Sorry, but like many others, I won't spend a dime in the city limits of Vancouver

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Big story today? Downtown merchants need our business.

Sorry. You ain't getting it.

It's unfortunate, really, but you can properly lay the blame at the feet of a city government and newspaper that make many loath the very idea of driving all the way down into the bowels of the place that would hammer tens of thousands of us with a $1300 per year tax... I wouldn't be caught dead in your city.

Further, to be brutally honest, that you've chosen to locate in the least well-off area of any size in this county isn't my problem as much as it was a poor business decision.

Do yourselves a favor and get out. Leave that worthless entity behind and free yourself from the miasma that is increasing taxes, fees and that worthless place because of your worthless government.

Your city has taken away ANY reason for ANYONE to go through the extra effort and hassle it takes to drive downtown for the privilege of paying higher prices.

Nope, sorry. Royce Pollard and the Vancouver City Council deserve the credit for this mess. And frankly, I hope they choke on it.

Merchants seek local shoppers
Friday meeting aimed at boosting sagging downtown business

Wednesday, April 15 | 8:17 p.m.

BY CAMI JONER
COLUMBIAN STAFF WRITER

A for sale sign in the window of the former Spanky’s consignment store on Main Street advertises just one of many vacant storefronts in the downtown core. (Cami Joner/The Columbian)

In what may feel like a real life game of "Sorry," downtown Vancouver has had some setbacks in the past year with the closure of several longtime businesses and stalled office and residential projects.

That's why downtown's merchant association is holding a public meeting Friday morning to discuss ways to boost business in the 38-block core.

"We have to do this ourselves. There's not going to be anyone coming in on a white horse to help," said Lee Rafferty, a board member of the 100-member Vancouver Downtown Association.

She should know. Rafferty and her business partner closed Spanky's, their downtown consignment store, in early 2008 and consolidated operations to their east Vancouver store. A for sale sign on the empty Main Street building window adds to the bleakness of a district that has been hit hard by a recession, now in its 18th official month.

Many small shops and cafes have closed without fanfare. More downtown closures are on the horizon, including Koplan's Home Furnishings, Gallery 21 and Pioneer Printing & Stationery.

"Each one represents so much investment and heartache," said Rafferty, who heads the association's economic committee. Public and private investments infused more than $400 million into downtown projects over the past decade. Those projects included the Hilton Vancouver Washington hotel and convention center, apartments and condos and new office projects.

City officials bragged about the renewed downtown vibrancy, the revamped Esther Short Park and weekend outdoor Vancouver Farmers Market.

But a series of setbacks, closures and delays have changed the mood.

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