The Quiet Town Of Hoquiam Evaluates The Future And Grows Up

The evolution of a town is always a delicate act, as much art as commerce. A town that has been established for one reason may find the need to explore other options as times change, which inevitably, of course, they do. But the way a town changes is a thing well worth paying attention to, because it says a lot about the changes in our culture at large.

A fine example of this evolution is seen in the Washington town of Hoquiam. It was originally a logging town, a history it recalls with an annual event — Loggers’ Playday. And in the fall there is a logging competition and a parade to further remind the people how they got here. While maintaining these traditions is important, sometimes it’s necessary to invent something new.

Take, for example, the waterfront. This part of the city’s downtown has not been well used since a 1980s Renaissance. But with the possibilities presented by new development, suddenly there’s a chance that it can become a hub for the area. This city can’t just rely on logging contests forever — there’s got to be more to a city’s life than that.

Imagining a waterfront lined with shops and restaurants and hotels helps us think about how to make a town more profitable — both culturally and financially. Developing the waterfront area has done great things for cities such as San Antonio and Baltimore. This town could be like these cities in having an attractive downtown with plenty of cultural resources. On top of that, there’s the Hoquiam River itself, a naturally beautiful site where people can enjoy the environment while enjoying a drink, maybe some dinner.

There’s another good reason to consider its development options. There’s its bigger neighbor to the east, Aberdeen, with whom the town has a kind of rivalry. Bigger towns tend to get the better opportunities, often more money from the state, than the smaller town. Older siblings always get the new stuff while littler kids get the hand-me-downs. But so if the town thinks about what it wants to become and applies that vision in creating a lovely downtown waterfront, it can show that next-door neighbor how great a town can be.

That balance between tradition and innovation is an important one. But it’s necessary to think about making change to avoid stagnation in a community. And when small towns such as Hoquiam find this opportunity for evolution, they should take a chance or two and grow.

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