The Alaska Contractor - Summer 2008

The changing skyline of downtown Anchorage can be seen above and behind the Port of Anchorage, which is undergoing a $700 million renovation
to add 1.8 miles of dockage to facilitate container ships, barges and petroleum tankers.
“It’s all about parking and the new garage will draw local
people, once its finally done,” said Vargas. After buying two
buildings side-by-side on 6th Avenue, Vargas has rented one
of them to a new wine store called “Grape Expectations.”
“The beauty of this is it will also attract more local businesses
to get in on the action, which will attract more people to
the restaurant and wine store – I can hardly wait,” said Vargas.
Despite the growing pains planners see the changes as a
new magnet for downtown activity.
“There will be a trickle down effect, more restaurants,
more business, and the use of the Dena’ina as a community
center and the focal point to the arts district,” said Rollie Reid,
project manager for RIM Architects. “I wouldn’t be surprised
if this didn’t trigger another hotel tower in downtown or
expansion to the current downtown hotels, it’s an economic
generator we think.”
On the corner to the east of Vargas, the JC Penney Garage,
managed by the Anchorage Development Authority, has been
completely upgraded, painted inside and out and the first floor
snack shack was removed to add more sidewalk space.
After 50 years of rebuilding Anchorage, Alaska construction
companies are well aware of the differences between