Everett council votes in favor of events center

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, December 11, 2001

By Theresa Goffredo

Herald Writer

EVERETT – The city’s past and future took center stage today during a passionate seven-hour debate, and the future won out.

City council members voted 6 to 1 to demolish two buildings on the Everett Historic Register to make way for a $75 million hockey arena and special events center.

Though it was suggested that moving the proposed center 20 feet could save the Ancient Scottish Rite Temple, council members voted to demolish that structure also, clearing the way for construction to begin in the spring at the two-block area at Hewitt Avenue and Broadway.

Councilman Dan Warnock, who insisted that the city “build it right the first time” by requiring that brick be made part of the stadium facade on all sides of the building, cast the dissenting vote.

“Nobody is going to be happy. Well, everybody is not going to be happy but this is for the betterment of Everett for decades to come,” said Councilman Bob Overstreet.