Preserving, recycling and revitalizing Wasilla’s history

Wasilla continues to grow and with its population becoming more and more diverse, most would agree that the old is giving way to the new. Over the past 10 years our town has evolved into suburbia, complete with all of its “conveniences.” Most residents I have spoken to admit that they think the new chain restaurants and box stores are nice additions to our community. Goods and services previously not available are being offered allowing residents to shop and dine closer to home, as opposed to being forced to drive to Anchorage. It is a perk that we no longer have to drive to Anchorage on our weekends to go Xmas shopping or to take our wife out for an anniversary dinner. However, strip malls, box stores and chain restaurants seem to exact a high price — Wasilla’s historic character is disappearing to box stores and strip malls and before long there will be little history left in the town’s built environment to separate it from any other town in America.

A small group of Wasilla residents have recently spearheaded an effort to help make the city aware of the need to preserve its history for future generations. This effort manifested itself in an ordinance that establishes a historical preservation commission. The city council passed the ordinance last July and the city is now accepting applications for appointments to the commission. The commission will consist of five members with two seats reserved for the Knik-Wasilla Historical Society and Knik Tribal Council and the remaining three seats for Wasilla residents. Some of the goals of the commission will be to inventory Wasilla’s historic sites and create a local register of historic places; merge historic preservation with economic development; assist in updating Wasilla’s comprehensive plan; explore heritage tourism potential in Wasilla; and work with the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Historical Preservation Commission on preservation issues in the borough.

It is important that residents of Wasilla become aware of the benefits that historic preservation can have on a community. Most people probably don’t know that historic preservation plays a large role in revitalizing downtowns, creating job opportunities, and conserving resources. Communities across America, both large and small, have experienced the economic and environmental benefits associated with historic preservation. It creates opportunities for small business owners and, when the housing market is struggling, historic preservation provides work for residential and commercial construction contractors. Also, by decreasing the number of building demolitions through preservation efforts, communities have substantially saved on landfill space.

Although historic preservation in Wasilla is in its infancy, some residents have already acknowledged the benefits that can result from preserving Wasilla’s historic buildings. The Knik-Wasilla Historical Society has long since utilized the historic charm of Teeland’s Country Store to complement the businesses it has housed over the years. Also, adjacent to Teeland’s Country Store, a former residence built in the 1930s is being converted into a tapas restaurant and wine cellar. With the Dorothy Page Museum and Teeland’s Country Store as their neighbors, the soon to-be restaurant operators have already begun to see how history can be utilized as a means to promote their business.

Thinking of this downtown block as a historical district, one can imagine how the newly formed commission could collaborate with the city on ways of attracting more visitors into the downtown area and tackling problems such as inadequate parking and traffic flow.

For Wasilla residents interested in applying for a seat on the Wasilla Historical Preservation Commission, the application can be accessed on the city’s website at www.cityofwasilla.com/index.aspx?page=385.

Robert L. Meinhardt III is a historic preservationist.