Many differences and many similarities exist between these cities. Let’s start with similarities.
Population, from the 2018 U.S. Census: Poulsbo 10,927 people. Sequim, 7,481 and Port Townsend, 9,704.
Retail sales for 2018: Poulsbo was $484,036,676; Sequim $395,878,966; and Port Townsend $287,029, 148.
Per capita retail sales are a different story.
Sequim has the highest per capita retail sales at $52,917. Poulsbo is next at $44,297. Port Townsend is the lowest at $29,578.
This shows that the reliance by Port Townsend on tourism has not proved to be a wise decision. It also shows that the exclusion of so-called “Big Box Stores” was not a good idea, either.
Of course, Poulsbo has a tourist district. The old downtown along Front Street is a nice place to be on a warm summer day. Sequim has the old downtown area along Washington Street. We all know about Water Street in Port Townsend.
Let’s consider those “Big Box” stores. Generally the term refers to retail stores with a floor area of 50,000 square feet or more. Port Townsend has one, Safeway. In fact, in all of Jefferson County there is only one big box store. If the goal were to have the least amount of big box stores, Jefferson County would likely rank #1 in the area.
Sequim has three: Walmart, Home Depot and Costco, and quite a few other large retail outlets.
Poulsbo has four “Big Box” stores: Walmart, Home Depot, Safeway and Central Market, and a whole host of other sizable retail establishment.
A more telling difference among the three cities is the attitude toward business. Port Townsend has gone to extreme lengths to stop businesses from locating here. In the Eighties. McDonald’s and Safeway were both opposed, but not successfully. Later opposition blocked RIte-Aid and Hollywood Video. Port Townsend has been very successful in opposing new business. Just look at the per capita retail sales above.
But, this opposition has come at a price. It has not just been retail businesses that have been blocked. Manufacturing and affordable housing are all in short supply.
Of course, there has been much talk about affordable housing of late.
But, talk is cheap. It is the mainstay of any politician. They can talk about things for a lifetime and still nothing happens. This is likely what will happen with affordable housing. There used to be a bunch of talk about retail sales leakage. But, that was also just talk. The talk never amounted to anything. Port Townsend and Jefferson County lack retail sales and will likely lack affordable housing for many decades to come.
As a result, the tax revenue available for Port Townsend is lower than Poulsbo and Sequim. Lower retail sales results in lower property tax, sales tax and B&O tax revenue.
Just ask yourself the following: How many of you drive to Port Townsend for your needs? Instead of shopping here, many from Jefferson County go to Sequim and Poulsbo. This is a significant retail leakage that does not have to be.
By having more options for retail here in Jefferson County we could retain the retail sales tax and employ people in addition to having more revenue from property taxes for the additional retail stores.
And if that happens maybe the attitude towards affordable housing would change also.
The choice is yours! Just do not think anything will change until the general attitude in our community changes.
Craig Durgan is an engineer and businessman who has been instrumental in moving the Hadlock Sewer Project forward. Craig was recently elected Chair of the Jefferson County Republican Central Committee.
I would also add that Sequim has large Safeway and QFC stores as well as a two farm/rural supply retailers, Coastal Farm Supply and Clallam Co-op. Unless one is looking for tourist-related shops, Port Townsend offers nothing when compared to Poulsbo or Sequim. Not only that, but drive a few miles past Poulsbo and you have major retailers in Silverdale and Bremerton. Likewise, 15 miles west of Sequim lies Port Angeles and its regional business hub.
In short, Port Townsend has no business district because the gray ponytails who control East Jefferson’s culture and politics don’t want one. Grocery retailers, second hand shops and pot stores are all the ponytails require to meet their needs.
So I and thousands like me will continue to spend their retail dollars in Kitsap and Clallam Counties.
One of the things you’re not taking into consideration is maybe people DON’T want big box stores here. Perhaps that might be one of the draws to this area. I, for one, am only too happy to drive to Sequim or Pouslbo if it means keeping the big box stores out of here. Please people, quit trying to turn this into a big city.
I can’t say that I want a Walmart, Costco or Home Depot here either. I shop at each of these no more than 1-3 times per year and am content to drive to Sequim to access them. That said we could sure use a Coastal Farm, Tractor Supply or Wilco here in the Tri-Area. Another grocery store wouldn’t hurt either, as our QFC is cramped, has a very limited selection and is usually packed with people. We also used to have three auto parts stores in the Tri-Area, and now we have none. We do, however, have at least 3 or 4 dope stores, two of them within an easy walk to Chimacum schools.
But then the losers that run our backward county government would probably never allow any of these to be built here, even if the interest was there. One of these days I just might find myself driving to Sequim for groceries, auto parts and hardware, too.
Simple economics…more revenue, more jobs etc. and just maybe PT could “afford” to improve streets, housing, etc. Where is the data that shows that big box stores would turn PT into a “big city”? Data proves increase revenue which can be used to improve the entire infrastructure and make PT a BETTER city! And for those happy to travel to Kitsap or Clallam counties ~ aside from travel time, consider fuel consumption and “air quality” issues!
So allow the county to build them, put them outside the city. But no, the city has to control everything, whatever the city says the county does, so no sewer, no businesses. But that too can be fixed through deregulation!
Mr Durgan’s analysis centers on the possibility for economic improvement if only citizen attitudes or political will were more accommodating.
If only…
In a democracy, political will is generally reflective of the will of the electorate. In this case, it is doubtful that political will could be changed without changing citizen attitudes.
At present I suspect only a very small minority of the electorate is interested in allowing major retailers in the County. While more and more might be persuaded as time goes on, I also suspect it will be a very, very long time (if ever) before enough voters sharing that opinion become a majority here.
In the meantime, those few citizens earnestly and fervently yearning for major retail (or the taxes they generate) in Jefferson County can really only do one thing: Join in principle with Mr Durgan and agitate, demonstrate, and generally plump for a relaxation of proscriptions. Even though aimed at a different audience, the tactics contained in Saul Alinsky’s “Rules for Radicals” might be useful.
Saul Alinsky’s RULES FOR RADICALS will never be useful here!
One might wonder why, specifically, RULES FOR RADICALS will never be useful here.
Ms Berl, please defend your thesis.
Very good points that I had not thought about.
I am opposed to big box stores in general. Walmart and Costco have put so many Mom and Pop stores out of business. They have killed Main Street in so many towns. Having driven cross country many times over decades it’s been sad to see. Would a Home Depot put Henery’s out of business? Most likely.
That being said, I do on occasion need to travel to other towns or shop online for basic needs. Quimper Mercantile was supposed to fill that gap and failed completely. How do we strike a balance?
As a victim of the housing crisis in PT I want everything possible to be done. The story of the Cherry Street apartment debacle gives me no hope or faith. The response to the “pandemic” makes me realize that I did not know where I was living.
Lots of eye opening this year. It will be interesting to see what becomes of this town. If this shutdown goes on into next year we will loose all the businesses anyway. I know mine won’t survive another summer without tourists. And I have very little overhead and no employees.
Well, let’s have a vote.