Thinking Out-Loud About Kenmore Village – Let’s “Create and Incubate”
Kenmore Village is Becoming a Ghost Town
The Current Occupancy of the Kenmore Village
Recently, it was announced that the WA State Liquor Store currently in the Kenmore Village was moving to a new location (near Safeway). This got me thinking hard about my post entitled “Kenmore Village, Squandering an Opportunity to Create a 21st Century City” in which I criticize the City Leaders for erecting an $18 Million city hall above Kenmore Village that is literally dying right across the street. With only 3 remaining businesses in the Kenmore Village, I think it’s high time to throw out a couple of my ideas in the hope that SOMEONE over at the City of Kenmore is paying attention. Here goes:
Start a “Creative Workspace”
Click on this picture to learn more about Creative Workspace!
My fellow blogger, Jim Warner, posted an interesting article about Creative Workspace in Lynnwood, WA. Creative Workspace is a fascinating business which combines several concepts: It offers space for a huge variety of businesses (under one roof) while at the same time provides very flexible lease terms so that merchants can afford to do business without the challenges of long-term leases. The building gives access to the tenants 24/7 in a secure environment. Currently, their website highlights 22 businesses. There is also another Creative Workspace in Renton, WA.
Business Incubators – Not a New Idea
Back in the mid 1990’s I visited a business incubator in Ellensburg, WA. At that time I thought it was an interesting idea; however, I didn’t think it would be something I would ever see again. Well, perhaps the time has come for the City of Kenmore to consider the idea of turning the Kenmore Village into a 21st Century business incubator. There’s no reason why the current Village could not integrate a nice looking public space while at the same time create a highly productive business core.
I did a little research and found that there are a number of incubators operating in Washington State today:
William Factory in Tacoma
Click on the picture to view the website!
APEL in Richland, WA
Click on the picture to view APEL's website!
Ellensburg Business Incubator in Ellensburg, WA
Click on the picture to view the website
No More Reports – It’s Time to Act!
On June 1st this year, the City of Kenmore’s Economic Development Committee produced a report entitled “Capitalizing on Kenmore’s Potential.” This 117 page report is fascinating reading and I encourage you all to sit down some evening and examine it. I would also like to take our City Council, the Mayor and the City Managers to task and ask what plans they have to implement some of the (good) recommendations in this report? What substantive steps are they taking to stop what appears to be a migration of businesses out of Kenmore? Are they going to attempt to attract high quality businesses that produce good-paying jobs or are we going to settle for more retail? I’d sincerely like to know what the City Leaders have in mind.
Click on the picture to view the report
I realize that it’s easier to propose ideas than to actually implement them; however, the City of Kenmore is at an interesting cross road. Recently, economists have been suggesting that 2010 will be a better year with a 3.5% growth rate. They have also indicated that employment will lag in spite of higher productivity. I am convinced that it’s time for Kenmore to seize this opportunity, set some specific objectives in terms of attracting high-value businesses to Kenmore and start utilizing Kenmore Village before it becomes nothing more than a useless eyesore. In this way, the city can take advantage of increased business investment AND create jobs in the process.
November 24th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Amen James.
The Kenmore Economic Development Advisory Report received unanimous city council approval June 1st.
Six months later, the silence is deafening ….. soon perception becomes reality.
Many members volunteered to continue.
I’m hoping there’s something creative being done off the radar.
November 24th, 2009 at 9:37 am
BTW – I’m familiar with the William Factory Incubator, Phase 2, facility expansion.
In my business development capacity at http://www.deacon.com, I brought that job to SD Deacon to bid in 2008, and we were awarded the project, which was completed 3rd quarter 2009.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
James: That is something new. I like it. It’s certainly better than a ghost town they’ve developed so. The Kenmore City Councils insistence in retaining Kenmore Partners as the developer is ridiculous. The site plan is much more solid now, so we have a pretty good idea of what other developers and architects would be biding on.
The City Council is planning to have a new employer in town. It’s called City Government and that’s one reason the new City Hall building is five times bigger than the old hall. But hey, the voters gave them a new stamp of approval, so let’s see if they’re enamored with the council in a few more years. Public involvement will have to be much higher to overturn the block voting city council machine. If you see taxes go up in the meantime…. that’s what happens when you vote for people who don’t tell you what they think.