The Small Township Of Hoquiam Evaluates The Future And Keeps Up With Its Neighbors
Oct 12th, 2010 Posted in investment | no comment »Towns sometimes seem to grow all on their own, to become their own people, so to speak, practically independent of the people living in them. This is of course only an illusion, but the way time and culture shape a town, especially a small one, says a lot about the culture at large, and about the people who are shaping it, day by day, through thousands and thousands of decisions large and small. Sometimes, though, it is necessary to make a decision on some big changes.
Up in the Pacific Northwest is a town called Hoquiam, Washington. It was born and raised a logging and exporting town. It has maintained this identity through annual events like parades and logging competitions and an internationally popular event called Loggers’ Playday. All of which has served it well enough, but what will it do when faced with the possibility for growth?
This growth would occur along the Hoquiam waterfront, the part of downtown running along the Hoquiam River. What to do with riverside property is a question many towns face, and for cities with developed waterfronts like San Antonio and Baltimore, the investment was met with great success. An underused area became, in a few years, a popular area full of restaurants and bars, hotels and shopping, entertainment of all kinds.
The waterfront hasn’t been much in vogue since the 1980s, but recent development interest has revived a discussion about how best to use that area. There is a lot to consider, because of course this is tax money going into any new project. It’s important to review options and decide, as a community, how best to use and area, and who best to head up that development — a decision that can’t be taken too lightly.
Another consideration worth a moment is the relationship to Aberdeen, the larger city to the east. This relationship, like probably all neighboring towns, is one of friendly rivalry. And rivalry often does good things for innovation. The tow is at the mouth of the river, right on Grays Harbor, so it has opportunities no other town in the area does.
But it’s all a balancing act. The city can’t change too much or it risks losing its heritage. On the other hand, if it gets stuck in the past, it risks fading away, like so many other small towns do. Whatever changes get made will be made as a community, so the people of Hoquiam need to make sure they surround themselves with the right people.
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