KELSO LONGVIEW
Vol. 4, No. 3 • March 2012
Business Connection Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce
City’s streetscape workshop sparks ideas
C
ommerce Avenue should be a safe and attractive destination point that strengthens the downtown Longview economy. That’s the conclusion of the 2011 Downtown Action Agenda adopted last year by the City of Longview. Recently, the City hosted a streetscape design workshop on February 15 and 16 to move that vision to reality. Urban designers were on hand at the workshop to capture people’s ideas visually and create preliminary designs for a new look for downtown streets, specifically Commerce Avenue. “The workshop was well attended by more than 100 interested citizens,” reported John Brickey, Community Development Director. “We are very pleased with the creative suggestions and quality design concepts resulting from the two-day effort.”
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“We should bring back the corners of Broadway and Commerce as the hub of the community, like R.A.Long planned it to be,” said community volunteer and retired history teacher Bill Kasch. He’d like to see the Kortens building, originally the location
of the Chamber of Commerce, turned into a community center with volunteers to greet people, and the Economic Development Center housed upstairs. “We can’t lose this spot to an out-of-town owner,” he said.
March 7
“There are things we can do to make Downtown Longview look appealing,” said Longview commercial real estate broker Longview residents Dr. Jim Donnelly, Bill Kasch, Lee Starr and Bill Bill Hallanger. He Hallanger consider options suggested at the Downtown Longview streetscape workshop held Feb. 15–16. suggested replacing At the end of the workshop, the the “bug-attracting,” overgrown birch trees — which block the BergerABAM urban design professionals provided preliminary designs reflecting view of storefronts — with smaller trees. the community’s best ideas for streetscape Justin Bell, a member of the Downtown elements such as street lighting, expanded Advisory Committee, said he was impressed sidewalk space, public art, gathering places with ideas expressed and displayed at the for public events, and landscape features workshop. “It’s a step in the right direction.” to improve the aesthetics, safety and Barbara Donnelly, a Longview resident and functionality of the downtown streets. The longtime advocate for visual improvements designs will be refined over the coming in civic places, reacted to the displays: weeks, and the Longview City Council “Wonderful. We’ve needed it for a long will approve a final design for the detailed time. It’s nice to have a professional planner engineering drawings to implement the and landscaper.” She added an idea to the streetscape work, according to Steve mix. “We’ll have to involve the community Langdon, the City’s Planning Manager. in a clean-up day . . . Earth Day.” For additional information please contact Langdon at 360-442-5083.
Lower Columbia Professionals Committee Meeting
Education Committee Meeting
March 8
Quarterly Membership Meeting “State of Education”
March 12
Member2Member Monthly Mailing Deadline
March 20
Longview Downtowners Meeting
You are invited to attend the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce
March 7 March 8
Ambassador Meeting
March 13
Business After Hours
March 5, 12, 19, 26
Legislative Breakfast Briefings
TUNE IN ever y WEDNESDAY Your Chamber Connection KEDO AM1400 3– 4pm Contact the Chamber to schedule YOUR 10-minute business spotlight
Thursday, May 17th
1st Quarterly Membership Luncheon
Cowlitz Regional Conference Center • 900 – 7th Ave, Longview
Cowlitz Regional Conference Center
Business Expo: 11am–4pm Afterhours Reception 5 –8pm
“STATE OF THE EDUCATION”
1900 7th Avenue • Longview, WA
March 8, 2012 • 11:45am - 1:30pm
Keynote Speakers for this event include:
1563 Olympia Way • Longview, WA 98632
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Kelso School Superintendent Rob MacGregor
Longview School Superintendent Suzanne Cusick
Lower Columbia College President Chris Bailey
WEA President Mary Lindquist
Government Affairs
MONDAY MORNING BREAKFAST BRIEFINGS 7am Monticello Hotel LaRiviere Room
Hear their discussion on current issues with education & how they are handling the issues during hard economic times.
IN THIS ISSUE
We would like reservations for the “State of the Education” Quarterly Membership Meeting. I understand if I make a reservation and am not able to attend, the fee is non-refundable. $30 Members • $45 Not Yet Members Name: Phone:
Downtown Longview . . . . . 2-3
Business Name:
No. Attending:
Downtown Kelso . . . . . . . . . 3
Card Number:
Expiration Date:
Name on Card:
Business Briefs . . . . . . . . . . 3
Please Invoice:
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Amount: $ ___________
Please return to: Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce • 1563 Olympia Way, Longview, WA 98632 Fax: 423-0432 • Phone: 423-8400 • website: www.KelsoLongviewChamber.org
Around the Watercooler . . . . 4 President’s Message . . . . . . . 5 Business Toolbox . . . . . . . . . 7