Officials hope to link Olhava, downtown

Published 1:00 pm Saturday, September 2, 2006

POULSBO — Little Norway’s heart may always beat in its downtown core, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t receive an added infusion of visitors from the changing face of Poulsbo on the hill.

“We’re doing fine. It’s been business as usual,” said Historic Downtown Poulsbo Association President Glenn Anderson.

HDPA business owners haven’t complained about losing revenue or customers since the big box retailers opened, even though they arrived at Olhava during the traditionally slow season for the downtown district, Anderson said.

“It’s vibrant, and there’s a ton of people all over the place,” Anderson said. “We haven’t seen any ill effects.”

Mayor Kathryn Quade echoed Anderson’s observation of business downtown and the district’s continued evolution.

“We’ve got lots of new shops coming in, and I think things are going well,” said Quade as she surveyed the bustling downtown area outside her office window. “I think they’re holding their own.”

Downtown and the Olhava development, or College Market Place as Quade prefers to call it, are two distinct areas of the city that offer different goods and services, she said.

“I continue to stress that College Market Place is an integral part of the city, even though it’s on the hill,” Quade said. “I believe we all need to work together.”

Councilman Ed Stern said with the right plan, College Market Place could directly benefit the downtown area.

“There are people who will go to Wal-Mart, but they won’t go downtown, because they don’t know that it’s there,” Stern said.

Conversely, people who come to Poulsbo to visit the historic downtown district may not be aware of the retail center at the College Market Place, he said.

“There is an opportunity for everyone to work together and benefit the entire city,” Stern said.

Anderson said he is in favor of having Poulsbo’s four retail areas work together to promote the entire city. “I think it’s important people realize we have four distinct business districts: downtown, (State Route) 305, Viking Avenue and College Market Place,” he said. “We need good signage to do that.”

The HDPA has been working with the Greater Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce to that end, Anderson said.

First Western President Mark Zenger, who is the primary developer of College Market Place, said he has no problem with having kiosks or signs placed in the area to promote the rest of the city.

“It’s something we’re willing to do,” Zenger said. “We’re just waiting on a plan.”