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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 2018)
7A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018 Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian Ron Schumacher checks out a car stereo at The Pawnshop and More. Downtown: ‘Old moving out, and new moving in is usually a positive’ Continued from Page 1A “I just think there’s room for a lot of what people are inter- ested in now,” she said, adding she sees a lot of growth in the local food scene. The Pawnshop and More, opened in the former A Gypsy’s Whimsy Herbal Apothecary, faced somewhat of a backlash over the store’s gun sales. But owner Gary Hunter and Man- ager Jon Shivers said the com- munity reaction to the store has so far been positive, and even was helped by the public- ity. The pawn shop’s opening in Astoria was partially driven by the number of coastal resi- dents traveling to his location in Longview, Washington, Hunter said. A Gypsy’s Whimsy moved across Commercial Street, and a similar store, Kit’s Apothe- cary, opened to the east on the same block, next to cosmetics store Muse Beauty Bar. After the antique store Posey-Reed moved from Com- mercial to 10th Street, Fruffels co-owners David Kiedrowski and Thomas Lawler saw an opportunity to escape the esca- lating rents of Cannon Beach, moving their boutique depart- ment store to Astoria last summer. New businesses hoping to make it downtown need to find a niche to avoid recreating what other stores do, Kiedrowski said, adding that downtown Edward Stratton/The Daily Astorian David Kiedrowski moved his boutique department store Fruffels to Astoria after seven years in Cannon Beach. He and partner Thomas Lawler have another location in Cen- tralia, Washington. Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian A message in a downtown Astoria storefront signals a new business is on the way. needs to look at an illustrated street map of businesses for visitors. Since the closing of Ada- gio last week, Hobson Build- ing co-owner Miriam Rose said she’s had a lot of interest in the space, and already has a new type of retail business close to signing a lease. “Old moving out and new moving in is usually a posi- tive,” Rose said. After Abeco downsized from its expansive storefront on Commercial Street to the for- mer Link’s Outdoor store just west, Portland vintage dealer Bill Hicks acquired the build- ing. He hopes to reopen the for- mer Abeco as soon as April as Astor Court, a miniature mall he is building for all types of businesses too small for their own full-scale storefronts. “I can see how in the win- tertime, without the tourists, it’s hard to keep the Main Street alive,” Hicks said, adding he hopes the smaller spaces can help smaller businesses remain viable. Representatives from the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association have cau- tioned patience when look- ing at the closing and open- ing of businesses. Sarah Lu Heath, the association’s execu- tive director, has pointed to new projects such as the two build- ings at Ninth and Commer- cial streets formerly owned by Mary Louise Flavel being pur- chased and refurbished by new owners as signs that downtown is progressing. Wild Roots Movement & Massage recently opened in the M&N Building being refurbished by Michelle and Marcus Liotta, with jew- elry store Terra Stones follow- ing soon. The success of development on Commercial Street has also spurred more activity off the main drag in places like the Astoria Riverwalk and Duane Street, Heath said. “The core of downtown is important, and its success has led to the expansion of those boundaries off of Commer- cial,” she said. “We’re hav- ing some turnover, but that’s natural.” Wev: ‘I don’t have any prejudices or Gladwin: ‘I want to run so that the preconceived notions about Astoria’ Jewell area again is represented’ Continued from Page 1A District 3 covers parts of Astoria as well as Miles Cross- ing, Jeffers Garden, Lewis and Clark, Youngs River, Olney, Green Mountain and parts of Walluski In her 30 years of land use planning experience, Wev has consulted clients in govern- ment and private sectors on development, zoning and fea- sibility studies. Government organizations have worked with her to help chart and manage growth. She also spent five years in former Portland Mayor Vera Katz’ administration as a member of a newly formed board that evaluated the results of policy decisions on public life. “You deserve leadership who understands how county decisions affect people,” Wev said in a press release. “Clat- sop County is poised for growth, but it must also be prepared for growing pains.” Wev listed economic development, housing, men- tal health services, drug addiction, jail overcrowd- ing, emergency preparedness, infrastructure and environ- mental protections as issues she would like to tackle as a commissioner. “The planner in me knows that a decision made today has lasting effect,” Wev said. “We are no longer the Clat- sop County of yesterday and we must have leadership who can prepare us for the Clat- sop County of tomorrow, while facing the challenges of today.” Wev also pledged civil- ity in her relationships with county colleagues and constit- uents. Over the past year, the commission has been marred by resignation threats, behav- ioral investigations and differ- ences of opinion about how much authority commission- ers should have relative to county staff. “Civil people may dis- agree on individual issues, but uncivil behavior is disrespect- ful to the people we repre- sent,” Wev said. Wev has lived in Seaview, Washington, and Astoria for the past four years. “I’m not a native Asto- rian, but I think that’s actu- ally a plus. I think that gives me a wide perspective. I don’t have any prejudices or precon- ceived notions about Astoria,” Wev said. “I’m not beholden to anyone. I’m independent.” Three county commission seats will be up for election on the May 15 primary bal- lot. Susana Gladwin, a Jew- ell farmer, has announced she will run against Commis- sioner Lianne Thompson in District 5. Andrew Davis, an Astoria medical data analyst, will run for board chairman Scott Lee’s District 1 seat. Lee announced in 2016 that he would not seek re-election. Continued from Page 1A background in a lot of things, and I want to give voters a choice.” Gladwin, who has lived in Jewell since 1971 and owns 9 acres of forestland, would like to focus on for- estry issues should she be elected, she said. She also would prioritize the housing strife, which she attributed to soaring rent prices in a booming econ- omy. “Always the people on the edge have no hope and are getting depressed and taking drugs,” Gladwin said. Issues that affect the Jewell area have not been properly discussed at the county level, Glad- win said. She added, though, that Thompson’s term hasn’t necessar- ily been a detriment to the community. “I want to run so that the Jewell area again is repre- sented,” she said. For example, Gladwin was “shocked” that she was the only person to offer public comment at a hearing before commissioners passed a vaca- tion rental ordinance in Janu- ary. If elected, she would use her connections in the Jew- ell community to inform peo- ple that a vote — and the last opportunity for public com- ment — was coming, she said. The five-commissioner board will have three seats up for election in May. Medical data analyst Andrew Davis announced he will run for the seat occupied by board chairman Scott Lee, who has said he will not seek re-election. Pamela Wev — an Astoria land use planning con- sultant — and Peter Roscoe — a former Astoria city councilor and owner of Fulio’s Pastaria — intend to run for Commis- sioner Lisa Clement’s position. Clement said she is not sure whether she will run for a sec- ond term. MAZATLAN M E X I C A N R E S TA U R A N T Open on VALINTINES DAY! Wednesday, Feburary 14th Phone 503-738-9678 1445 S. Roosevelt Drive • Seaside
