About Us

The Port Angeles Downtown Association (PADA) is a Main Street Community. We represent over 200 Port Angeles Downtown Businesses. Our mission as the Port Angeles Downtown Association is to develop and promote a healthy and prosperous Downtown for Port Angeles, Washington. The Main Street Approach is a community-driven, comprehensive methodology used to revitalize older, traditional business districts throughout the United States. It is a common-sense way to address the variety of issues and problems that face traditional business districts.

Barbara Frederick, Executive Director

Contact Us: --click here--
Visit our office at: 208 N. Laurel St.
Port Angeles WA 98362
Mailing address: POB 582
Port Angeles, WA 98362
Email address: director@portangelesdowntown.com
Phone us: (360)457-9614

As a result of a two-day "Visioning" seminar that brought together community leaders, citizens of the community, and members of the PADA in June of 2005, a "Vision Statement" for a look to the future of Downtown was created. The Port Angeles Downtown Association is now creating a work plan for the future to incorporate the ideas that resulted from that meeting into a plan of action for Downtown.

VISION STATEMENT

In the future, downtown Port Angeles will be an active and attractive place in an incredible environment – a historic city where the mountains meet the sea. The district will support the community with high quality arts and sciences, cultural activities, shops and recreation. It will exemplify the quality of “small town life.”

Downtown will define the image and character of the community and be an inviting, historic, restored neighborhood – a pleasant place that is pedestrian friendly, clean, safe and beautifully landscaped, serving as the Gateway to adventure.

• Historic buildings will be maintained and utilized.
• The district will have a sustainable economic base featuring locally owned businesses providing excellent customer service.
• Downtown will serve as a tax revenue generator to support the entire community.
• The district will provide a “24-hour presence” with an interesting and vibrant mix of art, retail, office, restaurant, residential and entertainment opportunities.
• There will be an expanded, year-round tourism season based on the tremendous historic, cultural, environmental, and maritime assets. Historic experiences for tourists will be provided, including restoration of the underground. Additional attractions, such as an aquarium, performing arts center, and closed off alley, will be created.
• Through new events and activities, downtown will be more welcoming and festive.  Activities will have an emphasis on the uniqueness of the Pacific Northwest and tie the downtown and waterfront together.
• A thriving public market will be a focal point of the district.

The Port Angeles Downtown Association will work with the City and other community groups in a spirit of cooperation and unity of vision and purpose to achieve desired goals. By working together, the district will remain the “face and heart” of the community--a great place to visit and a great place to live.

                                                            VISION DEVELOPMENT
                                                     Committee Goals and Objectives
                                                   Port Angeles Downtown Association
                                                                          2006


ORGANIZATION GOAL

“To develop leadership that fosters a spirit of partnership and teamwork between stakeholders and increases community involvement in PADA and the downtown.”

Objectives:

Facilitate cooperation and communication between key stakeholders

        Activities:

        1.  Develop overall communication strategy that includes current tools (e.g
             email updates, quarterly magazine w/committee updates and info pieces,
             visibility at events, radio PSA’s) as well as new activities such as
             forming a speaker’s bureau that will put together ppt presentation and
             develop a schedule of speaking presentations
        2.  Website
        3.  Internal:  share committee minutes w/each committee; distribute board
             minutes two weeks after board meetings to keep board members informed
             of board discussions

Increase community involvement ($ and volunteers)

        Activities:

        1.  Schedule series of small “coffee meeting” to build relationships with
             stakeholders (solicit discussion on issues, challenges, ideas, opportunities)
        2.  Develop list of organizations in community w/info on their areas of
             interest/mission to identify opportunities for partnering on projects
             that meet mutual needs

Establish regular meeting schedule

        Activities:

        1.  Use website to publish monthly meeting schedule
        2.  Schedule Economic Schedule 1st Quarter of 2007

Develop a multiphase, long term plan that establishes attainable goals
and objectives with specific performance standards

Recommended Board Action:  Form a separate Organization Committee to
implement the work plan objectives/activities


DESIGN GOAL

“To create an inviting and pedestrian friendly environment that builds on cultural and natural assets and respects the historic character of the district.”

Objectives:

Develop and enforce design guidelines to encourage appropriate building renovations that maintain the historic character of the district as well as addressing in-fill on vacant lots

        Activities:

        1.  Monitor review of final draft of the design guidelines with the City
        2.  Link incentives to design guidelines/update marketing pieces
        3.  Promote guidelines on website
        4.  To create awareness of the guidelines, host design charette with
             professionals as well as activity with children
        5.  Annually, meet with City officials to review historic building
             codes as applicable to downtown buildings

Create a more pedestrian friendly environment (including providing additional landscaping and addressing traffic issues) and improve linkages from the waterfront to downtown (interconnected walkways)

        Activities:

        1.  Concentrate on Laurel Street corridor as linkage to district
             from waterfront (“ferry to fountain”)
        2.  Long term, block by block visual corridor review to identify
             other opportunities for pedestrian linkages from waterfront
             to downtown (“meanders”)
        3.  Improve visual merchandising & window displays – coordinate
             volunteer group of (e.g. Mrs. McCurdy, Eileen Night, Wendy?)
             to do model project & respond to requests for assistance; provide
             photo ideas as inspiration of fun window displays from across
             the state/country
        4.  Create a “Volunteer Maintenance” crew (Red Hat Ladies?) to do
             monthly site review to identify maintenance issues and contact
             appropriate authority (City, property owner, etc.)
        5.  Clean Sweep – develop additional volunteer groups (e.g. Senior
             City?) to assist with project

Develop a plan for creating inviting public spaces (e.g. places to gather, pedestrian mall, parks, etc.)

        Activities:

        1.  Continue to work on developing “pocket parks”
        2.  Continue with planning on promenade

Craft informative and attractive signage

        Activities:

        1.  Way finding signage to get people to the district and
             circulating throughout (“historic city center)
        2.  Develop interpretive sign program (history, environment,
             art) with start on Laurel
        3.  Encourage pedestrian scale signage (window lettering,
             projecting signs)

Continue to support efforts to provide street amenities (such as sculptures, murals, etc) that enhance the overall aesthetics of the district

        Activities:

        1.  Continue with park bench/trash can project
        2.  Continue with improvements to holiday decorations
             (angel banner project for Laurel, led lights?)
        3.  Coordinate and implement art banner project (e.g.
             Encinitas CA example)
        4.  Continue to enhance Art on the Town making sure to
             get input from diverse stakeholders

ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING GOAL

“To continue to enhance and develop a sustainable economic base and viable downtown.”

Objectives:

Monitor economic environment

        Activities:

        1.  Data collection – census, sales tax, business inventory,
             building inventory, consumer survey, business survey
        2.  Undertake business clustering analysis
        3.  Research database software

Promote awareness of incentives to encourage business and building improvements

        Activities:

        1.  Develop a brochure that lists all available incentives
            (financial and technical assistance)

Recruit growing, vital, and unique retail businesses

        Activities:

        1.  Passive recruitment:  be prepared to assist interested
             prospective businesses
        2.  Based on the vision, identify types of businesses that
             will complement the downtown mix – then identify specific
             list of target businesses in the region who might be interested
             in opening a second location – build a relationship so that
             as vacancies become available, you are ready with businesses
             who are interested in the district – give cameras to committee
             members to take pictures of the types of businesses for the district

Provide training and assistance to help strengthen and retain local businesses (e.g. classes on accounting, marketing, etc.)

        Activities:

        1.  Sponsor a workshop to prepare businesses for being successful
             in a competitive environment (e.g. Cynthia McBurney from
             Portland, Peninsula College/Customer Service)
        2.  Provide data to businesses as collected with suggestions on
             how to use the info
        3.  Keep businesses informed on topics/issues important to downtown

Support efforts to develop a year-round tourism industry

        Activities:

        1.  Link website to Chamber & VCB & other regional partners
        2.  Utilize office space to educate on visitor experience/
             opportunities (e.g. display of native artwork, photo
             display of park, photo of waterfront & downtown)
        3.  Set up computer for access to business directory
        4.  Develop itineraries of visitor experiences downtown
             (e.g. 1-hr, etc.)

Potential Committee Members:  Pat D., Jean Fairchild, Linda (EDC), Realtor (e.g. Doc Reese, Alan @ Remax, Jayce, Coldwell Banker?), Leroy @ PA Ford, Lori or Christy @VCB

E.R. Objectives on the “backburner” for the present:

        Assist with efforts to create a public market in the district
        Work in partnership with other organizations and entities to
        develop mixed use opportunities]

PROMOTION GOAL

“To promote the downtown as the ‘face and heart of the community’ - a vibrant, friendly, attractive and thriving district inviting to residents and visitors alike.”

Objectives:

Develop image building activities for the district

        Activities:

        1.  Combine Tree lighting/Lighted Parade/Santa Photos
        2.  Trick or Treat
        3.  Tie into Juan de Fuca Festival (e.g. Art of Dessert,
             Serendipity and Sidewalk Sale)

Increase local resident’s awareness of the goods and services available downtown

        Activities:

        1.  Plant the Town
        2.  “Downtown Minute” segment on PNN to promote dt businesses
        3.  Petite Pleasures of the Palette – fall
        4.  Long term:  themed print ad campaign

Promote native involvement in the community

        Activities:

        1.  Identify opportunities to tie/partner on events
             (e.g. Heritage Days, Art in Action)

Develop cooperative marketing partnerships

        Activities:

        1.  Website

Extend underground historical tours and historic promotions

        Activities:

        1.  Partner on Heritage Days

Support activities and festivals that tie downtown and the waterfront

        Activities:

        1.  Tie into Dungeness Crab Festival
        2.  Develop activities in coop with Arts in Action or
             as a stand alone activity