday."
Isn't the Port of Port Angeles a partner in the very formation of Harbor-Works? THEY don't want ancient human remains identified on THEIR property, out of concerns for what those findings may result in, but they expect future buyers of lots on the former Rayonier mill site to find such prospects inviting?
These guys must be on some REALLY strong mind altering drugs!
I'd rather see some specially trained dogs find the honest government and elected people in this town, state, nation. That would be something.
"These guys must be on some REALLY strong mind altering drugs!"
To Hell with meth.. or the drugs like fluoride the city is putting in the water to medicate everyone with... I want the drugs those guys are on.
Hey! There is an idea. Just get the city to put the same mind altering drugs the Harbor-Works guys are on in the city's water supply, and then everyone would see the same deluded visions they are promoting.
No opposition. Lots of support. All good, right?
I don't know if there ISN'T someone putting something in the water supply, or being sprayed into Walmart air and put into Mountain Dew. Folks around here seem pretty ignorant of all the greedy stupid nonsense going on. Most people seem to think "they're the experts" and "they'll do whatever they want" and "I haven't really thought much about it"
The masses are too fat, lazy, full of junk food to care about much more than who's on American Idol.
"The masses are too fat, lazy, full of junk food to care about much more than who's on American Idol."
America. Love it, or leave it.
This isn't AMERICA. It's not the creative, energetic country full of ideals. It's fat, lazy, stupid, ignorant people going for the easy answers and saying "that's good enough".
Our country has been stolen, our people complacent. We might as well go back to a monarchy, and slavery. (Wait! Isn't that what your credit card debt is? And, instead of a monarch, we have a corporate dictatorship.)
Our elected officials don't see a downside to taking massive amounts of money to do whatever the corporations want. We keep electing the same (now rich) stooges, con men, crooks and liars.
Guess we like it...
The America today is NOT the America of 30 years ago. It's like going to Disneyland and mistaking THAT for reality.
"The America today is NOT the America of 30 years ago."
Exactly my point.
At what point do you acknowledge the " fat, lazy, stupid, ignorant people going for the easy answers and saying "that's good enough", .. keep electing the same (now rich) stooges, con men, crooks and liars" IS the America of TODAY!
Love it, or leave it.
Unless you have a better idea.
Jeff sez: "Given the natural site of that, with the berthing potential there and access to deep water, we'd be looking for marine-related industrial or light-industrial activities to make the best use of the land."
By next August, Harbor-Works will have decided whether or not to acquire the Rayonier site.
I get the feeling that this is a project looking for a rationalization. Initially, the local cronies decided that THIS piece of private property, as opposed to the funky Chinook Motel every tourist drives by, or any other privately held properties around town needed to be made "productive" again. Why this piece? Even Jeff Lincoln calls it "isolated" from the rest of Port Angeles business.
So, the cronies form Harbor-Works to buy this admittedly probalematic property, so that they can sell lots for retail, residential and industrial uses. The preliminary studies show limited demand for those markets, so much so that Lincoln says they wouldn't make the project economically viable.
So, now he is " looking for marine-related industrial or light-industrial activities". The Port of Port Angeles doesn't already have more "marine" related properties than it can lease out? It needs more vacant lands?
Hey, pass those drugs to the rest of us!
Here is part of the actual press release put out by the Dept. of Ecology, that was reported in todays' PDN:
" Should Harbor-Works or any other entity acquire the mill property from Rayonier, they would be added to the agreed order as a responsible party."
Gee.. Why did the PDN exclude that part, in their article about this?
And, if Dept of Ecology is paying for the "due diligence" work, what is the $1.3 million the city and Port of Port Angeles gave to Harbor-Works for?
Oh, that's right. Salaries.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Dec. 21, 2009
09-296
Grant to help Harbor-Works study possible purchase of Rayonier property
OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) today announced it is awarding a grant to the public development authority interested in purchasing the former Port Angeles Rayonier mill property.
Ecology's integrated planning grant will provide the Port Angeles Harbor-Works Development Authority (Harbor-Works) up to $200,000 to do a market analysis and "due diligence." This process involves studying existing technical documents about environmental contamination and doing additional work to help Harbor-Works make an informed decision about taking on the property. A scope of work defines the specific tasks Ecology agrees to reimburse.
"We feel it's important Harbor-Works and the public understand what would be entailed if it ends up purchasing the Rayonier property," said Rebecca Lawson, Ecology's regional lead for the toxic cleanup program. "The work they'll do under this planning grant should pave a solid path toward answering many critical questions."
The former Rayonier mill property in Port Angeles is one of Ecology's top toxic cleanup priorities. Ecology is currently negotiating with Rayonier on a new legal agreement (agreed order) for cleanup actions on the property and in the adjacent marine areas. Should Harbor-Works or any other entity acquire the mill property from Rayonier, they would be added to the agreed order as a responsible party.
The grant will cover costs associated with environmental assessments for property acquisition; market analysis; cultural review; and habitat assessments.
Ecology's integrated planning grant is a pilot project funded through the Local Toxics Control Account. Local governments, including public development authorities, are eligible to apply for the grant, up to a maximum of $200,000.
State law encourages Ecology to fund local governments that are considering ways to expedite toxic cleanups and revitalize property.
can someone put that last post into PLAIN ENGLISH for me, I'm too tired to try and read through the b.s. Does it mean that the burden will -- partially -- or fully pass onto the city of Port Angeles for their part in this fools folly? does it give the people who made this mess...a way to weasel out (with the proper legal muscle, that is)?
Smells funny to me.
"Does it mean that the burden will -- partially -- or fully pass onto the city of Port Angeles for their part in this fools folly?"
Here are the two relevant sentences FROM the State agency that is in charge of this stuff.
Here is the first: " Ecology is currently negotiating with Rayonier on a new legal agreement (agreed order) for cleanup actions on the property and in the adjacent marine areas." That seems pretty clear. This new "agreed order" is to be announced in the next couple weeks, maybe mid Jan.
Here is the second relevant sentence stated by the Dept. of Ecology: "Should Harbor-Works or any other entity acquire the mill property from Rayonier, they would be added to the agreed order as a responsible party."
The words to focus on are "Should Harbor-Works.. acquire the mill property from Rayonier, they would be added.. as a responsible party."
So, Jeff Lincoln and the rest of the obviously impartial Harbor-Works employees and proponents may tell the public that Rayonier will be solely responsible for the costs of the multi-million dollar clean-up of the site, you can see the state sees it otherwise.
Also remember that there are two levels of clean-up under discussion. In 2004, the Port Angeles City council passed a zoning ordinance for the Rayonier property stating it would be only suitable for industrial uses. This was a huge gift to Rayonier, because the standards for clean-up of the hazardous wastes to allow industrial uses of the property are MUCH less stringent than the standards for residential development. You know, that envisions kids playing in their back yards, and such.
So, as you listen to Jeff Lincoln talk about the wonderful potentials of that property, remember the realities. Any proposed uses that would allow people to come in contact with the soils there would require the more stringent "Unlimited" clean-up, which is MUCH more expensive than what is currently planned for.
So, this adds another potential trap for Port Angeles residents. Perhaps all agree that Rayonier cleans up the property to the less expensive "Restricted" standards (as is the current plan), and Harbor-Works buys the property. Then, for the property to have ANY projects involving public uses of the lands, the city would then have to under take cleaning up the property to the more expensive "unlimited" standards.
As we see in the original post of this thread, Lincoln tells us there is a limited market for industrial properties in the area. What does that leave? He now includes "residential uses" in his options. Who is responsible to clean up to that required standard?
"By next August, Harbor-Works will have decided whether or not to acquire the Rayonier site."
Who believes that Harbor-Works has not ALREADY decided to buy the property, and is just going through the motions, now?
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