Nov/100
The Small City Of Hoquiam Evaluates The Future And Grows Up
The evolution of a town is always a delicate act, as much art as commerce. A town that has been established for one reason may find the need to explore other options as times change, which inevitably, of course, they do. But the way a town changes is a thing well worth paying attention to, because it says a lot about the changes in our culture at large.
Hoquiam, Washington is an interesting example of these changes. Originally a logging town, it continues to celebrate its heritage with an internationally known event called Loggers' Playday. And every fall there is a logging competition and parade to remind the people of the town how their hamlet came to be. But where some traditions are timeless, fundamental to the fabric of a town's culture, others have to be created anew.
Take, for example, the waterfront. This part of the city's downtown has not been well used since a 1980s Renaissance. But with the possibilities presented by new development, suddenly there's a chance that it can become a hub for the area. This city can't just rely on logging contests forever -- there's got to be more to a city's life than that.
There's space on the waterfront for hotels and shops, the kind of commerce that makes a town a city -- or at least a bigger town. A good waterfront area has done much for other cities, notably San Antonio and Baltimore. It creates a kind of city center with room for dining and shopping and entertainment. And of course there's a natural feature that serves as built-in scenery, something to sit by while sipping drinks or having a bit of dinner.
There's another reason for the city to develop its waterfront. There's a kind of long-running rivalry with its bigger neighbor to the east, the town of Aberdeen. These bigger towns often get more development opportunities, more tax money, than its smaller sister. Like the older sibling who gets all the new stuff while the little sister has to play with old toys. So it's in Hoquiam's interest to develop that downtown waterfront into a place friendly to locals and tourists alike, if for no other reason than it could give Aberdeen something to thing about.
That balance between tradition and innovation is an important one. But it's necessary to think about making change to avoid stagnation in a community. And when small towns such as Hoquiam find this opportunity for evolution, they should take a chance or two and grow.
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