Vital downtown seen as key to way of life:

The Olympian
Olympia, Washington

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Progress Sunday, March 17, 2002 McCleary \| *Business owners hold stake in community* Steve Bloom/The Olympian Geri Purvis (center), co-owner of Mike's Market, greets friends who stopped by the McCleary store, a favorite meeting spot in town. Steve Bloom/The Olympian Logging trucks are still a fixture in downtown McCleary. Shay Vital downtown seen as key to way of life LINDA TARR FOR THE OLYMPIAN McCLEARY -- When the Social Security checks come in, the community's older crowd gathers at the Next Door Cafe to catch up on a bit of gossip. Others meet and greet one another at the McCleary Post Office, the town's tavern, or at Mike's Market. While McCleary doesn't count on its downtown for the majority of its job base or revenue stream -- the nearby Simpson Timber Co. door plant which produces 700,000 doors a year provides that -- residents here do rely on the nine-block area as a community hub. In addition, downtown businesses owners need the district to be vital if they are to keep afloat. Fortunately for them, it's a hub that's growing in vitality, albeit slowly, with the city and McCleary Community Chamber of Commerce working to enhance the downtown. The community has not adopted a formal vision for its downtown -- the city's Planning Commission is in the midst of that debate -- but that hasn't stopped the city from improving sidewalks and streets. The city has been working on the downtown since 1996, with many of its projects funded by grants that range from $19,000 for restrooms at Beerbower Park to $1.17 million for the downtown improvement project. Overall, the city has received $2.15 million in grants to benefit the downtown since 1996, and it's seeking more. "It's kind of a recruiting tool," said City Administrator Brian Shay, adding that the businesses downtown wouldn't be able to come up with the cash through a business improvement district, as establishments in Olympia might, to spruce up the district. "They need all the dollars they can keep," he said. People-friendly town Video store owner Linda Cunningham said it's important to keep the downtown vital, if only to preserve the way of life people in McCleary are accustomed to. "What I like about this town is you couldn't find a bunch of friendlier people," said Cunningham, who is also the chamber president. Everyone knows one another, she said, and if someone faces trouble, it doesn't take long for word to spread through the community, often via downtown links. Once the word is out, people pitch in to help, whether it's someone who faces a long-term, serious illness or a family that lost a home to fire. "People will do anything for each other," said Mike Purvis, who co-owns Mike's Market and is one of the developers of the strip mall that surrounds it. He said most downtown businesses are owned by people who want to be part of the community, but cautioned the owners do have to watch their bottom line, something many people dislike discussing. "You can't separate the two. ... There is a personal side to the business. You won't find any corporate businesses in (downtown) McCleary. All our kids go to the same school. ... There's no way to separate that." The bottom line, however, is a constant concern for local businesses. Helen Lake, a longtime McCleary resident and owner of McCleary Realty, said downtown business owners often have a difficult time. "It's hard to make a living," Lake said. "Most business owners just keep their heads above water." She worries about the fact that the town now has four restaurants -- a view that contrasts sharply with that of Cunningham and Shay, who are excited that a long-vacant building is now occupied. Lake worries, however, that the town cannot support four restaurants. "Somebody's probably going to go broke because it's out of balance," Lake said. Improvement movement That type of concern is one reason why, despite an underlying reluctance among some folks to discuss the "ugly side" of business -- making money -- the debate about what McCleary should do to plan for business and industry is growing. It has sparked community workshops sponsored by the city, and new chamber programs, not to mention community debate over where the downtown hub should be. Working to enhance chamber programs and community events held downtown seems to be an aim upon which everyone can agree. The McCleary Bear Festival, held the second full weekend in July, is the town's best-known event and longest-held tradition, drawing more than 8,000 people last year. In attempt to bring more interest to the downtown, the chamber also began sponsoring a cook-off last year. The October event drew about 200 people, Cunningham estimates. In May, the downtown businesses also participate in McCleary Appreciation Days, held to thank their customers for shopping in town. The event features sales, giveaways and other events, Cunningham said, estimating a draw of more than 1,000 people last year. The chamber also is working to create McCleary Bucks, which it would sell. People who buy them can use them at area businesses, sort of like a gift certificate that works anywhere downtown. The nuts and bolts of supporting and zoning for a downtown, however, don't always draw the same consensus. For example, Shay says most business owners favor the town square-type approach, and don't want to extend the downtown much farther along state Route 8, the main thoroughfare through the city. Others such as Purvis favor the visibility that Route 8 brings, saying traffic passing through from Shelton, Olympia and other places will better feed community businesses. The debate is heating up this year as the city revamps its comprehensive land-use plan. "Two customers beat one any day," Purvis said. "I say that our business district should be in the spot that has the most potential to survive." Already the customer base is a combination of townspeople and out-of-towners. Out-of-towners The Simpson plant draws workers from Rochester, Centralia, Hoodsport and other places, and many of these workers stop in at restaurants and other shops. People going from Shelton to the coast stop by, as do those traveling from Aberdeen to Shelton. But traffic goes out of the city, too, with townspeople hitting the highway to shop in other places. Due to its proximity to Olympia and Shelton and their major retail offerings, such as Wal-Mart and other large chains, City Administrator Shay points to the need to encourage more specialty shops in town. "Places like McCleary need to offer better or unique business to bring shoppers here," Shay said. "Of course, it is always important to keep your local citizens shopping local as well." Lake points out, however, that it's not as simple as just opening the door and inviting unique businesses in. Despite many downtown improvements, there are many factors that make it hard for small developers to make a go of it in McCleary. For example, some prime commercial properties still have homes on them, and a developer would need to buy two or more of them to build, something Lake deems cost-prohibitive for small developers. Also, much of the town's property that's zoned commercial doesn't have available sewer service, so it's not usable, Lake said. The city is struggling to resolve such issues, with the need to upgrade infrastructure at the top of the priority list in a recent city workshop. Using the city's comprehensive land use plan as a better tool to promote development and having the City Council tackle land-use issues regularly also topped the list. In the works Despite its challenges, the city is making progress. The city is seeking $4.5 million in funding for a new wastewater treatment plant that would double McCleary's sewer capacity. The city has gained $385,000 for the facility design, and is applying for construction grants now. Shay hopes to see the facility built by 2005. The city also is seeking funds to move and expand the McCleary Library to a key downtown location along Fourth Avenue, adjacent to the post office. Shay said McCleary has gained $60,000 in grant funds, and officials hope to hear about another $50,000 they applied for soon. To bring young people downtown, the chamber is organizing a drive to build a skate park. It will be located downtown in Beerbower Park at a cost of about $20,000 and should be built this summer, Cunningham said. Teen-agers in town actually did lots of the legwork for the project, she said, and are getting excited about it. Businesses are, too, as it gives kids something to do locally instead of going to Olympia or Aberdeen, and removes the liability caused by skateboarders on city streets, Cunningham said. A newly remodeled downtown community center is drawing interest from all age groups. It's been rented heavily since the upgrades, funded by $35,000 in grants, with the city kicking in $10,000. The remodeling included a new subfloor, floor tile, insulation, windows and fixtures. In addition, bathrooms were upgraded and new sheetrock replaced the old wood paneling on the walls. "That's a draw that always brings more people," Cunningham said of the center. While Cunningham acknowledges that progress is slow, she points out that things are moving in the right direction -- even if it seems like McCleary is taking "baby steps." She added the projects that the city and chamber are tackling are extremely visible, such as fixing Main Street. "I think anytime you make a change in the town, it seems to add flavor to people. ... They get excited," she said, and that brings momentum with it. Visit McCleary, and you can feel it in the atmosphere and see positive changes such as fewer vacancies in downtown buildings, she said. "We look like we're trying to move forward and grow instead of die," Cunningham said. "The vitality just seems to be picking up, considering we're in a depressed area." McCleary by the numbers - Population: 1,565 - Population in 1990: 1,235 - Demographics: 94 percent white, 0.2 percent black, 0.9 percent American Indian/Alaskan native, 0.7 percent other, 3.5 percent two or more races. - Growth: Growth should remain steady or decrease slightly. - History and landmarks: Captain Robert Gray discovered Grays Harbor in 1792. Between then and 1848, when settlement began, the McCleary area was visited only by trappers. In 1864, the area was owned by the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. The city was founded in 1943. Home of the McCleary Bear Festival, Simpson Door Company, Sing Log Home Manufacturing. On the Web: McCleary Community Chamber of Commerce City of McCleary Sing Log Home Manufacturing Simpson Door Company The Olympian Copyright 2002 back to main Progress index

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