Upon learning about the Anchorage public restroom bond plan, my knee-jerk reaction was, “Those things will get destroyed in 6 months.” However, after research into the design, it became very apparent that actually, “a Portland Loo or similar” type of structure would undoubtedly stand the test of time. Consisting of 3/ 16″ thick stainless steel and a solar panel to power a blue light to prevent intravenous drug users from the ability to find a vein, it embodies a true design success in form and function.
My question about the ballot proposition (aside from the $5 million price tag, equal to about 12.5 Anchorage homes) is, who are they actually for? They aren’t for residents. They also aren’t for tourists, as any tourist knows it is customary to purchase a pack of gum in a shop if they aren’t ready for lunch and nature calls. The reason finding a public restroom in Anchorage is so hard isn’t because there are no toilets in half of the city. It’s because the businesses in Midtown and Downtown grew tired of the problems caused by a small minority of the population. While the thoughtful design of these urban bathrooms takes careful consideration to reduce the chance of attracting vagrants, some cities have had to remove them because that is precisely what happened.
My hunch is that if the city were to crack down on the small population of individuals responsible for the perceived dearth of toilets in Anchorage, and the business owners felt the city had their backs, more businesses would offer a restroom as an incentive to patronize their shops, thus saving the taxpayer a whopping $5 million.
— Daniel Sager
Anchorage
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