Everett boat firms decry loss of space
Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, April 5, 2005
EVERETT – Supporters of several boat repair businesses at the Port of Everett packed a commission meeting Tuesday to complain about the upcoming loss of their work yards with redevelopment of the north marina area.
Among the angriest was Judd Tinius, who said the loss of a yard and an upcoming move will really hurt his business, Everett Marine Co-op.
“I built this business from the back of my truck,” said Tinius, who now leases land from Everett Engineering to conduct his repair business. “If I get moved and I can’t get yard space, I can’t supply a reasonable product for my customers.”
Tinius is concerned about a plan by the port and its private partner for the redevelopment, Maritime Trust, to create a craftsman district for the repair businesses with a single boatyard operated by the port.
Port property manager Eric Russell said the single yard is planned for three reasons:
* Space is limited. There isn’t enough space in the district to give everyone his own repair yard for boats.” It makes sense to us to share space and be flexible with it,” Russell said.
* New environmental laws will be stringent. The state is about to tighten down on pollution from boatyards. And the port wants to operate the facilities to ensure compliance. “The Department of Ecology rules are going to be a lot harder to meet from what we understand,” Russell said. “We’d rather be in the driver’s seat to meet those rules.”
* The port doesn’t want the area to be used for long-term boat storage. “Our job is to provide a boatyard,” Russell said. “If somebody is looking for long-term storage, they need to look elsewhere.”
Maritime Trust spokesman Ken Olsen said the company has been working with marina businesses for two years to find out what they need and to offer the right facilities. “We told them there would be a boatyard that would be a common resource to all,” he said.
But representatives from several boat repair companies said they didn’t realize that meant no yard space.
“With no boatyard space, I have no control for my customers,” said Lauren Bivins of Harbor Marine. “It’s extremely disappointing.”
Tinius said it will doubly difficult for him because he’s expected to move his business by the end of the month to make way for redevelopment.
He’s set to move to a temporary site that formerly was home to American Boiler Workers. The building on the site is being razed, and Tinius said he doesn’t know if they’ll be a structure there or even the appropriate electrical service for his work.
Later, Tinius will move to the craftsman district. Since few other repair companies have to move twice, he’s at a competitive disadvantage, Tinius said.
Port commissioner Jim Shaffer asked port staff members to schedule a meeting to hear more about the concerns. It was set for 10 a.m. April 20 at the port commissioners hearing room 2911 Bond St.
Public input sought
A public hearing on a draft environmental study of a $200 million redevelopment of the Port of Everett’s north marina area begins at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Marine View Conference Center on the waterfront at the end of 13th Street.
Public comments will be used to assess whether the study has identified all the issues raised by the development and to develop a final plan to guide the project.
Input sought
A public hearing on a draft environmental study of a $200 million redevelopment of the Port of Everett’s north marina area will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Marine View Conference Center on the waterfront at the end of 13th Street.
Public comments will be used to assess whether the study has identified all the issues raised by the development and to develop a final plan to guide the project.
