The Kalakala Finds A New Home in Port Angeles?
In a press release that we mistakenly thought came from 2000, we now see that the ever-twisting and often painful saga of the once grand Kalakala, “The Worlds First Streamlined Ferry,” continues …
Select Contracts (SC) have recently completed a draft conceptual master plan for the MV Kalakala & the home port, a conceptual presentation along with a new website to promote interest in MV Kalakala and the home port that will be located within the City of Port Angeles, Washington. The MV Kalakala homeport is a private waterfront site located in a prime location in Port Angeles, ideal for the site of the famous Kalakala.
The plan is for Select Contracts to fully restore the MV Kalakala and to develop the homeport site ready for a grand summer opening in July 2012. The homeport resort will offer an unprecedented consumer experience and will include floating piers for the MV Kalakala along with a small boat marina and associated facilities, two waterfront Art Deco themed apartment buildings, an open air amphitheater and pavilion, a number of boutique retail outlets, a family entertainment facility, food and beverage outlets and numerous recreational elements.
So the marvelous old boat that litters graces the far side of our port is leaving? Who’s optimistic this will happen as described? Anybody?
More information at TheKalakala.com
Spotted via RR Anderson on Facebook
Filed under: Kalakala, Historic Preservation
18 comments
E Erik B. October 14, 2009
It is one thing to be outdone by Seattle, but for Tacoma to be outmaneuvered by Port Angeles is downright humiliating.
R RR Anderson October 14, 2009
Are we as citizens being robbed of the promise of indoor skydiving and skiing in an inverted pyramid?
Perhaps the city council dragging their heels on the waterfront hotel scared away Mr. Rodriguez’s many investors.
P P October 14, 2009
… but for Tacoma to be outmaneuvered by Port Angeles is downright humiliating.
The press release doesn’t exactly make it sound like the City of Port Angeles was involved in this decision.
T tressie October 14, 2009
Perhaps CityMangler Eric Anderson can be drug to Pt Angeles behind her…if she goes…I blame him.
T TheGulag October 14, 2009
I’d have to say I’m more interested in seeing this art deco diamond restored and successfully utilized rather than what city is favorable towards providing that opportunity. If Port Angeles can get the fish smell out of her, so be it. As long as she stays in (floating that is) the Sound.
M Mofo from the Hood October 14, 2009
A few years I took my girlfriend to Long Beach, CA on a business trip. While there we toured the retired oceanliner and now museum and hotel RMS Queen Mary.
It’s quite fascinating to walk the decks of such a huge marvel of technology. Thousands of people during this ship’s commission from the 1930’s to the 1960’s enjoyed state-of-the-art seafaring luxury.
Now comes the painful saga of the once grand(?) MV Kalakala. What are we talking about here?–An oversized barge. I imagine when this barge was being designed that some young and bored art school grad on the design team was goofin’ around scribbling women wearing one-piece bathing suits. Naturally that lead to scribbling organic shaped sailing vessels.
But again, we’re talking about a barge. Got it? The MV Kalakala is a non-commissioned floating parking lot. Yet still for some this barge, this former car-park represents romance on the high seas.
Yes this truly is a painful saga. I don’t know whether to feel elated for the good people of Port Angeles or feel confused for the mythical grand ship MV Kalakala.
A argyle October 14, 2009
I’m with Mofo on this one. Just because something is old doesn’t mean it’s worth saving, or that it’s somehow “historical.” Particularly when it’s just a rusting hulk. There comes a time when we have to say to hell with it and just turn the thing into razorblades already.
J jamie from thriceallamerican October 14, 2009
Isn’t this the second time the Kalakala has been “headed to Port Angeles”?
D David Boe October 14, 2009
Mofo @ 6: How about a parking barge then? Rather then the City spending millions on new parking garages around town, this could be another ‘garage’ in the City’s system. And if it could be made reasonably sea worthy – heck you could tug it over and tie it up where ever the market rate parking system determines that more parking is needed. Or maybe – just maybe – a floating LeMay Museum that makes the tour of Puget Sound and then returns to home base where the LeMay Museum has moved into a leased Convention Center.
M Mofo from the Hood October 14, 2009
Let’s take a closer look at the Port Angeles vision which is also the vision of Tacoma: Parking lots = Romance.
We’ve got to study the “Port Angeles Style” and promote our downtown parking lots likewise as “An Unprecedented Consumer Experience.”
J joeski October 14, 2009
I once found a 1958 cadillac Fleetwood sitting in an old guys backyard. I wanted that car SOOO bad. It had been sitting there for years. The Trunk lid and roof had rust holes in it. The motor was seized. There was grass growing in the floorboards. There were rats nests in the seats and the chrome was pitted. All I could picture was what it once looked like and what it COULD look like. He told me I could have it for free if I could get it outta there. My Mom said “no way” which made me mad.
Many years later I look back and realize that that Caddy would have sat in my backyard until My mom towed it to a junkyard because the money required to restore such a piece of history far outweighed the benefit and final price of the car.
Some things are best left as dreams and that boat is in TERRIBLE condition. If you guys want it restored so badly I suggest setting up a fundraiser yourselves for mooring, supplies and labor. Otherwise- let it go.
R RR Anderson October 14, 2009
the Kalakala will always be sailing at ramming speed in my heart.
PS the floating leMay museum is inspired
S Steven October 14, 2009
I once again send out into the cosmos the idea that this grand ole ship would make excellent Condos. Take her out onto the bay every 4th of July. Now that would get the yuppies down here from Seattle. If I only had a bazillion dollars…….
W Weyland Duir October 16, 2009
Bon Voyage! We can only hope. I’ll keep my fingers crossed, but won’t hold my breath. Some dreams die hard but not even life support can revive the poor, old Kalakala.
T Thorax o'Tool October 16, 2009
Fascinating the parallel:
the Kalakala vs the Luzon. Both beat to bejeebus and back from years of neglect and misuse. Both old and Historic. Both spent time rotting here. Both just can’t seem to get the break it takes to be restored.
Funny how some of us wept for the Luzon wile wave the Kalakala off into the sunset… they were the same thing, after all.
C crenshaw sepulveda October 16, 2009
Select Contracts is a company based in Dubai. They have a lot of renderings on their site of their various projects but very little in the way of specifics. I don’t think we have to worry that the Kalakala will end up as part of some fancy big money project in Port Angeles. Daniel Blue leaving Tacoma, that we have to worry about. Go to the Java Jive on the 17th and show Daniel some 253 love. Daniel Blue has stood by Tacoma when she needed him, it is time for us to be true blue and stand by Daniel Blue in these troubling times for him.
J Jesse October 16, 2009
A great idea was stated on the News Tribune site comments. That being, making the Kalakala into a restarant and parking it where the Top of the Ocean used to be in Old Town. Any restaranteurs with cash listening?
R RR Anderson October 19, 2009
what an interesting article. Thanks Captain Tom!