Collins Building plan rejected

Published 8:29 pm Tuesday, November 13, 2007

EVERETT — A plan to save a historic building on the waterfront from demolition was rejected unanimously Tuesday by Port of Everett commissioners, who said turning it into a mini-storage facility was neither legal nor desirable.

The decision followed an impassioned plea from developer Richard Sullivan.

“It doesn’t matter where you go, these buildings are loved by the people,” Sullivan said. “I do not understand the motivation to look for reasons to tear this down.”

Port officials had given the Collins Redevelopment Group a 60-day extension in an agreement that required it to place $1.5 million in escrow to show financial support for its project and to come up with a workable development plan.

Sullivan submitted two letters from banks, each saying they would loan him $500,000 secured by other property he owns, but no money was placed in escrow. His plan was to turn the building into a mini-storage facility with 550 units to raise money initially, then develop it during a second phase into home for art galleries, a restaurant, offices, shops and other activities.

The building, referred to as the Collins Building because it housed the Collins Casket Co. for many years, is 81 years old and has been placed on the state’s Historic Register. It’s located in an area that the port has proposed for a $400 million redevelopment project that would add some 660 condominiums, retail shops, offices and a district for boat sales, maintenance and storage.

John Mohr, the port’s executive director, said the port’s development agreement with the city doesn’t allow mini-storage facilities, only storage for boats and for materials that workers need to maintain and repair them.

Sullivan insisted a city planner had told him such a facility was allowed and he pleaded with the commissioners to “go to the city together and get this clarified.”

“A lot of people worked thousands of hours on this project and I think this needs to be cleared up,” he said.

Without calling Sullivan a liar, Commissioner Connie Niva told him that the city planners he referred to had told her they’d made it clear to Sullivan that a mini storage facility “simply won’t fly.”

Later, she added, “I don’t think anyone wants a mini-storage sitting there for 15 years.”

“There’s a lot of evolving and changing and misrepresentation going on here,” she said.

Ross Uttley, a commercial fisherman, said he’d rather see something on the waterfront commemorating the city’s once-powerful fishing fleet. “The fleet has a lot more history than an abandoned coffin building.”

David Mascarenes, a member of the Port Gardner Neighborhood Group that has strongly supported the project, asked commissioners to not vote on the issue Tuesday and to wait for Michael Hoffmann, who won election to the commission last week, to be seated in January.

But they decided to push ahead.

Commissioner Phil Bannan said he’d seen a lot of paperwork and a lots of dust thrown around the issue, but added his opinion was clear. “That’s not the place for a mini-storage,” he said.

He added that the proposal didn’t seem to have the needed financial backing despite pleas for support.

“I don’t see the money,” he said. “He (Sullivan) has a letter from him. That’s not money. There was an agreement we entered into with him in good faith and the terms haven’t been met.”

Jeff LaLone, co-owner of Bayside Marine, which is located in the vicinity of the Collins Building, also mentioned the lack of money. “Presumably a large group of people want to make this happen,” he said. “I don’t understand why they haven’t pulled out their checkbooks.”

Niva agreed that money is a key issue.

“It’s like your own mortgage,” she said. “If you don’t pay, they’re not going to say, ‘Damn, you ­really should own this house.’ “

Sullivan left the meeting after the decision, saying he had no comment on the vote.

Valerie Steel, a member of the group Historic Everett, said she was disappointed, but not surprised by the decision.

“The port has never acted in a positive way about it,” she said. “I think a lot of positive effort could have gone into this and it’s not been forthcoming from the port.”

Steel said comments suggesting the building wasn’t important historically were wrong. “There’s a lot of ignorance out there,” she said, adding she believes its one of the few buildings involving lumber left on Puget Sound.

The port’s decision doesn’t mean the building will be demolished, but it makes it possible, even likely.

“If, at the end of the term of this (agreement) the redevelopment plan … has not been successfully executed in accordance with the plan … the (Collins) Building may be demolished or relocated, at the port’s option …,” according to an agreement signed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and state and local historic officials, including Steel from Historic Everett.

Mohr said he’ll try to arrange a meeting with the signers of that agreement within the next 30 days to help steer a course of action.

Steel said her group is studying options “with our attorneys.”

Writer Mike Benbow: 425-339-3459 or benbow@heraldnet.com.