For the members of the East Hill Partnership Steering Committee, the main goal is simple: Change the public perception of East Hill to encourage the many residents of the area to stay on the “high ground” to do their shopping instead of heading for the valley.
Meeting for the first time Dec. 16, the dozen members of the committee discussed where to begin and what role the Kent Chamber of Commerce, which put together the committee and hosted the meeting, could do.
Much of the discussion focused on cleaning up the area and increasing safety for shoppers.
“I think crime is a problem and that’s something I always hear from people,” said Harpreet Gill of Punjab Sweets, one of the leading advocates for an East Hill group.
Several at the meeting talked about the perception of gangs and crime on East Hill, though there was a split as to where it actually was occurring. Several cited the “Benson Corridor” as being the primary section where crime is a concern, saying the Kent-Kangley Road area did not have as much of a problem.
“I think we have to think about sections if we’re talking about changing the face of businesses,” suggested Deborah Nelons of State Farm Insurance.
But Chamber Membership Director Dana Krawchuk said the goal was to combine all of the different shopping areas of East Hill, from Panther Lake to Lake Meridian to the Kent-Kangley area, into a single, cohesive group.
“Our vision of East Hill is that whole, entire piece,” she said.
Together with the Kent Police Department’s “Weed and Seed” program, the goal is to beautify the neighborhood to make it more attractive to shoppers.
Several in attendance spoke of the need to get landlords involved.
“I think we do, in some way, have to involve the landlords and the owners of these buildings,” Nelons said.
Jim Berrios, who lives on East Hill as well as owns Golden Steer Restaurant, suggested the way to go may be to contact the landlords and attempt to get them to make improvements to their properties, such as additional lighting and general clean-up efforts to make the properties more attractive to shoppers driving by.
Berrios suggested getting multiple landlords together to discuss changes to several properties at once, adding that some of the strip malls were “tired-looking,” which is a put-off to shoppers.
“This truly is a big animal we’re talking about,” he said of the area, adding that the next step must be to “tame this animal.”
Members of the committee agreed that after changing the perception of the region, the next step would be to brand the area as a shopping destination with a cohesive feel.
“I don’t think East Hill has that right now,” Gill said. “It’s a mish-mash (of businesses).”
After the meeting, steering committee chairman Mark Taylor said the key would be to get as many businesses and landlords involved as possible, but said that perception of the area is “massive.”
“Regardless of what you really are,” he said, “you are what you are perceived (to be).
“We’ve got a long way to go.”
Have your say:
The Kent Chamber of Commerce and East Hill Steering Committee want to hear from you. What is your perception of East Hill and what would you like to see it become? E-mail your answers to Dana Krawchuk at danak@kentchamber.com.
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