As a part of our preparations for our long term investor’s relations package, we have conducted extensive research into the process in which a downtown is revitalized. This is an important element in how “our projects” fit into the revitalization of the downtown where we are working currently, downtown Centralia, WA. Additionally, this type of research was the primary catalyst for our desire and commitment to become involved in projects which were in historic downtowns in need of economic revitalization.
As the process unfolds with our construction timetables and work progress plan for the Wilson Hotel and the north end of Tower Avenue, we have had the opportunity to interface with many community service providers, contractors, patrons of the downtown, owners/employees of downtown businesses, building owners, city officials and our interaction with the newly founded Centralia Downtown Association. These interactions have given us meaningful insight into the “climate” of downtown Centralia.
Additionally, the independent research that we conduct is also critically linked to the marketing process that will be enacted to support the Wilson Hotel, both in occupancy rates as well as meeting, convention, special event and banquet services. Understanding the essential “marketing” component of a hospitality project is paramount to ensured success. As hoteliers, we are not just marketing the Wilson Hotel, in essence we are marketing the Wilson Hotel in “historic downtown Centralia.” We are highly vested in the revitalization process as the success of this process will contribute to the overall success of the hotel in the long term, thus our active involvement and commitment to the process.
Our objective in the rehabilitation of the Wilson Hotel is to be an essential part of the completion of the Revitalization Plan established in 2004 by the City Council of the City of Centralia. This mission has been “unofficially” adopted in part by the new downtown association as the objectives of both the Revitalization Plan and the Centralia Downtown Association are closely linked.
We (downtown Centralia) are approaching “critical mass,” in that the revitalization/redevelopment process is rapidly becoming unstoppable and cannot be reversed. New investment money (including ours) has been committed to buildings in the downtown core and the city is working in cooperation with the stake holders in downtown to further the revitalization process at a faster and more diligent pace than ever before. This creates a distinctive “buzz” - - there is an upward spiral that begins to take place as you notice more people on the streets, land and property values start to edge upward, safety is increased in the community and more “overall” activity is taking place in the downtown core than has been seen in MANY years. In our estimation, Centralia has clearly transitioned into a new stage of development.
Now more than ever the commitment and participation of the stake holders of our downtown is essential. One of the greatest influences in the achieving success in a downtown redevelopment and revitalization effort is leaving the failures of the past behind and transitioning into a forward and future focused mode. Statistics indicate that if there has been a failed revitalization attempt in the recent past (20 year history), it takes a full generation to get over the collapse of that revitalization effort and an injection of a new fresh face of leadership that is NOT encumbered with the, “we tried that and it didn’t work” mindset to come forward and commit.
The current economic survey that is being conducted by the Economic Restructuring Committee of the CDA will offer a “true picture” of the current business and economic conditions that are present in our downtown. This assessment will allow the CDA to begin the “visioneering” process that will be the foundations of the Strategic Plan that facilitates the process of economic restructuring – ultimately improving the downtown community.
There is rapid change taking place in downtown Centralia. We often work late into the night hours at the Wilson Hotel building. Since the inception of our project, each night would be an unknown adventure as the folks who frequented the El Rancho Bar across the street from the hotel would dominate the street scene, hanging out on the sidewalk, smoking, drinking, fighting and loitering until well after 2AM each night. Since the El Rancho building changed ownership and the bar was closed permanently, N. Tower Avenue is a whole new place at night. In the recent weeks we have enjoyed watching the couples and families strolling both sides of the street arm in arm walking the downtown sidewalks. This is just ‘one’ example of positive change that is taking place downtown - - however, it is one HUGE positive change in the demographics of downtown.
Assessing where our projects are in relation to the downtown revitalization process is important. Our initial focus on the Wilson Hotel building has been getting the building “fortified” and addressing the building deterioration critical elements such as roof and water leaks for example under control, working through the historic tax credit syndication preparation process and focusing on getting the retail spaces that face N. Tower Avenue up and operational. We are making significant progress toward these goals. Our project is just one of many that are in process in downtown right now. It is exciting to see the “buzz” in action as downtown Centralia takes new steps and strides everyday toward bringing a true revitalization to fruition. We are enjoying being a part of the Change in Action!
As the process unfolds with our construction timetables and work progress plan for the Wilson Hotel and the north end of Tower Avenue, we have had the opportunity to interface with many community service providers, contractors, patrons of the downtown, owners/employees of downtown businesses, building owners, city officials and our interaction with the newly founded Centralia Downtown Association. These interactions have given us meaningful insight into the “climate” of downtown Centralia.
Additionally, the independent research that we conduct is also critically linked to the marketing process that will be enacted to support the Wilson Hotel, both in occupancy rates as well as meeting, convention, special event and banquet services. Understanding the essential “marketing” component of a hospitality project is paramount to ensured success. As hoteliers, we are not just marketing the Wilson Hotel, in essence we are marketing the Wilson Hotel in “historic downtown Centralia.” We are highly vested in the revitalization process as the success of this process will contribute to the overall success of the hotel in the long term, thus our active involvement and commitment to the process.
Our objective in the rehabilitation of the Wilson Hotel is to be an essential part of the completion of the Revitalization Plan established in 2004 by the City Council of the City of Centralia. This mission has been “unofficially” adopted in part by the new downtown association as the objectives of both the Revitalization Plan and the Centralia Downtown Association are closely linked.
We (downtown Centralia) are approaching “critical mass,” in that the revitalization/redevelopment process is rapidly becoming unstoppable and cannot be reversed. New investment money (including ours) has been committed to buildings in the downtown core and the city is working in cooperation with the stake holders in downtown to further the revitalization process at a faster and more diligent pace than ever before. This creates a distinctive “buzz” - - there is an upward spiral that begins to take place as you notice more people on the streets, land and property values start to edge upward, safety is increased in the community and more “overall” activity is taking place in the downtown core than has been seen in MANY years. In our estimation, Centralia has clearly transitioned into a new stage of development.
Now more than ever the commitment and participation of the stake holders of our downtown is essential. One of the greatest influences in the achieving success in a downtown redevelopment and revitalization effort is leaving the failures of the past behind and transitioning into a forward and future focused mode. Statistics indicate that if there has been a failed revitalization attempt in the recent past (20 year history), it takes a full generation to get over the collapse of that revitalization effort and an injection of a new fresh face of leadership that is NOT encumbered with the, “we tried that and it didn’t work” mindset to come forward and commit.
The current economic survey that is being conducted by the Economic Restructuring Committee of the CDA will offer a “true picture” of the current business and economic conditions that are present in our downtown. This assessment will allow the CDA to begin the “visioneering” process that will be the foundations of the Strategic Plan that facilitates the process of economic restructuring – ultimately improving the downtown community.
There is rapid change taking place in downtown Centralia. We often work late into the night hours at the Wilson Hotel building. Since the inception of our project, each night would be an unknown adventure as the folks who frequented the El Rancho Bar across the street from the hotel would dominate the street scene, hanging out on the sidewalk, smoking, drinking, fighting and loitering until well after 2AM each night. Since the El Rancho building changed ownership and the bar was closed permanently, N. Tower Avenue is a whole new place at night. In the recent weeks we have enjoyed watching the couples and families strolling both sides of the street arm in arm walking the downtown sidewalks. This is just ‘one’ example of positive change that is taking place downtown - - however, it is one HUGE positive change in the demographics of downtown.
Assessing where our projects are in relation to the downtown revitalization process is important. Our initial focus on the Wilson Hotel building has been getting the building “fortified” and addressing the building deterioration critical elements such as roof and water leaks for example under control, working through the historic tax credit syndication preparation process and focusing on getting the retail spaces that face N. Tower Avenue up and operational. We are making significant progress toward these goals. Our project is just one of many that are in process in downtown right now. It is exciting to see the “buzz” in action as downtown Centralia takes new steps and strides everyday toward bringing a true revitalization to fruition. We are enjoying being a part of the Change in Action!
