OAK HARBOR — The $8 million reconstruction of Pioneer Way in this city’s historic downtown is nearly finished.
The face lift includes a brand new street, angled parking and wide sidewalks. Benches, landscaping, stylish street lights and sculptures by local artists provide a new character. Un
derground wiring, new water lines and stormwater receptacles that filter the runoff as it goes down the drain are among the other practical features.
Reviews of the new one-way eastbound street are mixed, though most owners of small businesses along the half-mile stretch of Pioneer Way seem pleased. A party today, hosted by downtown merchants, Oak Harbor city officials and the Swinomish Tribe, celebrates the end of a long construction season.
Earlier this year, in the midst of the project, American Indian ancestral remains were discovered near the east end of the historic main street.
Since then Chester Cayou, a spiritual leader in the Swinomish Tribe has been at the site, developing friendships with the locals and offering prayers at a block-long archaeological recovery dig.
Northwest Archaeology Associates employees expect the excavation to last another few weeks, after which construction on that block will conclude.
A change on Pioneer Way was in the works for decades. People talked about fixing up the downtown shopping street with the hope of drawing people off the strip mall-lined Highway 20 and into the oak tree-lined older neighborhoods.
One day in March, the city’s contractor tore out the entire narrow old roadway, some of which had been there since the early 1920s.
The project received funding from the city’s utility coffers, a grant from Island County, real estate excise tax revenue and a grant from the state Department of Ecology.
Les Bense, who owns an antique store on the street, isn’t convinced that the one-way direction was a good idea and worth all the money and hassle.
“It increased parking, but only on the ends of the street,” Bense said. “There isn’t any more parking in front of my store than when it was parallel parking. And we never did have much foot traffic.”
City spokeswoman Rhonda Severns counters that the sidewalks give Bense enough room to display his antique rocking chairs out in front of his store. The wide sidewalks can accommodate outdoor art shows, lazy strolls and a crowded Christmas-tree lighting ceremony, Severns said.
“The one-way street will take some people time to get used to, but it’s no different than a traffic roundabout,” she said. “When people become accustomed to roundabouts, they usually like them.”
Ryan Nowicki owns a photography business and portrait studio on the street.
“I like the look and feel of our new street, but I am concerned about the switch to one-way traffic,” Nowicki said. “In the long run, though, I think we’ll all like it.”
Down the street, interior decorator Victoria Matzen already does. The coming Christmas shopping season should be good, she said.
“My customers like the angle parking, which we didn’t have room for on the old street,” Matzen said. “When I moved here in 1972, downtown wasn’t good. Now I am thrilled.”
Several new businesses opened on Pioneer Way during construction, in anticipation of the new look, Severns said. The city plans to measure the results of economic development along the street during the next few years, she said.
Today, candy store owner Kay Coolidge plans to pass out popcorn to people attending the Pioneer Way celebration party. Merchants plan to host a free lunch and hand out treats to kids. The Swinomish Tribe is set to barbecue 500 pounds of salmon and entertain with ceremonial dances by young members of the tribe. Music, a fun run, a ribbon cutting and other activities are planned.
“It’s a new beginning for all of Oak Harbor,” Coolidge said.
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.
Join in
Pioneer Way Celebrates, marking the end of an eight-month reconstruction project, begins at 10 a.m. today at the Dock Street intersection with a dedication and lunch at noon and Swinomish dancing at about 2:30 p.m.
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