Everett’s Northwest Neighborhood has bold new plan

Published 10:39 pm Monday, January 12, 2009

EVERETT — People ask Paul Donovan if he’s running for office.

The upbeat new chairman of the city’s Northwest Neighborhood Association says he isn’t.

“I’m just looking to grow participation in the neighborhood association,” he said. “It’s a promotional challenge.”

On Thursday evening at the neighborhood’s first meeting of the year, Donovan hopes to unveil an ambitious list of neighborhood projects that he hopes to accomplish this year.

In all, there are 29 proposed projects, including a giant yard sale, painting address numbers on curbs and a volunteer program to assist elderly shut-ins.

The Northwest Neighborhood is bounded by the Snohomish River to the north, Broadway to the east, 19th Street to the south and Port Gardner Bay to the West.

Donovan, who is known by many as a neighborhood watch captain, sends out regular e-mails on coyote sightings or crime reports.

Here’s a partial list of projects that he is proposing this year:

Organizing a big annual neighborhood yard sale.

Painting address numbers on curbs.

A volunteer program to help elderly shut-ins.

Creating a neighborhood association Web site.

Distributing Northwest Neighborhood watch stickers for front windows.

Starting a welcome program for new homeowners.

Planting more street trees.

Lobbying City Council for a more stringent noise ordinance.

Restricting alley access to residents, garbage haulers and emergency responders.

Reporter David Chircop: 425-339-3429 or dchircop@heraldnet.com.