Town leaders concerned about lagging hotel and motel tax revenues were encouraged Tuesday by a donation of waterfront property from a La Conner couple.
Mit and Maureen Harlan, in what Mayor Marna Hanneman termed an act of “remarkable generosity,” have returned to the Town the North First Street parcel they purchased for $200,000 in 2020.
The Harlans, who had no plans to build on the shoreline site, bought it from the Town five years ago to preserve the view from their adjacent home. Now they are gifting the property, situated next to the Jordon Street-end picnic area, back to the Town on condition that it be used as a park.
Formerly known as the Kirsch Property, the choice waterfront spot will henceforth be known as O’Leary’s Landing in honor of Maureen Harlan’s parents, who once resided nearby.
The Harlans and the Town had negotiated terms of the land transfer for several months. When the deal was announced at the April 8 Town Council meeting, those in attendance showed their approval with loud applause.
The receipt of the Harlan parcel helped soothe the sting of slumping hotel and motel tax income. Hanneman said the numbers reported for February were down $4,000 from the same time last year. She said at this point there is no hard data to link the decreased hotel and motel tax receipts to Canadian anger over U.S. tariff policies.
“Maybe it’s due to February being cold (this year),” Hanneman offered, “but it’s very disconcerting.”
“We’re holding our own,” she said of the Town’s overall revenue picture. “With the hotel/motel, we’re crossing our fingers. Not only our Canadian friends, but people generally are staying home, not buying anything, making us nervous.
Bill Reynolds: bill@laconnercommunitynews.org. Bill is a general assignment reporter who covers Town government, schools, and spot news.
