Last summer, draftsman and designer Larry Larson challenged residents to submit ideas for the future of the intersection of Third Avenue and Main Streets, a hole in our downtown since the old elementary school gym there was torn down in 2011.
We should take up Larson’s challenge.
The fate of the lot has been a topic of discussion at least since 2007, when the old school was replaced with today’s Haines School, where the elementary and high schools are combined.
The development crowd wanted a business on the empty lot. Preservationists and others wanted a municipal park. Larson proposed a hybrid, a plaza, pavilion and amphitheater on the lot’s north side, with spots for seasonal food vendors on its downhill, south end.
Faced with deciding the future of this lot back in 2011, the Haines Borough Assembly punted, opting to wait 10 years and see what shook out. In the interim, Aspen Hotel and Haines Brewing Company built attractive buildings on western lots of the former school property, and work resumed on an unfinished building across the street.
Waiting was a reasonable decision in 2011 when much of Main Street was blighted, but now that the area has seen significant improvement, it’s time to finish this corner.
Part of the logic behind the assembly’s delay was that there was no hurry, so why not wait for some use for the lot to germinate? Besides one secretive plan to locate a private medical clinic on the spot, no other public proposals have been made.
As few things are accomplished Haines quickly, here’s an idea that may fly. The borough could solicit ideas for private development on the lot. If none are more attractive or supported than Larson’s, forget private ownership and ask for proposals for creative uses of public space there.
The lot already serves as a de facto park in summer, complete with picnic tables. At the holidays, it’s the town’s Christmas tree spot and fireworks lookout. It’s also a perfect spot for watching parades. Larson’s plan calls includes adding rest rooms, a trail connection, an across-the-street bike shelter and new facades for the south block of Main Street between Second and Third.
His plan is a reasonable start for resuming a downtown revitalization effort that began in 2010 when the borough paid $40,000 for a downtown plan. The borough turned over the effort to the Haines Chamber of Commerce, then fumbled it by putting it under former manager David Sosa. The plan is still valid; revitalization meetings tackled only the first few of its recommendations.
Serendipity, spurred by good journalism, filled the breach. Chilkat Valley News reporter Karen Garcia’s “Ghosts of Main Street” series in 2014 spotlighted four empty buildings and inspired new resident Chris Thorgersen to purchase several of them, plus others, for renovation and rental. “First Friday” events launched by the Alaska Arts Confluence brought crowds downtown to socialize and shop.
Due largely to Thorgersen’s efforts, Main Street is looking better than it has in 40 years.
But Thorgersen and First Friday can’t turn around our downtown by themselves. More work is needed filling in empty lots, improving existing structures, encouraging small businesses to take root along Main, and promoting local shopping to keep those businesses afloat.
That’s a big project, but success in other towns tells us the same should be achievable here, particularly if approached in small bites. The Haines Borough – which played an important role by selling school property to the hotel and brewery – should step in again and make a decision at Third and Main.
As we’ve seen already downtown, a little bit of inspiration can inspire significant investment.