It is always interesting to read the Letters section of the Kent Reporter. Unfortunately, I feel one recent column inaccurately blamed the city for “problems” in downtown Kent.
It is tough running a business anywhere right now. We are feeling the negative impact in our historical downtown. It is never as simple as one reason why our retail businesses are hurting.
A comment was made that it was the city’s fault because of its part in the development of Kent Station. Kent Station’s proximity to historic downtown should help it, not hurt it. Ten million people have visited Kent Station since it opened in 2005. The Kent Downtown Partnership continues to work with the businesses and property owners in Historic Downtown Kent to take advantage of the crowds that visit Kent Station. There are many reasons why it doesn’t always work: small-shop owners aren’t able, or don’t want, to be open the hours of the shops at Kent Station; the target markets are different; and properties that have been left vacant for years simply aren’t attractive. Yes, some businesses in Historic Downtown Kent have not survived the transition and they are missed, but others have replaced them and those that have survived have done so because they have created something special that makes people want to shop or dine there.
ShoWare Center was mentioned as another one of the city’s debacles. Since ShoWare opened its doors just over two years ago, close to 700,000 people have visited the facility. The people attending events at ShoWare often shop and eat at other businesses in downtown Kent. All of these activities generate tax dollars for the city that help to pay for ShoWare Center and other City services. If we did not have ShoWare Center bringing all these people to downtown Kent, some businesses would have failed by now. ShoWare Center and Kent Station have revitalized downtown Kent in a way that many communities are envious of.
The Kent Downtown Partnership is working with the city to bring people from ShoWare Center and Kent Station into Historic Downtown Kent. The city built a beautiful plaza with a floating granite sphere donated in part by funds from two Rotary clubs in Kent. We worked with property owners to install lights on the buildings to make them more attractive. We have helped businesses improve their facades. The city is working on getting property owners to develop their vacant properties and soon will have some announcements to make about development of the parking garage project that failed years ago. As the economy improves, downtown Kent is ready for exciting development opportunities for small businesses looking to get started or expand.
Kent Valley Ice Center was mentioned as yet another debacle. I have two grandsons who play hockey at KVIC. They play hockey there, they practice there and they skate sometimes on weekends to keep themselves in shape. I have spent a lot of hours sitting in the stands watching hockey. The money that is made at the Ice Center is when they have tournaments. Teams average 15 players a team and when you have a tournament, the players, coaches, parents, siblings, sometimes grandparents – like me – and aunts and uncles all come to watch. When it is a tournament with teams out of town, they stay overnight. Often that means two nights; and they buy meals, take in a show and shop.
The Kent Downtown Partnership, Kent Chamber, Kent Station and City of Kent started a promotion called “Find It in Kent.” This tool was developed for our businesses to use to market themselves. They can go to the Find It in Kent Facebook page and post what specials they have to encourage their happy customers to post what they “found” in Kent to inspire other shoppers and educate them about what is in Kent. The Web site www.finditinkent.com is linked to by KDP, Kent Chamber, City of Kent. We are partners and our hopes are that this tool will truly help our businesses.
The KDP welcomes anyone who would like to share their ideas of how we can make our downtown Kent a better place to shop, dine, work and play. It takes people wanting to make a difference to be successful. We have a lot of that on the KDP Board but more help is welcome.
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