Harbor Architects gets Seaport Landing contract

Local firm Harbor Architects has been selected to create a master plan for Seaport Landing along the south bank of the Chehalis River in Aberdeen by the board of directors of the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority.

They really understand who we are and were the obvious best choice, that emerged from a search that started in April with 23 firms, said Capt. Les Bolton, executive director of Seaport Landing on Wednesday afternoon. The choice was made at a special meeting Tuesday night

The committee will proceed to negotiate a contract with the South F Street firm headed by Aberdeen native Alan Gozart.

The offer will be put to a vote by the board, probably at its regular meeting Tuesday, June 25, at 6:30 p.m. at the landing, at 500 N. Custer St., Bolton said.

Gozart and his team can see Seaport Landing from his office near the Chehalis River. It will be a home port for the Lady Washington and the Hawaiian Chieftain.

Harbor Architects is full of local talent: Gozarts son Aaron does design and drafting; Aberdeen native Monika Kuhnau, is the intern architect, receptionist Carrie Hubbard, though born in Italy, was raised in Hoquiam.

Even O.C. (Office Cat), a sleek black cat with subtle brown stripes, showed up one day at Harbor Architects 1904 building and was promptly adopted.

Gozarts grandfather emigrated from Poland around the time of the first world war; his father met his mother while both worked for Schafer Brothers where Seaport Landing is today. So Alan Gozart first knew the landing as a twinkle in my fathers eye, he said Wednesday.

The team

The lead architect went from prospective partner to partner giving the sales pitch until they all got infected with enthusiasm for the master plan. The team consists of:

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Harbor Architects gets Seaport Landing contract