Anacortes Seeks More Tourism
Economic, Development Woes
Improving in County’s Second City

by Michael Barrett

The trials and tribulations that have plagued the City of Anacortes over recent years are showing signs of resolve now; but the up-and-down nature of the economy and how it affects overall development still isn’t clear in the county’s second-largest city.

For example, will the new Fidalgo Resort at Skyline go ahead? Will MJB begin work on a major commercial/residential development along Fidalgo Bay? Will a contractor from Coupeville win a suit to build hangars at the beleaguered Anacortes Airport?

Ian Munce, Anacortes city attorney and director of planning and community development, points to recent successes. He mentions T Bailey’s planned move to a much-larger plant location on March’s Point, which will take the noisy pipe-making factory far away from the ears of residents around 22nd and R. He says, “The Walgreens project is moving forward,” referring to a national drugstore outlet taking over the dilapidated Copeland Lumber facility on Commercial Avenue. He claims “some settlement discussions” regarding Fidalgo Resort. And he points to the classy new three-screen cinema opened last year in Old Town.

About the airport controversy, in which the city and Port of Anacortes have been at odds over correcting a 20-year-old mistake in zoning, an issue that has even gone to court, Munce quips: “It appears that peace has broken out.” But the port is now in trouble with the feds over denying a developer the right to build hangars there; the Federal Aviation Authority pays much of the airport’s costs; and the developer, Jim Martyn of Coupeville, is suing.

As to the MJB project, in which the Seattle-based company wants to develop its waterfront acreage along Fidalgo Bay into condos, marinas and retail stores, Munce says what will happen to the 70 acres from Cap Sante Marina to 29th Street is still being considered. Recently, MJB asked the city to rezone industrial property in that area to commercial so a 165,000-square-foot Fred Meyer superstore built. Four years ago, the developer was turned down on an attempt to get a rezone for a smaller grocery store.

 

Charming Old Town

On the bright side, Anacortes is looking to the future for increased tourism, putting theory to action on a giant arch across Commercial Avenue to invite travelers to come to Old Town on their way to or from the ferry terminal at Ship Harbor. Now, most motorists turn at 12th Street, missing downtown completely. With the arch, they might be enticed to stay longer and enjoy the many shops, restaurants, bars and hotel/motels in the area north of 10th Street.

“The arch is a volunteer effort; it’s not really elaborate, costing only about $15,000, and will be made with structural steel supports and plywood,” says Doug Colglazier, one of leaders on the steering committee.

“We’re doing it with the city’s blessing,” he continues. “It’s not intended to be a sign. It’s a gateway — an archway — inviting visitors to our Old Town.”

The 25-foot-high arch would cross Commercial between 10th and 11th streets and be highly visible to traffic turning at 12th. The footings could go in this summer, standing on the parking strips — on the west side where there’s a vacant lot and on the east next to Washington Federal Savings and Loan, where Colglazier works.

The arch is the first step in a major revitalization effort spearheaded by the chamber with help from the state Office of Economic, Trade and Community Development, and the federal Main Street Program. Anacortes would be the first city in northwestern Washington this side of Port Angeles to receive such accreditation, according to Susan Kempf, program administrator in Washington.

“When I was in Anacortes recently,” she says, “I was very impressed with the kinds of people they brought together to discuss revitalization. Downtown Anacortes has a unique space. (It’s) looking at the Main Street model as a way of moving into the future. It recognizes ways to ratchet up.”

“We’re a certified community in waiting,” outgoing chamber director Andy Mayer says about the program. “We’re in a bit of a holding pattern.

“Main Street focuses on the 20 square blocks of downtown, promotes it, looks at the streetscape, and gives it an identity,” he adds.

 

Anacortes as a destination

Tourism seems to be high on everybody’s mind these days.

“We’re excited about where we’re going tourism-wise,” Munce told a recent chamber meeting, referring to how hotel-motel taxes are helping the visitor’s center and the chamber do some outside marketing.

“We’re a Northwest seaport village. We don’t need to have a contrived theme. We’re a Northwest Cape Cod, a Northwest Nantucket, with a heritage of fishing and logging,” Colglazier says.

“We want to make Anacortes more of a destination place than a pass-through,” says Curt Oppel, the chamber’s Promotion Committee chair and Realtor with Windermere.

The trick, he adds, is getting everyone to agree on how to promote business, put in signage, add enticements.

“Not everybody’s on the same page,” he laments. “It’ll be interesting to see how the Main Street plan is received.”

And business in general has been down, as in most places.

“There are pockets of strength plus some companies going through some difficult times,” Mayer admits. “We’ve gone through some pretty profound shifts; and traffic in town has been slow.”

Mayor Dean Maxwell blames it on the nation’s economic woes, compounded by the terrorist attacks on the East Coast late last summer, but points out that Skagit County hasn’t taken the brunt, especially in more-isolated Anacortes.

“Despite the economy and the Sept. 11 tragedy, Anacortes’s economy seems to be holding its own,” Maxwell states.

“We’re in an economic-development mode. There are some who are getting opportunities with industrial properties, like MJB and T Bailey.” He also mentions the Majestic Hotel, gutted by fire more than a year ago, and how “two interested buyers” have come forth.

“It’s hard to predict the future,” the two-term mayor adds, “but having seen the past, we are well positioned when the economy turns around.”