Port of Port Angeles: “Keep Out. No Trespassing”

A few months ago, that dock along the Port Angeles waterfront — between the estuary and the place where those pilings and cormorant sculptures used to be — was closed off with a cyclone fence. And the nearest parking places were all blocked off. A few weeks later the cyclone fence was gone and the parking spaces were reopened, but the dock had several “Keep Out” and “No Trespassing” signs which hadn’t been there before.

A friend of mine walked out onto the dock the other day and was accosted by some sort of security guard (presumably from the Port of Port Angeles). He was warned that he’d be fined if he was caught “trespassing” on the dock again.

He was told that the Port of Port Angeles has now “taken over” that dock and they don’t want anybody walking around out there. WTF? What’s the purpose of this?

Undoubtedly it’s easier and more convenient to just close off formerly-public property and keep the lowly public out. I hope this approach doesn’t get too common, or the next thing you know they’ll be closing the estuary so that the “riffraff” won’t be hanging out there. And think how much easier it would be to maintain the City Pier if it was closed most of the time, and only opened for specific events. And that public (for now) walkway that goes around the Landing Mall…

Changes/Improvements at Landing Mall

The Landing Mall is already one of the main attractions along the downtown waterfront. With excellent restaurants, shops and views of the harbor, it's a great place for tourists and local residents. And don't forget the Olympic Coast Discovery Center.

And soon there will be some new attractions. A bookstore, French bakery, wine & cheese shop and a florist will be added to the mix. The interior of the building is being remodeled, and when the remodeling is done (late August?) the new businesses should start moving in. There will also be a new viewing tower.

The Port Angeles waterfront just keeps getting better and better.

Port Angeles Waterfront Property Development

As you probably read the other day in the Peninsula Daily News, a new development project will soon be coming to the property at Oak and Front Streets in downtown Port Angeles. (Here’s the link.)

Black Diamond Harbor Plaza will tentatively include retail space, a restaurant, condominiums and an underground parking garage. Construction might start this summer.

The property is owned by Harry Dorssers, who bought the land from the Port of Port Angeles in September 2006.

So, what do you think of this project? Will it be good for downtown Port Angeles? I’d like to see the glass as half full instead of half empty. When this project is complete, a lot more people will be living in downtown Port Angeles. These will be affluent people who live within walking distance of everything downtown Port Angeles has to offer. This can only be good, right?

What do YOU think?