Upcoming Forum on Architects’ Recommendations

This Tuesday there’ll be a forum to discuss the recommendations of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for improving Port Angeles. It will be at 6 p.m. in the Port Angeles City Council chambers, 321 East Fifth Street.

Port Angeles Forward will be reviewing the comments from this forum when they prepare their formal recommendation to the City Council.

The report of the AIA, which the city received last August, can be viewed here.

American Institute of Architects: Suggestions for Port Angeles

The gist of the AIA report is that Port Angeles hasn’t been capitalizing on the traffic that passes through on the way to Victoria or Olympic National Park. Travelers are not given enough reason to stay in town. (More details here and here.)

The report is available at the city’s website here. There’ll be a public forum on the report; no date has been set yet.

Last summer’s Painting Downtown was one of the Architects’ recommendations.

Other recommendations include creating a waterfront promenade that would encompass the Waterfront Trail and the ferry terminal. They also recommend increasing activities at Gateway, which should bring more people downtown.

They recommend changing the intersection of First Street, Front Street and Golf Course Road to a roundabout. This way you wouldn’t have to make that 150 degree left turn from First Street to Front Street and then try to merge into the traffic that’s barreling down on you.

First and Front Streets would both become two-way streets, but they’d remain one-way downtown (between Lincoln and Valley Streets). This change is a few years away and would require additional funding from the Transportation Dept.

They also recommend re-routing the Truck Route away from downtown. This also is a long way off.

Future Design for Port Angeles

Earlier this week, city staff and members of local tribes and community organizations met with two members of the American Institute of Architects. They’ve awarded the city a $15,000 grant to help determine the future design of Port Angeles.

Erin Simmons, director of AIA Center for Communities by Design, said: “This is one of the most enthusiastic communities that I have met. It's a huge asset.”

There’ll be a public meeting sometime between March 16th and 18th for people to give their opinions on which issues are most important for Port Angeles’ future.

Nathan West, Economic and Community Development director, said they’re seeking input on ways to fill vacancies in downtown buildings; better options for pedestrian, bicycle and motor traffic; sufficient open space, and access to the waterfront. He said the focus of this project is the city’s “International Corridor Area” — First and Front Streets from Ennis Creek to the Valley Creek estuary. He referred to “the feel you get when you drive through your community and the appeal of your surroundings.”