THE PEOPLE: Downtown's variety attracts shoppers, residents: City's plans for new housing get support

The Olympian
Olympia, Washington

BACK

Homepage


Progress Sunday, March 17, 2002 Nicolle Gilsdorf installs ski bindings at The Alpine Experience. Joe Nicholson/The Olympian Caitlin Mason tries on hats at The Alpine Experience. THE PEOPLE: Downtown's variety attracts shoppers, residents City's plans for new housing get support MICHAEL BURNHAM THE OLYMPIAN "Two of the biggest reasons I moved downtown are two of the biggest myths about downtown: parking and traffic." -- Joe Hyer, The Alpine Experience OLYMPIA -- Those who live work and play downtown say the city center's attraction lies in its combination of niche businesses and unique character. Business leaders and residents alike largely support the City Council's push to attract market-rate housing atop mixed-use developments. They say it will add to a good thing. Former downtown resident Elizabeth Gibson said downtown is an attractive destination and living environment because of its socioeconomic variety. On any given weekday, she can find hip youths and college kids elbow-to-elbow with small-business owners and suit-clad state workers. "You can be who you want, as long as you don't step on somebody else's toes," Gibson said. "I don't want everybody to be the same person; that's not diversity." Added Olympia Downtown Association's Connie Lorenz: "It's not all Greeners or business people; it's how a mix should be." From a small home at the corner of 13th Avenue and Chestnut Street, Gibson would walk across downtown to her Intercity Transit job on State Avenue. On weekends, she'd haunt her favorite indie bookstores and coffee shops like Orca Books or Java Flow. She'd get there by foot. "You feel safe," she added. "That's the cool thing about downtown." Shoppers and residents are not the only ones attuned to downtown's perks. Downtown's Norman Rockwell streetscape and walkability are also attractive to business owners. "You wouldn't want to do business in some place where you don't feel comfortable," said Lorenz, whose 12-year-old ODA organization has 205 members. Joe Hyer moved his family business, The Alpine Experience, to downtown from the west side last year. "Two of the biggest reasons I moved downtown are two of the biggest myths about downtown: parking and traffic," Hyer said. While the business was adjacent to the Westfield Shoppingtown Capital mall, Hyer said west-side shoppers had to cope with traffic headaches. The downtown outdoor goods store now has 15 parking lot stalls and access to on-street parking. Having two outdoor goods vendors within walking distance is also a perk, Hyer said. "We have a lot of people walking back and forth between us," Hyer said. Business has boomed so much since moving downtown that Hyer opened an additional 1,000-square-foot showroom in February. Hyer said he's planning for the April opening of a shop with an adventure/travel theme in Fifth Avenue's New Caledonia building. On the Web: Intercity Transit The Alpine Experience Westfield Shoppingtown Capital mall The Olympian Copyright 2002 back to main Progress index

The Olympian - Olympia, Washington Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms of Service. ©2002 The Olympian.