Give Port Orford Main Street Back its Bricks

Kate King, please return the bricks acquired by grant funds to Port Orford Main Street for the benefit of the town's residents.

Background:
In 2017, the Port Orford Main Street Revitalization Association (POMSRA) installed seating benches with attached planters along Main Street (Highway 101). Four of these benches were funded primarily by a grant from AARP for the purpose of making Port Orford more pedestrian friendly. In 2018, these benches and other improvements garnered POMSRA a Main Street Excellence award for its efforts to improve and revitalize the area.

One planter was installed at the corner of 9th Street and Highway 101. POMSRA had purchased a run-down building and lot on the corner and was improving it with the goal to sell it to an individual that would develop a viable business and provide jobs to local residents. In 2019, the property was sold to Kate King (Van Wormer), owner of the local Tasty Kate's Bakery.

Since then, the bench, planter, and short barriers around the property have been dismantled and the bricks are in piles on the property. Instead of returning the bricks to Main Street, Kate has claimed ownership of the bricks for personal use. There was no wording in the sale agreement regarding the bricks, because it never occurred to the POMSRA members involved in the sale that Kate would not return the bricks if they were not being used for their intended purpose for the residents of Port Orford. In known history of Main Street Associations throughout Oregon, nobody had ever done such a thing.

Port Orford revitalization projects rely heavily on grant funds. Taking the bricks damages the outcome of the AARP grant and may harm Main Street's ability to get additional grants for town projects in the future. This would hurt all of the town -- the residents, business owners, tourist industry -- all for one person's personal gain.

Kate has done good things for the residents of Port Orford, such as free meals at Thanksgiving. Please join me in asking her to do the right thing now and return the bricks to Main Street so they can be used for their intended purpose in a new location in town.

About the Town
Port Orford, a small very rural city of 1159, is spread out along the Coastal Highway 101 for 1.2 miles and an area of 1.6 sq miles. Most businesses are on Highway 101 or very close. The benches/planters provide a needed place for people to rest, to people watch, to talk to friends, and enjoy the town. The average age of Port Orford residents is 56 years old.

Below is an excerpt from the grant application that outlines the key benefits of the benches:
A walkable, friendly Main Street makes for a more livable community and serves the community well. Places to stop, rest, enjoy and socialize are important to this effort.

Seniors make up the majority of Port Orford. Many walk their dogs or take walks with friends. Many like the social environment that comes from meeting friends while on a walk. Others could be induced to walk, especially with a more inviting Main Street with rest areas. Walking is gentle and great exercise for seniors. Minimizing the need for cars increases the benefit of a pedestrian friendly Main Street.

Youth and children will benefit. The elementary school is on Main Street, and many children walk to school with or without their parents. Youth need places to meet friends, and most youth do not have cars or access to other transportation. A safe, pedestrian friendly walkable community is paramount.

Persons in low income housing are most dependent on walking –needed for buying groceries and doing other shopping. Much of the low income housing in Port Orford is on or near Main Street as is our grocery store. Rest stops are particularly important if you are carrying groceries or other purchases.

Tourists and summer residents significantly contribute to the economy of Port Orford. A friendly walkable Main Street encourages them to spend more time in Port Orford and shop in our stores.

Business owners clearly profit by a walkable Main Street. More people who are out and about will result in more activity in the stores. Most businesses in Port Orford are "Mom & Pop" businesses and their survival is often marginal.