Community Corner

UW Students To Present Ideas For Downtown Gig Harbor's Future on Aug. 21

For the past nine weeks, the students with the University of Washington have reviewed ideas to improve use of the land, buildings and parks in Downtown Gig Harbor.

On Wednesday, Aug. 21, University of Washington Architecture and Planning Students will present their ideas for Downtown’s future in a public meeting.

  • Gig Harbor Yacht Club (8209 Stinson Avenue)
  • Open House Viewing of Proposals: 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
  • Student Introductions & Presentations 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

For the past nine weeks the students have reviewed ideas to improve use of the land, buildings and parks in the downtown waterfront.  They have held three open house meetings to get ideas and comments from citizens.  The study has focused on ten different study areas:

  • Finholm District
  • Museum District
  • Eddon Boat Park
  • Ancich Net Shed & Property
  • Arabella’s Landing
  • Skansie Park
  • Downtown at Harborview and Pioneer
  • The Haub Property and Boat Barn
  • Old Ferry Landing park
  • The Harborview Drive Experience 

Specific concept recommendations will be summarized by the ten senior and graduate working under the direction of Professor Jim Nicholls, on this "Storefront Studio" project. They will publish a 150 page book to further explain their ideas.  For each project site they have looked at strategies for increasing housing, promoting water access and use, reprogramming of existing historic buildings, promoting small business, and implementing a “complete streets” approach to pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular movement.  Project recommendations focus on both the short and long term.

Find out what's happening in Gig Harborwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Waterfront Alliance President, Gary Glein, said “we are very pleased with the creative ideas being presented by the students.  They have considered large development ideas like the 4 ½ acre Haub property as well as improvements to individual buildings and parks.  They have been sensitive to our history and preservation of waterfront view corridors yet the ideas are provocative and make us think of how downtown will look in the future.  These ideas will help our community decide what to emphasize.  All interested citizens should hear the prpresentations this Wednesday.”

The project is sponsored by the Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance with the support of the Helix Design Group of Tacoma.  The mission of the Waterfront Alliance is to promote economic vitality consistent with maintenance of the traditional character of the downtown.

Find out what's happening in Gig Harborwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Information on this project can be viewed on the www.storefrontstudio.org website.  Executive Director Mary DesMarais can be contacted at 253-514-0071 or  email executivedirector@ghhwa.org.  This final community open house and presentation will be Wednesday August 21st from 4:00 to 6:30pm at the Gig Harbor Yacht Club on Stinson just above at Harborview.  By Trolley, get off at the Eddon Boatyard stop.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Gig Harbor