It's been a while since we talked about Astoria so today just a few thoughts on what's going on and what might need some attention.
Every time I round 8th to Commercial I'm struck by the appeal of the Courthouse, Post Office building and the Boyington building. It's easy to see the real effort that's been put into the Shipyard and Astoria Events Center to make that building a plus. After the tragic Thanksgiving fire a few years ago, the building that once housed Bank of America has been transformed into an attractive storefront that fits right in.
In between all that investment and forward thinking we have the old men's clothing store (it's been empty so long yet another generation is growing up thinking it was always a giant pigeon coop) then the former Sears across the street, the former Benjamin Franklin branch in a building that is visibly sagging makes one wonder about whether the town has any condemnation laws at all.
There has to be a way to deal with this now decades-long issue.
There has always been talk about parking downtown. That's only been an issue on a busy
Friday night and all day Saturday for most people. It has been studied and then studied again.
I think all we really need is some peak-time parking. Maybe when the old Benjamin Franklin building crumbles we can park on the rubble on a busy weekend.
The City is a little behind technologically. I say "a little" because there is limited downtown wifi. The city has a wifi broadcast that covers a block or two and the rest comes from coffee shops who are generous enough to have unsecured wifi connections. Bravo for them! We need citywide broadband Internet connectivity.
There is no true overnight delivery service. "Overnight" here usually means three days..if the wind is blowing the right way. Lacking this service holds us back in many ways from a business standpoint. People who do business out of their homes must find this less than convenient and we do have a lot of that here.
Some things have improved. With the opening of the Loft at the Red Building we now have a right-sized venue for many events. The establishment of the Astoria Events Center helps with this. The Liberty Theater continues to find creative ways to entertain. Astoria will soon be home to the only film museum in the state celebrating movies made here and throughout Oregon. We have some of the best restaurants anywhere. Our riverwalk has been a hit from day one and who doesn't love the Astoria Trolley? I am concerned that the drive to expand the riverwalk isn't necessarily something the public cares about while more pressing matters wait.
If I were asked to prioritize those things that are important it would look like this:
1) Fix all the streets
2) Condemn those derelict buildings on Commercial
3) Sell the yacht club building and property.
4) Make a long term plan for the old Safeway block and execute it.
5) Provide covered outdoor playgrounds at the grade schools
6) Finish the Chinese Cultural Park project
7) Build a citywide broadband wifi network
8) Build a new public library and archives
9) Fix the streets again
10) Build a tribal cultural park and move the wooden Indian head away from the entrance to town. It is not emblematic of Astoria.
What kind of list would you make?
Re: downtown parking.
ReplyDeleteWhen The RITEAID/THRIFTWAY mall was built downtown merchants screamed bloody murder that since there was plenty of free parking out at RITEAID and the parking meters in downtown Astoria were driving business away from downtown. Now everyone is crying because of the free parking. Time to put the parking meters back in.
Build a tribal cultural park
Why? Not needed and it would be an expense to please who?
Re: "Chinese Cultural Park"
There's enough Chinese in Oregon to support and fund something. Nobody else should be forced to pay for it.
Re: citywide broadband wifi network
Nonsense, it isn't the city's responsibility to provide free broadband anymore than it is beholden to provide free TV or AM/FM radio, or newspapers
Re: new public library and archives
And you're going to suggest city property tax payers support this? The current library is adequate and was mostly funded by the private bequest from the Barbey Family.
This list doesn't mention how these things would be funded. I don't discuss the planning process or try to sell anyone on increasing city expeditures. WIFI does not have to be free and could provide a revenue stream for the city. The tribal park is a bit "tongue in cheek" but the reason that carved head is there came from a desire to recognize the tribes. To me it's out of place. The library may be "adequate" in some ways but quite inadequate to meet growing demand for services.
ReplyDeleteTom,
ReplyDeleteThis is nicely done and I like your recommendations. I think one of Astoria's problems is that it believes it must always be building something new and forgets to keep what we have in good order. Then, when something breaks, there is never enough money to fix it right. For example, Bond Street has never been repaired, but the City built a new road a block long that goes behind the police department, which contributes nothing to transportation needs. My suggestion is that the City change direction. the City Manager remember that his job is to manage the community and not just his personal agenda of growth and awards, and we fix the stuff we have (the cracked riverwalk, streets, the poor aquatics center and keeping public safety up to par) without always having to rely on grants for these things before we devote money to new parks and other recreational stuff. Warrenton seems to have this practice and it works well for that community.
Tom: How can the city of Astoria place pipes and tanksunder a park? Did the voters not pass a ballot a year or two ago to restrict this from happening?
ReplyDeleteWhat about the problems now associated with lack of water flow in the sewage system which results in the staff (public works) having to flush and pump to get the residue to move? Lot's of extra man power and overtime to keep this mandated change operating.
The city of Astoria need to keep the wallet in their pants or purse for a few years. Every meeting it seems an emergency occurs and they anti up funds they can't afford.
The Chinese park has jumped from a $90,000 bad project to $800,000 does this ever stop. More parks more requests for funds, more charity fund raisers and no money to keep any of them up.
Long term plan for the old Safeway (Chinook Park) is to sell it.
Burn the Indian head at the Regatta.
Have fire sale downtown and let Leonard and his gang burn the buildings down. If we can't condemn them. 20 years of the unsightly rubble makes you appreciate Warrentons progressive approach. Old isn't always great, just look in the mirror every morning.
Astoria's streets are horrible. Didn't they add a gas tax to repair roads? What have they repaired?
ReplyDeleteThe over the hill route going down Niagara, 8th, Irving, and 11th is bone jarring, I've ridden on smoother roller coasters.
The only halfway decent streets are those that are state highways and not maintained by Astoria.
You're taking the money now fix up the streets.
Are they going to decorate the new large sewage receptor tank at tapiola park? The CSO project that the Astoria Metro area can ill afford....maybe the riverkeepers can raise some money for that, it's supposed to stop the sewage overflow into the waterways.
ReplyDeleteAnon above brings up great points. Maybe the City Manager can add cookie sales at the Pool to help pay back the public on his eagerness to be in compliance with a federal government going broke. Good Move Astoria, spend more money we dont have. I can't afford to go to the bathroom because my sewer bill is so damn high!
ReplyDeleteTo start all this downtown visioning, somebody needs to first get Mary Louise and Harry Flavel to the table on their derelict downtown properties because they are a formidable foe to anybody wanting to confront them and CofA, in some's view, is just as fearful and will be more than willing to wait out those two's destinies if need be to get at that property.
ReplyDeleteTill then that "Dead Zone" is still going to be collecting "Pigeon Poop" and "Rat Scat" it seems.
Does anyone else find that the Astoria Post Office has THE MOST hazardous slippery steps in town? I do not understand why they still have not put treads on them, despite the number of injuries and falls on those steps.
ReplyDelete