<p>The Wilson Cannery stands as a decaying sentinel along the shore of the Willapa Bay in Nahcotta. The building hasn’t been used in several decades.</p>

NAHCOTTA Sidelined by old age, oyster industry changes and Washington state shorelines laws, some of the last remaining oyster cannery buildings on Willapa Bay face the end of their days.

Just south of the old Ark Restaurant building, which itself is sitting vacant and neglected, the old Wilson Cannery is a picturesque structure and occupies a pretty spot on the bayshore. But it is partially falling down and may soon be demolished.

The Wilson family, whose descendents still live in the area, constructed the plant in the mid-20th century to process their extensive line of oyster and clam products. But Asian imports, industry consolidation and a market switch to fresh oysters made possible by transportation improvements spelled the end of most Peninsula shellfish canning in the 1960s.

A number of people have looked at the building over the years, recognizing both its scenic location and potential usefulness to the oyster industry possibly as a facility for growing oyster larvae or seed. Nanci Main and Jimella Lucas of Ark fame recently said they at one time considered acquiring it as a restaurant site, but were stopped by the cost of renovation and zoning restrictions.

Now owned by Dan Evans of Longview, the cannery on 271st Street was most recently offered for sale to the Port of Peninsula in Nahcotta. Evans was traveling this week and unavailable for comment, but has previously indicated that he and his attorney are working on the issue.

Hes working with the county and has spoken with a number of local stakeholders, and is still assessing the best path forward on the cannery, Evans colleague Mark Fleischauer said late last week. Dans preference is to find someone or some organization who can put the facility and location to good use.

Local oysterman Dick Sheldon said Evans has been actively working to find a non-profit group to take over the property.

Whoever ends up with the parcel will face some immediate decisions, probably including whether to keep the building standing.

I had Rob Corcoran of Bergerson Construction and Ryan Helligso of Helligso Construction over to take a look at it a couple of months ago. They helped us determine that the structure is a huge liability for the most part, Port Manager Mary DeLong said. There may be some value in the platform, once the building has been removed.

Among other issues, the fact that the building sits on a tidal wetland so close to the bay would make the mobilization and de-mobilization of demolition equipment more of a challenge than for an upland site.

In addition, under state shorelines laws, the site can only be used for a water-dependent use, precluding changing the building or site to something like a residence, hotel or restaurant. Although facilities for shellfish-related activities are in demand, the ports analysis suggests the commercial lease rate would not justify the cost of salvage and rebuild. Utilities would need to be brought back in and a new surface constructed for the platform.

Still, there must be some worthy entity that would relish the opportunity to operate in such an amazing setting on the bay. If anyone has realistic proposals, call the Chinook Observer or the Port of Peninsula for Evans contact information.

The Bendiksen Cannery

The Bendiksen Cannery on 273rd Street at the Port of Peninsula has also sat idle for a number of years, and is especially familiar to area residents and tourists since it sits beside the ports mooring basin on a manmade stone jetty or breakwater. Its whitewash and clapboard siding make it a favorite for photographers.

Odin Bendiksen was a prominent 20th century oysterman with extensive holdings around Willapa Bay and Puget Sound through his company East Point Seafood of Seattle. But the firms Nahcotta plant fell victim to the same market forces that undercut other area canneries.

Redevelopment of the Bendiksen Cannery has been stymied by shoreline restrictions that presented a roadblock to widow Libby Bendiksens desire to operate a retail fish store with gifts and possibly a restaurant in the building. These laws, coupled with objections from Sheldon and others who are concerned about a domino-like collapse of environmental protections for the bay, put an end to these retail plans about 15 years ago.

Pacific Countys Shoreline Master Plan is in the process of being updated, a periodic multi-year process that has just started and could take up to four years to complete, with extensive public involvement.

Some county economic-development leaders have indicated they will advocate for some ability to grant variances to shorelines rules if it can be shown doing so would help save existing and historic structures around the bay by allowing businesses that would have zero impact on water quality. This might, for example, include high-end office space with an amazing view of the bay.