| Archives: Letters To
The Editor |
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| Westport needs to maintain an
'authenticity of place' |
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| Tuesday, April 5, 2005
11:23 AM PDT |
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Authenticity is critical to the
success of any town - large or small. Westport is sited
very dramatically where Grays Harbor meets the Pacific
Ocean and maritime industries are its history. It is
critical to the success of Westport to maintain an
authenticity of place during this current period of
growth. Westport has the potential to attain a
pedestrian, people-focus for the Marina District, but it
needs to be more than a superficial, "Disney-facade"
such as a city like Leavenworth. Future planning and
development should reflect the current and past history,
industry and people - and with integrity.
Much of
the current development is occurring in the Marina
District, where there is tremendous opportunity for
"in-fill" development that replaces single, under-used
buildings and sprawling parking lots with buildings that
enliven the street life around the marina.
We
should work to preserve the unique heritage of Westport,
increase and celebrate the maritime industry, while
preserving nearby parks and open space where we can
experience the natural landscape.
New building
construction should be sensitive to the extreme climate
of the South Beach region. Climatic data reflected in
the local building codes require that structures be
capable of withstanding 100 mph winds and this should be
reflected in the architecture.
The salt air also
has a significant impact on buildings, and materials
need to be carefully selected to stand the test of time
in such a harsh environment. Building design that works
inland is not necessarily suitable for the South Beach.
The architecture of the area should be appropriate to
the coastal environment and unique to Westport and
vicinity. It is the responsibility of the developers and
architects working in the community to design for
Westport.
The City of Westport needs to be
proactive as a planning authority to ensure that future
development completes a vision that feels like a
diverse, yet cohesive community.
Successful city
planning will result in layered "land uses" with a
pedestrian-focus where the architecture of each building
is unique, but is compatible in the overall context of
the city. Mixed-use buildings can provide for a
community where people who work in Westport can also
afford to live in Westport. While kite stores and
doughnut shops may attract the tourist during the
high-season daylight hours, it is people living above
those same businesses who create activity from early
morning to late night. These same residents can help to
sustain small convenience businesses such as a cafe,
drug store and hardware shop.
Land use and zoning
policies should encourage a variety of housing options
so that Westport is able to support a wide variety of
income levels and a rich diversity of residents
year-round.
During our travel
to other coastal communities across North America and
Europe, we have found that the places people want to
return to are not those where only the affluent live,
but communities where you will see the hardware store
owner at the coffee shop, then have lunch at the same
cafe as a postal clerk because these places are central
to where they live and work. Memorable communities are
those where the geographic location, the climate and the
economy are reflected in the architecture; where you
look around and know that you are in a uniquely
identifiable place that can't be mistaken for anywhere
else.
The city has to show leadership in shaping
the future of development throughout Westport, either by
standing behind the most recent comprehensive plan or by
creating a vision in which all stakeholders - the city,
property owners, residents, and business owners - are
invested.
There is currently a contradiction
between the existing zoning designations, comprehensive
plan and shoreline regulations. The city needs to revise
and assemble all of these regulations into a single,
coherent land-use plan that will shape future
development - not in terms of prescribing types of
materials and paint colors, but in terms of mixed-use
development, building massing, view corridors, the
desired residential density and parking.
Now is
the time to support good development practices that can
enhance the livability and character of
Westport.
Grace Kim & Mike Mariano
Jr.
Members, American Institute of
Architects
Principals, Schemata Workshop
Inc. |
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