In the 26 years I’ve lived in Tualatin there have been dramatic changes in our community. Back then, people referred to the Tualatin exit from I-5 as the “Jiggles Exit,” and those who were here can recall the eyesore and low-brow feeling it projected upon this City. In that same area, there was a notably dilapidated K-Mart and a very unappealing entry into our lovely town. The police station had yet to be built, the library was dated, Tualatin Sherwood Road was basically farmland east of Teton heading towards Sherwood, and it was a sleepy, little town. Oh my, what a difference a quarter century can make!
Throughout every bit of the transition from then to now, many were concerned, some objected strongly, others seemingly didn’t care, but Tualatin forged ahead with its plans, thanks in a huge part to a progressive and innovative City office staff and a consistently forward-thinking City Council. Sometimes change is hard to accept, and most of us tend to resist the notion at first glance, but then we ultimately get to enjoy the innovations and changes once we’ve digested them.
When the notion of Cabela’s, Cracker Barrel and other big names were slated to open in the Nyberg Rivers project in 2013, some thought it would be a bad idea, adding traffic to already busy roads, potentially hurt other small local businesses, but in hindsight, it’s been a wonderful addition to our area, putting us on the map for many who never had a reason to visit Tualatin previously.
A few months ago, I reported the closure of Pacific Natural Foods, a huge employer and business partner in Tualatin, and more recently learned of the closure of the Hedges Creek Starbucks location. When I walked by it the other day seeing it closed up, it felt sad, as so many of us have enjoyed countless hours there over the years. However, this is all part of the ongoing transition within a vibrant city.
The Haggen store, which was a hub and landmark in our most highly visible intersection in town, has been vacant for many years. Nearly a decade after its closure, I still hear people refer to that mall as the Haggen center. However, that too is transitioning to a Floor & Decor store which should open in the coming months. They’ve been working feverishly to remodel it, and it’s looking good.
Local roads that were once riddled with farms, places we took our kids for hayrides and Halloween fun, are now gone and acre after acre of large business parks reside there instead. I suppose all of this is very normal and predictable but still hits a melancholy nerve for many of us. However, on the flip side, the amount of commerce that is now in those same areas is enormous, and a huge boon to our local economy.
Change is inevitable, and we have experienced a tremendous amount of it in Tualatin. It feels like a town that is so much more grown-up than it did when I moved here in 1999, and I truly believe we’re all better for it.
