Leavenworth celebrates opening of new Front Street Restrooms

LEAVENWORTH — The City of Leavenworth celebrated the completion of the Front Street Restrooms and Stairway Expansion Project with a ribbon cutting ceremony on July 1.

The new restroom facility has an increased number of stalls in the women’s restroom, a family/gender-neutral single stall restroom, reconstructed stairs leading up to US-2, and an ornate roof covering the stairs and seating area above the restrooms. The project cost nearly $2 million, and was funded by lodging tax dollars.

Music from the Leavenworth Alphorns opened the ceremony, followed by remarks from City Administrator Matthew Selby, Public Works Director Andi Zontek-Backstrum, and Mayor Carl Florea.

“These restrooms have been here for a while, but about 10 years ago, staff recommended this rehab, and that's where we are today. This project has doubled the capacity of the ladies restroom,” said Selby, which brought cheers from the crowd. 

Continuing on, Selby added that the covered stairway will help with winter maintenance, and that the seating area above the restrooms offered a “glorious view of our beloved downtown.”

Public Works Director Andi Zontek-Backstrum thanked ARC Architects, Cascade Central Construction, Leavenworth Parks Supervisor John Schons, and Leavenworth Facility Maintenance Supervisor Ara Arakelian for their contributions to the project. 

Construction on the facility began in August 2024, with mobile restrooms placed in lieu along Front Street.

“I know it's been a great, great inconvenience to have these [restrooms] out of circulation, and so I want to thank all of our downtown and businesses for putting up with it…Hopefully you see it too, as the down payment for future activities down here as we look at redoing this whole Front Street,” said Mayor Florea.

Before cutting the ribbon, Florea also thanked the Downtown Steering Committee and city council for going with the biggest and best design option that would stand the test of time.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media