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Moss Bay Neighborhood Association Report, Jan., 2002 |
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by Laura Lee Pritt We watch new stores and restaurants open for business. We see new condominiums, apartments and hotels being built. There are festivals, "magic nights of shopping", discounts days for residences, Santa at the park, Wednesday markets, and a lot of other efforts being made to attract people to downtown. Despite all of these much-appreciated activities, the fact still remains; we are not spending enough of our money in Kirkland to sustain businesses. There are consequences to this other than watching businesses close. When we do not have a healthy business environment we do not produce enough sales tax to pay for the City of Kirkland services that we have all grown accustom to. Other cites, where we are spending our money, are the ones that benefit – their stores and their government. We could raise taxes, or cut back the level of service we receive from the city, or try to attract big business that would produce the needed sales tax revenue. But none of these solutions would improve our city and keep us, the residents, from driving to Bellevue or Redmond for the things we need. We don’t want to do all that driving. I believe we would like to shop here in our own town. So…what is it going to take to get us to spend our money here in Kirkland? This is the big question of the day, or should I say the year. For the past year or more, concern groups have been organized to brainstorm ways to revitalize Kirkland in hopes of improving its economic environment. The city formed the Downtown Action Team (DAT), the Chamber of Commerce started a Community Economic Development Committee, and as always, Kirkland Downtown on the Lake (KDL – a downtown merchants association) continues to be dedicated to this cause. They/we all want the same thing; a vital city that provides it residences with stores, restaurants, services, entertainment and a supportive city government. Each group has a little different approach but the same questions keep coming up: would more parking do it, less traffic congestion, or how about different stores, or better access to the lake front? Would any or all of these things get more people to come to downtown and spend their money? They can only surmise on the answers to these questions with out hearing the real answers from the citizens. So…what are the real answers? Please tell us by filling out the form below and mailing it to Laura Lee Pritt, Moss Bay Neighborhood Co-Chair, 715 2nd St. S., Kirkland, WA, 98033. If you prefer, you can e-mail your answers to lauraleepritt@hotmail.com Your time in filling out this form is very much appreciated. Let us know what you think will work.
Moss Bay Neighborhood Association is Kirkland’s downtown neighborhood extending from 85th to N.E. 68th, and east and west from the train tracks to the lake. We meet on the first Thursdays of even months at 7pm in the Kirkland Library. Our web site, www.mossbay.org , has lots of useful information, news and links to other Kirkland sites. If you would like to be on the active e-mail list please e-mail Don Winters, the web master, at winters58@hotmail.com For any other inquires please e-mail either neighborhood co-chair - John Alberti at quietlyjr@aol.com or Laura Lee Pritt at lauraleepritt@hotmail.com.Index of Courier Articles | Moss Bay Home
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