October 31, 2024

Master planning a Fidalgo Island community for a bright future

McClure

On Fidalgo Island in Northwest Washington sits the beautiful waterfront city of Anacortes. The town is well-known as both a gateway to the San Juan Islands and a destination for a wealth of outdoor activities, including numerous year-round festivals and events. RMC Architects was hired by the Port of Anacortes to create a subarea master plan that will energize currently underused property at Cap Sante Marina and strengthen and enliven the connection between the city’s historic downtown and waterfront through pedestrian and road improvements. Ultimately the master plan will accommodate the kinds of mixed-use commercial/retail/residential buildings that draw people (and initially, developers) to these areas.

The master plan is ideally situated one block east from downtown and adjacent to the Cap Sante Marina. Surrounding amenities include the busy Cap Sante Marina RV Park, the Maritime Heritage Center and WT Preston Steamboat, and the Waterfront Esplanade. We know that master planning plays a vital role in transforming cities by linking buildings, social settings, and the surrounding environment. We are inspired by the opportunities and challenges of reinventing this area, while preserving its uniqueness and local heritage. By leveraging its rich history, we create a sense of place — an important component of the master planning process.

Images courtesy of RMC Architects [enlarge]

RMC’s strategy is to look beyond the project as merely a collection of buildings, by creating a rich texture that enhances human experiences.

RMC’s strategy is to look beyond the project as merely a collection of buildings, by creating a rich texture that enhances human experiences. To develop these memorable moments, we look at the project from a variety of angles: accessing nature through open spaces and pedestrian connections; consideration of the surrounding context of scale, form, and materials; and bringing our understanding of the community and tourists who will be part of determining this project’s success. With that in mind, the development pads are organized around two locations: the waterfront, and the pedestrian path along Ninth Street between the waterfront and downtown.

Development Pads A, B, and C are intentionally located to take advantage of ocean views and proposed as commercial/retail/office buildings (Pads A and B) and an event center (Pad C). We are currently designing the event center for the Port and city of Anacortes. Development Pad D is proposed as the first seaside hotel in the city and is situated to literally maximize views. While most double-loaded waterfront hotels wind up with rooms on the backside that look over parking lots, this one is configured so that everyone has natural light and water or mountain views. Pads E and F focus on attracting pedestrian traffic. Fondly known as Little Chicago, Development Pad E is proposed as a cargo container village populated with 10 x 20 moveable units envisioned as food stands and retail. Development Pad F is also proposed as retail on the lower level with three stories of multifamily housing units above.

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The proposed master plan goal is to strengthen and enliven the connection between the historic downtown core and the waterfront.

The event center, with a current working title as The Loft at Cap Sante Marina, is oriented towards the water and designed to accommodate 400 users, including a dance floor, stage, buffet, green room with a separate bathroom, warming kitchen for outside caterers, enclosed storage for equipment and patron restrooms. Run by the port, the event center will be open year-round and available for both public and private use. To keep the area activated, the design includes an additional space for lease anticipated as an art gallery, coffee shop, or small chandlery.

Of course, the pragmatic side of master planning is equally important. A confusing five-way intersection near the site provided a bit of a challenge. The project scope included realigning the road in that location to create a simplified intersection, better pedestrian access, and an outdoor public space that connects visually to downtown. This outdoor space can extend the event center’s capacity during some of the city’s biggest festivals, including their annual wine tasting event.

The wonderful geographic presence of Anacortes combined with its robust community spirit provided RMC with the perfect tools for creating a master plan that will carry the city into a successful future, ripe with opportunities.

Jeff McClure co-established RMC Architects in 1986 and focuses his practice on projects that build community through context-sensitive design.

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