Injecting life into Moses Lake's downtown

Despite a growing local economy, Moses Lake needs your help. In some areas, our town lacks the curb appeal needed to attract more shoppers and new business. On a drive downtown, we counted about eight vacant spaces along Third Avenue alone. Something needs to happen to entice businesses to stay, succeed and thrive. In turn, residents need to shop locally when possible. Businesses should structure their hours when people want to shop, and offer good, quality products.

To address this issue, the Moses Lake City Council is considering a uniform look for industrial buildings. Before you recoil at the thought of cookie cutter-type buildings dotting the downtown, consider this: Is sacrifice needed to have a prosperous downtown? Do businesses have to spend more money to adopt new design standards? Would a more coordinated look entice prospective businesses to locate to Moses Lake? All answers are likely yes.

A study of Moses Lake done by Destination Development, Inc. detailed the town’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in a Community Branding, Development and Marketing Plan. Some problem areas included signs in business windows, certain color schemes, plastic banners, trash alongside roads, and broken and temporary signs. All combined, the lack of a plan has created a poor impression. Destination Development’s report told city officials what they probably knew all along. Now the work comes in translating that message into a plan all groups can embrace. The city council didn’t take formal action to implement new standards at its last meeting, so it appears there’s time to weigh in on the issue.

Councilmembers Karen Liebrecht and Ryann Leonard were concerned about the burden any big changes could be on existing businesses. We take their concerns to heart and would encourage the council to be mindful of business owners who are struggling. Our country and town will never be the same after the Great Recession. In some industries, jobs are fewer and some people are working harder to make ends meet for their businesses and families. We wouldn’t want restrictive standards to cause a business to topple financially.

For inspiration, it’s fun to look to the vision carried out by Leavenworth businesses and officials. Leavenworth, a Bavarian-themed town near the Cascade Mountains, revamped itself when businesses worked together to incorporate a theme that has driven business growth. Now the town has about 150 businesses, a significant increase from only about 30 businesses in the 1950s, according to a 2014 Seattle Times article.

We’re not asking Moses Lake to become Leavenworth. But Moses Lake can change and evolve to live up to its full potential. We have beautiful ball fields, gorgeous parks and plenty of wide, open spaces. Our downtown is attractive and easily navigable. The perfect complement would be more shopping choices for residents and guests.

It’s clear Moses Lake wants it all. We do too. Over the years, Herald readers have told us they want more retail to reduce long drives to urban shopping centers. While progress has been made with some newer businesses, the town still has work to do. Let’s reach the goal of a more prosperous community together.

— Editorial Board