MONROE – Hundreds of cars go through town on U.S. 2 every day, passing many businesses on each side of the road.
Many people – even some town residents – assume they are going through downtown, when they are actually missing Main Street, south of the highway, said Vickie Mullen, who owns a restaurant and retail shop downtown.
Mayor Donnetta Walser said, “We want to make clear we do have a downtown.”
After a request from the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, the city is planning to create directional signs to attract more people downtown, city officials said.
The signs would likely cost a couple hundred dollars and be installed on U.S. 2 and Lewis Street, which crosses Main Street, said Neil Watkins, the chamber’s executive director.
The project is a part of the city’s efforts to revitalize downtown since most of the city’s substantial growth has occurred along U.S. 2, Watkins said.
And more growth is expected out there.
The city recently finished planning the North Kelsey development north of U.S. 2, said Hiller West, the city’s community development director. In 2005, businesses are expected to start coming into the 58-acre development. The city owns 35 acres, and Snohomish County owns the rest. Both are discussing how to market the area.
Some downtown businesses are concerned the new development might negatively affect their businesses, Mullen said.
That makes having the new signs key.
“Signs to show where the downtown is are very important,” she said.
What businesses will end up in the North Kelsey area is unknown, Watkins said. But he hopes they would coexist and thrive with downtown, rather than compete against it.
Walser said she hopes the directional signs would become a step toward that goal.
“We all want the same thing,” she said. “We want the downtown merchants to do well.”
Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.
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