HILLMAN CITY – The Hillman City Business Association (HCBA) had its first meeting in nearly two years last week in an effort to reinvigorate area business owners and generate some positive attention for the neighborhood that sits just south of Columbia City.
According to co-founder and past president Denise Gloster, “Hillman City needs cross-walks and traffic lights that will not be installed any time soon as it appears to be one of the many forgotten neighborhoods in the City. In other words, if we as a community are not standing up for our needs, they will not be met.”
Gloster said she plans to be available to assist the organization in re-establishing and with special projects.
“Hillman City has a lot to offer,” she said. “We are excited about the new restaurant, Orcas Landing and the not as new one, Eyman’s Pizza, we have a new production business in the area, All the Above Creative and we are hoping that reorganizing HCBA will bring more new and exciting businesses.”
For more information, contact Gloster at denisegloster@yahoo.com.
Photo/Rainier Valley Post
Who to know, where to eat & what to do in one of America’s most diverse zip codes!
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The biggest obstacle Hillman City faces is the storefront churches and other social services in otherwise viable commercial spaces.
We have not scheduled the next meeting and are hoping to hold it in the evening at Eyman’s, but we have not gotten the okay yet from the owner. Please look for next meeting date and time soon. DG
@ DAL: Agreed. Three out of the four corners of Hillman’s main intersection (RAS/Orcas) are occupied by religious enterprises. These ‘storefronts’ typically gravitate to where rents are low, of course.
The *good* thing about them is that their presence encourages the buildings’ owners to maintain the premises. The bad thing is that, except for the believers who occupy the chairs and pews, no one else frequents the area.
Unfortunately, the fourth corner is occupied by a group of small businesses that cater to a specialized demographic, and do *not* seem to keep an attractive appearance for customers, so people aren’t drawn to them, either.
The first challenge for any neighborhood improvement group will be to make that important corner attractive to casual passers-by, and to give drivers and strollers a reason to stop and look around. That’s how CC managed its Renaissance. Churches and wig shops are not that good reason. I’m hoping the new ‘pub’ on RAS might be a start, though.
Hello,
On behalf of Arts in Motion & DADS, two nonprofit organizations in the area, our consulting firm would like to be invited to your next meeting. Please let us know when that would be and as information, morning meetings starting at around 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. works best for us.
Thanks,
Joy
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