The unnecessary, partisan delays of the Kirkland Parkplace project have cost the city money that we simply do not have. It is time to say we cannot let “nimbyism” rule the way the city progresses. This whole debacle brings back very unpleasant memories of the failed Lake and Central project.

I am excited about the prospects of spurring economic vitality and tourism that the redevelopment of Parkplace as destination spot will bring to Kirkland.

I am well aware that the city budget is dangerously dependent on sales and property taxes. Both of these main conduits of money for the city’s coffers have been negatively impacted by the current financial downturn. The Parkplace development will provide a much needed influx of crucial sales and property taxes. Techies and other office inhabitants will create a constant flow of clients to both Parkplace and downtown restaurants, shops and businesses.

I think the City of Kirkland should feel blessed – and amazed – that Touchstone Corp., along with its financial partners, have continued to remain committed to this substantial financial investment in our city. All of the time they have been trying to gift our city with this much-needed project, the developers have been subjected to outright lies and scare tactics perpetrated by a group of citizens intent on derailing this project much-needed for the economic health of Kirkland.

An example: The pictures used in this effort in two full-page paid ads in the last two issues of the Reporter are several years out-of-date and woefully inaccurate. They do not show the current, up-to-date pictures that do show the endless adjustment that Touchstone has made after soliciting and getting input from the community at large, the Design and Planning commissions, the Kirkland Cultural Council and the Kirkland City Council.

Since the public process began some three-and-a-half years ago, Touchstone has actively participated in more than 50 public meetings with the Design Review Board, Planning Commission and council, not to mention project open houses and 30-plus meetings with neighbors and neighborhood groups, interested citizens, the Parks Board and other city boards and committees.

More than two years ago I was asked to be on a committee that Touchstone created that we participants refer to as PAOS – Public Art and Open Spaces. This group is made up of art advocates, business people and business owners. We have met approximately six times each year to give Doug Howe, CEO of Touchstone, and his creative team feedback on integrating art, open spaces, lots of creativity and architectural variety into their plans. Their goal and ours is to make Parkplace a true destination.

I strongly urge all Kirklanders to support the project that Touchstone has envisioned and allow this exciting plan to move on with no more expensive delays. Without it, Kirkland will simply continue to wither.

Currently, there are 22 empty storefronts between Parkplace and downtown. There simply is not the year-round clientele to support them. Parkplace will help our fragile Kirkland economy become a positive, year round, economic engine rather than the current “sunny summer day” economy.

If Parkplace development fails as did the Lake and Central project, no developer will want to put themselves and their financial backers through such an unnecessarily egregious process. The name “Kirkland” has become most tarnished in the development community.

Onward to a new Parkplace and then hopefully to a new Totem Lake. I hope I live to see both become a positive presence in our beloved city!

Kirkland resident and realtor G.G. Getz is on the Public Art and Open Spaces Committee for Touchstone Corp.