Editor,

In the 25 years I’ve lived on Whidbey I’ve read about consultants paid, people hired and associations formed to attract business and tourism to Oak Harbor, but have yet to see any results.

I am wondering why I’ve never read of plans to turn downtown into an attractive and themed area.

Leavenworth has certainly been successful with its Alpine theme, and even Coupeville attracts buses full of tourists in the summer because its buildings are attractive and fall under a general building theme.

There’s no reason why Oak Harbor shouldn’t be at least as attractive as Coupeville.

The obvious theme would be Dutch, but since some very expensive public art was purchased without a Dutch theme in mind, the better theme now would be a maritime town — white and colored storefronts with a nautical theme.

Buildings wouldn’t have to be rebuilt — they would just get new facades. The Main Street Association has $38,000 that could be used to build storefronts for a few buildings to get things started. It would certainly be a great improvement over what Pioneer Way looks like now.

Since the kraken has been defaced, perhaps the rest of it could be sold for scrap and the money used to replace it with a more attractive and welcoming piece of art for the entrance to our town.

Some imagination is required, but there’s no reason Oak Harbor, with its successful marina, shouldn’t be able to attract as many businesses and visitors as Coupeville and Langley do.

Clare Christiansen

Oak Harbor