Gilman Village: Proud Product of a Rescue

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Gilman Village: Proud Product of a Rescue
Photos by the author

Have you ever been faced with the challenge of saving vernacular architecture, and failed? The helpless feeling you are left with is hard to shake. You may feel that your official capacity or your historic preservation society should somehow be more effective. Well, sometimes preservation requires market forces.

In 1972, grocer giant Safeway planned to demolish sixty-year-old, cherished houses to erect its shopping center on Front Street in Issaquah, a suburban town about fifteen miles east of Seattle. One of those threatened buildings housed The Country Mouse, Betty Konarski’s beloved gift shop. Konarksi approached local land owner and developer Marvin Mohl with an idea. She persuaded him to preserve her business and the 1909 house in which it resided, as well as a few other historic, vernacular homes, by moving them to his property on Gilman Boulevard. Starting with four houses, Gilman Village was born.  Over the years, Mohl snatched up twenty eight threatened historic homes and buildings around town and moved them to “his village.”  The smallish homes could be put on a dolly pulled by a truck and driven to the site.

Downtown

Recently I enjoyed listening to Petula Clark’s classic performance of “Downtown” on Seattle’s KIXI 880 on the AM dial. It got me wondering if the song has had anything to do with the growing popularity of downtown living. Did you know that almost 60% of the United States population live in what is considered “urban” areas by the U.S. Census? This standard includes all cities over 50,000 residents. Is living in the city a passing fashion? Or is it the right way to live? What about sustainability? Your thoughts?

1965
Songwriter: Tony Hatch
Made famous by singer Petula Clark

Criteria for The Best Towns

Now that we have snooped around a few places, it’s time to establish some criteria for our discussions about “The Best Towns.” With this blog I hope to inspire an exploration of quality settings for people to visit or to live. Take a closer look at the town in which you live. Or go hunting for “The Best Towns” candidates on your next business trip. In either case, seize opportunities to evaluate features such as:

• human scale
• relationship to nature
• pedestrian friendly
• effective mobility and transportation

Columbus, Indiana: a Hidden Treasure?

If you are an architecture nut like I am, you’ve heard of I. M. Pei, Robert Venturi, César Pelli and Eero Saarinen. You’ve heard of the Pritzker Prize. But have you heard of Columbus, Indiana?

Columbus Indiana City Hall - photo credit IMA

The American Institute of Architects ranks Columbus SIXTH in the United States for architecture, right behind the superlative cities of Chicago, New York, Boston, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. It’s a marvel to think that Columbus has accomplished this in relative obscurity with a population of little better than 40,000 souls.

But before I open the doors to this living museum of modern architecture, I will take you back in time to unfold this mystery.

Mad about Scilly

Some of my favorite towns were discovered on vacation with my husband Rob. One favorite trip was an exploration of the Southwest coast of England.  We enjoyed many lovely places, from Penzance to Portsmouth.  Rob drove cautiously along the snaking country roads that weaved precariously in and out of towns, up and down the coastal hillsides.

But for the most enchanting part of the trip we left the car in Penzance and took the ferry to The Isles of Scilly. This archipelago of 50+ islands sits 28 miles west-south-west of Land’s End. Its temperate climate warmed by the Gulf Stream has long been a favorite for British tourists.

Scillonian III = photo credit Chris Walpole

(see Geograph.co.uk)

Like hardy Brits, Rob and I made the two and a half hour sea crossing on the islander-owned passenger ferry, the Scillonian III. We were blessed with an easy crossing. Not so for travelers crossing two days before us, who suffered in a stormy and sickening sea, taking twice the time to cross.

When the Sun Comes Up

All I wanna do is have some fun
Until the sun comes up
Over Santa Monica Boulevard

Sheryl Crow, All I wanna Do

With Sheryl Crow’s familiar lyrics rockin’ in my brain , I did not expect much from Santa Monica on my first visit. But on a subsequent visit, I found a delightfully livable, enchanting, Santa Monica. I just depends on what side of the freeway you are.

The first time I visited, I was put-up up at the sweet and swanky Huntley Hotel. It sits just north of the Third Street Promenade and a short walk to Santa Monica’s fantastic beaches. It seemed perfect.  

The nearby Third Street Promenade promised to be a great place to dine. I happily discovered sidewalk seating at a Spanish café with two young American men playing flamenco guitar near-by. This was a very nice combination.

Photo by Mayer Architects

But that’s where the enchantment ended. Shopping was limited to national chain stores. Only tourists and teenagers roved the streets. I expected more. I had read the area had been revitalized by the renowned Jim Rouse. I have a deep appreciation for Mr. Rouse. Maybe I just picked a bad day.

A year or so later I was assigned another gig in Santa Monica. This time I discovered Main Street, the real Santa Monica. 

Port Townsend People Join Forces Again

Port Townsend (credit: City-Data.com)

“We live here, work here, invest here. We just want to buy some socks here.” This is the motto of the future general store, the Quimper Mercantile in Port Townsend which will fill the void left by the beloved Swain’s Outdoor store in January. For those accustomed to Swain’s eclectic and essential inventory, the new store can’t open soon enough. As a fan and visitor of the Victorian seaport town of Port Townsend, I too miss Swain’s. Whether I was passing through, staying at a local inn, or anchored in the harbor, Swain’s provided just what I needed (towels, scone mix, a birthday card, socks).  It sounds like Quimper Mercantile will too, and then some.

That extra little bit will be engaged civic pride. The Quimper will be investor-owned. Locals have already raised $50,000 in seed money to fund a public offering. Lots of local engagement will be required to raise the $1 million needed. The new store is expected to open in Spring 2012.

This is not the first time the good people of Port Townsend have come together to invest in their town’s prize-winning, historic downtown. In the 1992 the Rose Theatre owner, Rocky Friedman, gathered up friends, and friends of friends, to invest in a glorious restoration of the historic movie theater, which sits just a half block off Water Street. I learned from Rocky that each investor, or shall I say “member,” earned a life-long pass to screenings at The Rose. The rest of us gladly pay the $9 ticket price for the rich experience of watching a carefully selected movie, often with an introductory commentary.

I congratulate Port Townsend for once again identifying and supporting what’s important, as it has done time and time again over the decades. From their Main Street Program, begun in 1985 to more recently the Northwest Maritime Center, modern PT-ites prove their muster and keep Port Townsend on my Best Towns list.

Inspired by Susan Gilmore’s story in The Seattle Times, Sunday, December 3, 2011

“Your Nearest Exit May be Behind You”

“Look around you; Your nearest exit may be behind you.”  Airplane travelers hear this advice so many times that they don’t even listen any more.  Such is the case with a lot of great advice, whether from flight attendants, teachers or our parents.  I am sure my Mother gave me “your nearest exit may be behind you” advice at some point while talking about life in general. And as is often the case with hauntingly great advice, I rediscovered it later, much to my delight.

I had been visiting Boston several times a year, usually staying at the Hilton Boston Back Bay.  The building, the concierge, and even the hotel name orients visitors to the delightful Boylston and Newbury streets of the Back Bay neighborhood, just a couple blocks north from the hotel’s front door.

The Back Bay district is chock full of historic buildings, top notch eateries and independent retail stores scattered among the national brands. What’s not to like?  But I often I’ve looked over my shoulder to a prettily splashing fountain and a magnificent church dome behind it.  Someday I will explore that… that place hiding behind me.

Minor League Town of Durham Delights

It was a perfect night for a baseball game: sunny with feather clouds in the sky, cool temperatures and a slight breeze.  I was wandering in the general direction of the baseball park which recently replaced the one made famous by a raunchy 1980s film Bull Durham.  I was unsure of how to get to there. I soon saw couples and families willy-nilly parking their cars but all walking in a single direction.  I followed them.

I had spent that evening, and the previous one, wandering the downtown of Durham. Two weeks before I had been in Raliegh. The disdain for Durham expressed by the good folks of Raliegh had me expecting the worst. I had to find out what was wrong with Durham.

Denver – Nicer than You Might Think

I was not expecting much from Denver. A suburban, western town, few of us are aware of its historic depth. Most know it from the airport: the mile-high Denver International Airport, the largest international airport in the United States. But venture into town and you will be treated to many delights.

One delight is the gracious hospitality of The Brown Palace Hotel, where I stayed on my first trip to Denver. It being a Sunday night and the hotel occupancy light, my arrival was quiet and serene. With few hotel guests milling about, I let my mind wander back to the days of the 19^th century, when the Brown had been built. This time-travel was a real treat.