Port hasn’t given up on its dream of a walkable waterfront

Published 10:13 pm Sunday, June 14, 2009

One of the most popular things about the Port of Everett’s planned redevelopment of its north marina industrial area was that it would add public open space along the community’s waterfront.

Everett was planned as a city of industry. And that’s meant that its waterfront — both along the Snohomish River and edging Puget Sound — has been used and controlled by private businesses since day one.

Even critics of the port’s proposed Port Gardner Wharf project of condominiums and commercial buildings looked forward to the public walkway that would ring the project. A few people chided the port for turning over the waterfront to the owners of swanky condos. But nobody complained about the idea that soon anybody would be able to take a morning run along the water, grab some lunch and watch the boats, or take an evening stroll under the glow of a beautiful pink and orange sunset.

The idea that more public access would open up soon was dashed earlier this year when Maritime Trust of Chicago, the port’s private business partner in the project, filed for bankruptcy.

At this point, it’s unclear whether the company will emerge from reorganization and build the project or whether the port will have to find another partner. It is clear that what the developers referred to as a public promenade along the development’s perimeter won’t be built this year.

But advocates of opening up another section of the waterfront shouldn’t give up hope.

Port officials say they’re looking for a way to make the walkway happen before the project is completed.

“We’re exploring putting in an asphalt strip so that people would be able to go down there even if its only temporary,” said John Mohr, the port’s executive director.

He said port staff is checking with the city about what permits are required and looking at what an asphalt walkway would cost.

“We want to get that done,” he said. “It will help people visualize what the opportunities really are for that property.”

The idea of even a temporary walkway pleases David Mascarenas of Everett, who has pressured the port to open up the former industrial site

“The esplanade was supposed to be at the end of the project,” he said. “The guy goes belly up and we could never see it. It could sit empty for years.”

Mohr said he won’t know exactly what’s possible until checking on permits and cost, but he said he’d like to see the walkway in this year. “It will be a great place to walk,” he said.

The port has received $1.9 million in federal stimulus money for walkway improvements along a five-block stretch of W. Marine View Drive in front of the redevelopment project.

The city will be supervising the work, which is set to begin this fall. Planned is a 12-foot-wide combined pedestrian walkway and bike path between 11th and 16th streets.

The idea was to eventually link those improvements with the development’s promenade.

Even if they can’t provide a comparable concrete walkway along the water at this point, a temporary one is a good idea.

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