Down Town Port Townsend Charrette at the Pope Marine
On the way to the Pope Marine building, in Port Townsend…
Trees, architecture, dock…a feeling beyond our time…
At the splendid presentation, Rick Sepler -Planning/DSD Director was impeccable host, inquiring if there were any needs for clarification…Yet, the points listed clearly on large easels, were there to well state what was willed during the very attended City meeting…
The beautiful and windy morning seemed warm -inside the Pope Marine- with such copious attendance.
Attendance ranging from that of Port Townsend’s ubiquitous City Mayor Michelle Sandoval, to other Heads of Department in the City, to any citizen interested and participating… After a moment of conversation with Rick Sepler, this reporter learned that -as we have a beautifully Victorian City -we also have in it Victorian infrastructures to be revised.
Specially the side walks concern him.
He invited me to visit one of the under town corridors – and pay attention to the ceiling’s precarious conditions.
The City, he says, has already received from FEMA $3’000,000 to work, reinforce or replace several of the affected (by time) side walks.
Following his invitation, it is very easy to see dire need for what he tells us.
Yet, the concern of this writer are the trees.
Port Townsend’s center of charm is located probably Down Town.
It is this charm what brought us all in, our investments, and daily purchases…as well as those of our clients, customers and visitors…
It is thanks to this so special charm that our retail, restaurant and hospitality businesses have not only “survived” through the years, but bloomed…
In looking for reasons to find it so powerfully attractive; this writer realizes how rarely a Town (or City) feels fully -and richly- expressed.
Port Townsend is one of those rare Towns (Cities).
Port Townsend is 100% well expressed thanks to the presence of all its elements Down Town:
1 People,
2 Architecture,
3 Water Front,
4 Flowers,
5 Stores,
6 Restaurants
7 Services
8 Trees
Dismissing any of these elements, will take away 1/8 th of the super charming total expression of Down Town Port Townsend.
To this, Rick wisely has planned on re-forestation of the Down Town area streets. “No little twigs”, he states. “Good size trees to replace these ones -as you can see them on Monroe street”
At this, Terry Reckord, Principal of MacLeod Reckord, specializing in Urban design and Landscape Architecture -from Seattle- cheerfully offers to provide us with copies of Down Town Port Townsend -as it was originally.
As soon as they come, you will have them up here in the Port Towsend Peeps to enjoy and compare.
Interesting, endearing and fun how well we’ve preserved our “jewel” Town.
It seems to this reporter our Down Town could hardly be in better hands.
Yet, it’s good and healthy to walk it’s changes all of us, together hand-in-hand, so we all bring our lives to the project, which can only bloom that way.
Writer/Photographer: Leticia Huber
Blog post proudly presented by Huber’s INN Port Townsend… www.StayInHubersINN.com
…Your “Green” Bed and Breakfast in Port Townsend, Washington. We love serving all people, coming to the scenic Opympic Peninsula. Tourists, neighbors, visitors, or Winter Olympiads enthusiasts… Centrum patrons,, Ft. Worden friends, gourmets “foodies”, vegetarians, vegan eaters, hikers,sailors,divers, canoers,fisher people, When it comes to fun , vacations and festivals, we are Port Townsend is The Leader… come and EnjoyPT!
