News
Merchants hatch 'semi-secret' plans to revive Waterland, downtown Des Moines
Des Moines business owners and officials have embarked on a "semi-secret" effort to revive the downtown area of Des Moines," according to Wayne Curran, owner of Page Turner Books.
After years of disappointing results, Des Moines business owners report that they are partnering with the city of Des Moines to revitalize the area.
To facilitate these efforts, Destination Des Moines, a group of business promoters recently dormant in the poor economic climate, has re-formed, planning to focus on drawing tourists and local visitors to Des Moines. Michelle Fawcett, owner of Salon Michelle and member of the Destination Des Moines board, said that the new board was elected at a July 13th meeting.
"We had people in the community interested in... getting this show on the road," she said. At this point, the board will primarily focus on recruiting members, but they will likely take over several traditional community events in the future.
"We're definitely committed to bringing back the [Waterland] parade," she added.
Efforts by local businesses to draw visitors downtown go back a few years, Curran noted. One of the first involved giving customers who brought a receipt from another participating business a discount on goods and services. Since its start, the program has constantly increased in popularity.
Curran cited Snohomish and Leavenworth as examples of small towns with vibrant shopping districts. He suggested that Des Moines, too, could become a place "where people come on weekends to get that downtown shopping experience."
Though neglect has contributed to relatively sluggish economic growth downtown, Curran said he is "really optimistic" about the area's future.
Next June, he and other business owners plan to sponsor a daylong music festival in Des Moines, featuring indie rock bands from the Northwest and other areas.
"It's important for us to give [visitors] a reason to come here," he said.
Morgan Hicks, owner of All Points Yarn, is hopeful that city officials are committed to "making business easier to conduct in Des Moines."
These actions compliment grassroots efforts by the business owners to reach out to members of the community, especially families and seniors.
"A good business is responsible to its people," he said, describing a free knitting course his shop has sponsored for new mothers. He has also encouraged local businesses to create websites that a new web directory, www.lostindesmoines.com, can link to. Flyers and coupon books may soon spread information that now travels only by word of mouth.
Like Curran and Fawcett, Hicks expressed excitement about upcoming collaborations, saying, "We all want Des Moines to thrive."
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Comments
Downtown Des Moines
It wont work, Other than Anthony's homeport, there isn't much to do in Downtown Des Moines. How about putting more restaurants and bars along the waterfront? Right now all there is are condos, and that only benefits the people that live in the condos.
How can you compare Leavenworth to Des Moines? Leavenworth is a theme town, while Downtown Des Moines is an Eyesore. How about giving downtown a Caribbean pirate theme? Ha!!! that will bring in the kids and their parents!!
Destination DesMoines
I find it funny that people can assume so much without research or even asking the leaders in our community the real story. In fact I find it reckless for a newspaper to print a story without interviewing all the people involved which to me is basic reporting.
There is no secret that Destination Des Moines is back and ready to help the community and the local businesses. After months of planning and several meetings with the local businesses, Mayor, City Manager and some council members Destination Des Moines elected a new Board of Directors through a publicly announced meeting on July 13, 2010. At this standing room only meeting, we selected 7 Directors: Bradley Hawthorne - President / Brenda Anders - Vice President / Tony Hettler - Secretary / Susan Geogebur - Treasurer / Michelle Fawcett - Membership Chair / Gene Achziger - Officer / Amber Scott - Officer.
The new Board is working diligently to pick things up and prepare for new events for 2011 as well as help with the existing events for 2010. We are almost ready to release a new calendar of events for 2010 and we are working directly with the city and our members to help take this community to the next level.
“…We envision Destination Des Moines will concentrate its work on bringing back the traditional events such as the Waterland Parade, then branching out to add new events, making the current events better and that will all help create the type of community in which we all want to live and work.”
We are all just volunteers trying to do our part for our families and neighbors. Please join us and help us to bring this community back together and restore the events we once had.
If anybody would like to become a member of Destination Des Moines and/or wanting to volunteer please call us at 206-870-7675 or feel free to email me directly at Bradley@BradleyHawthorne.com.
Our next Board meeting will be July 27, 2010 at 6:30 PM located at 22506 Marine View Dr. S.
I strongly disagree with
I strongly disagree with "guest." Des Moines is a wonderful town often referred to as Western Washington's best kept secret. "Best kept secret" for a reason too, overlooked and not recognized for its individuality. With a little TLC, other cities will be looking at Des Moines as the model. We need to clean up the waterfront, which is currently in process draw our own citizens closer and appreciate what we have. Then soon, others will pay notice and be drawn in to our beautiful. The last thing we need is more bars or sell out and make a some tacky theme town, but to focus on family friendly, free events such as The Waterland Festival, Farmer's Market or the concert mentioned above. Destination Des Moines is a step in the right direction and I for one am excited for things to come.
This "semi-secret" plan has
This "semi-secret" plan has been reported on extensively on Des Moines local news site, The Waterland Blog, as far back as June 22 of this year... so I guess it's not a very well kept secret.
Down Town
Downtown Des Moines has the potential to be something great...(a downtown on the waterfront!) but it needs a lot of work to get there.
Revitalization (Round 2 or 3(?))
There have been plenty of new eating establishments setup in the past few months to replace others that have gone away such as the business that has taken over Boston Pizza. Putting addition businesses along the waterfront invoves rezoning the marina. I don't think that is ever going to happen. Part of the problem with putting more eateries and bars in the area is that there may not be enough business to support the ones that are running now.
I think tearing down the old Blais Boat Center was a great idea. There is a piece of land that can be developed.
Ever since Waterland disappeared, Des Moines has had to reinvent itself with new community activities. This weekend is a good example of what can be done with the beer festival, the market, and the other activities they run during the year. Although some of these events may not be viewed as family friendly like Waterland was.