HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/30/2018 00 Misc Distributed at the Meeting Distribute t th
Meeting
From: Charles Frenzel
To: Ibarra,Rosalinda
Subject: N. 1st Listening Session
Date: Wednesday,August 29,2018 4:42:26 PM
Hello Rosalinda:
My name is Charles Frenzel. I own the property at 1001 N. 1st St.where El Rinconsito Restaurant is located. I will
not be able to attend the meeting tomorrow as I am traveling.
I share all of the same concerns that John has been expressing for some time. Having owned or operated this
property for more than 20 years,the situation has become increasingly worse and largely ignored by the City.As a
landlord I have received complaints from my tenants about vandalism,drugs,and what to do about the homeless
issue.
I plan to attend future meetings and look forward to working with the property owners and the City to improve the
neighborhood. •
Regards,
Charles Frenzel
509-851-4451
Sent from my iPhone
From: pave Smehxk
To: [bars.gssalinda
Subject August 30 North R.street input
Dote: Thursday,August 30,2018 10:35:S6 AM
Attachment: N0M Fm 58sst fmn c.a cdf
Rosalinda,.
I will not be able to attend today's meeting,but submit my input in the form of the letter attached for reading or distribution at the meeting.
Thank you!
DAVE
Dave Smeback
Broker/Realtor ABR,SRES,VAMRES
Clark Jennings&Assoc
711 N First St
Yakima,WA 98901
509.248.5600 office
509.969.0312 cell
http://webddence.global.blackspider.com/urlwrap/?
q=AXicy2RmUPVnYAhOYWAoygkOMM_QKy4g08tNzMxlzsBrKcrPOUvOz2UONw liMovzTcwNDOzMGYoyi9OzMnMSOnUy0xKLCpKdKhMzM7MT5xP1EvPL2PIKCkpsNLXLy8v14sEi7sklgWCjWFg-
OjLwAAAF4EIKg&Z
August 29, 2018
To: Yakima City Council
Re: North First Street
Good Afternoon. My name is David Smeback. I have driven into Yakima from Selah on North First Street to work nearly every
day of my working career starting in 1976. For the past 16 years, my office has been at 711 N First St --Clark Jennings and
Associates. So,I guess you could say that I have had a front row seat to the gradual demise of First Street. I have tried to
follow the press on the issues and discussion by the City Council and appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts,opinions
and straight talk.
Working in a professional office on N First has been a challenge. We who work on N First Street routinely have interaction
with the transients, homeless,street walkers,etc. We pick up garbage left behind by those who camp out behind our office.
Several times a year,we have to confront those sleeping on the property to get them to leave before our customers show up.
We clean up feces,needles,bags of clothes,grocery carts, "collectables". It is not uncommon to have some of these
individuals shouting obscenities as they stand outside our office and argue with telephone poles,street signs and imaginary
people/things. Our back alley has been used for a pickup area for street walkers. Our office has had windows broken out
multiple times and our office has been broken into at least twice.
Needless to say,this environment is not conducive to conducting a business or attracting clients and patrons. Nor is it an
environment becoming of one of the key gateways into Yakima.
How did we get here? The erosion of property values,the failure and disappearance of one business after another and the
resulting degradation of this area started the day the Union Gospel Mission moved onto N First. With that said,am I anti
Mission?. Absolutely not. I believe they do a great job in servicing a real need of our community and society. But,the Missions
presence and nature of the foot traffic that has followed,has created a cancer to the retail,hospitality,and professional
community here on N First. We used to have the hotels full of youth basketball teams and young girls volleyball teams and
multiple choices for family dining. But,as you've seen,you can't mix these tourists and local families with the foot traffic
generated by the Mission and expect cash paying customers to come back to this area of town. So,the hotel beds go empty,
the restaurants loose business,the propertys decline in value,business's go bankrupt,and buildings become abandoned and
vacant lots stay vacant.
What is the solution? Talking frankly about the real reasons we got to where we're at is a good start. A good solution to the
restoration of North First is out there, but I don't think it's been addressed yet. it is my opinion that dressing up the roads,
planting trees,etc.is like putting"lipstick on a pig"and a poor use of tax dollars until the underlying problem is resolved.So,
for the good of the order, I do have my two cents to throw in and this is it:
* Every person involved in the decision making process for this N First Street revitalization needs to spend a couple of
hours each morning for a week,starting at 7 am in the morning, outside of the Mission and be amongst those that take to the
streets to see firsthand what transpires.
*Don't spend any money fixing the entrance to Yakima on North First St. Instead,spend those funds on relocating the
Mission off of N First St in conjunction with the other solutions to Yakima's homeless problems.Once that is done,some
improvements and the natural course of capitalism will restore N First to what it used to be.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide input.
Respectful4� i?
David Smeback
969-0312