Posted on Sep 1, 2022
As Astoria booms, the city balances new development with its gritty-not-pretty history
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In the 1980s, life in Astoria was pretty sleepy. The fish processing and logging industries that had fueled the city’s emergence as a northwestern hub during the 19th century were in steep decline.
“We were sort of a bathroom stop on the way to the beach,” says Paul Benoit, who was Astoria’s planning director in the ‘80s and ‘90s. “I remember when the high school band played at the ribbon cutting when McDonald’s opened. Today, they’d probably picket a corporate franchise development, but back then the city felt like, ‘Wow, we’re on the map; someone noticed us!’”
Combined with the fact that the city had already been built out during the late 19th century, there was very little demand for new housing construction in Astoria in those years. “We saw so little development we’d be lucky to see two new homes built in a year,” Benoit says. Astoria’s leaders were wary of doing anything to disincentivize any developers that wanted to build in town.
But the days of Astoria as a sleepy coastal hamlet are in the past. The city has seen an influx of new restaurants, businesses, and housing in recent years. It’s home to the so-called “Clatsop County fermentation cluster,” with major producers like Pilot House Distilling and Buoy Beer Company. Today, there are four new hotel projects concurrently considering development in the city. Now that the Astoria renaissance is underway, city leaders are working on plans to refurbish the 211-year-old city’s infrastructure; all that wastewater from the breweries and distilleries has to go somewhere, after all.
“We were sort of a bathroom stop on the way to the beach,” says Paul Benoit, who was Astoria’s planning director in the ‘80s and ‘90s. “I remember when the high school band played at the ribbon cutting when McDonald’s opened. Today, they’d probably picket a corporate franchise development, but back then the city felt like, ‘Wow, we’re on the map; someone noticed us!’”
Combined with the fact that the city had already been built out during the late 19th century, there was very little demand for new housing construction in Astoria in those years. “We saw so little development we’d be lucky to see two new homes built in a year,” Benoit says. Astoria’s leaders were wary of doing anything to disincentivize any developers that wanted to build in town.
But the days of Astoria as a sleepy coastal hamlet are in the past. The city has seen an influx of new restaurants, businesses, and housing in recent years. It’s home to the so-called “Clatsop County fermentation cluster,” with major producers like Pilot House Distilling and Buoy Beer Company. Today, there are four new hotel projects concurrently considering development in the city. Now that the Astoria renaissance is underway, city leaders are working on plans to refurbish the 211-year-old city’s infrastructure; all that wastewater from the breweries and distilleries has to go somewhere, after all.
As Astoria booms, the city balances new development with its gritty-not-pretty history
Posted from opb.org
Astoria
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Posted >1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."These questions will shape the way the city grows into the future as the Astoria City Council considers hiring a consultant to make recommendations on how much the city should charge developers.
Benoit says whatever Astoria does in terms of redevelopment, it’s the city’s priority to make sure new developments resonate with the people who live there — especially the waterfront-centric, working-class community that has called the city home for generations.
“When we were redeveloping the waterfront, we would say our goal was to be gritty, not pretty,” he says. “Back in the ‘80s, there was a very popular bumper sticker that you would see around. It was, ‘We ain’t quaint.’ It was kind of a pushback against visitors saying, ‘Oh your town is so quaint.’ Well, we ain’t quaint! That’s insulting!”
At the end of the day, though, Benoit says he hopes Astoria can maintain a delicate balance of attracting growth while protecting the city’s roots.
“There are a lot of tourists,” Benoit laughs, “but it’s not made to be attractive to tourists. We do it for us, and if visitors like it, great.”
“If not, you can keep driving.”
..."These questions will shape the way the city grows into the future as the Astoria City Council considers hiring a consultant to make recommendations on how much the city should charge developers.
Benoit says whatever Astoria does in terms of redevelopment, it’s the city’s priority to make sure new developments resonate with the people who live there — especially the waterfront-centric, working-class community that has called the city home for generations.
“When we were redeveloping the waterfront, we would say our goal was to be gritty, not pretty,” he says. “Back in the ‘80s, there was a very popular bumper sticker that you would see around. It was, ‘We ain’t quaint.’ It was kind of a pushback against visitors saying, ‘Oh your town is so quaint.’ Well, we ain’t quaint! That’s insulting!”
At the end of the day, though, Benoit says he hopes Astoria can maintain a delicate balance of attracting growth while protecting the city’s roots.
“There are a lot of tourists,” Benoit laughs, “but it’s not made to be attractive to tourists. We do it for us, and if visitors like it, great.”
“If not, you can keep driving.”
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
SGT (Join to see) CWO3 Dave Alcantara Remembering the Old Days! Sailor Towns do Tend to bit Rough, Coarse, I can see Wanting to Maintain a Bit of That!
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I was stationed in Astoria in the early 80’s. The place was a pit.
I have been back in the past couple of years, it has become a much nicer place. The brewpubs almost outnumber the Pot dispensaries, lol.
I have been back in the past couple of years, it has become a much nicer place. The brewpubs almost outnumber the Pot dispensaries, lol.
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