City Council OKs initial funding for Smith Avenue parking lot

Published 1:30 am Sunday, November 19, 2017

EVERETT — Another old Everett mill site is being re-developed. This time it’s for the anticipated arrival of light rail.

Plans call for 80 parking spots at 3600 Smith Ave., which was the site of the Smith Street Mill. The city recently purchased the property.

The project is starting with $750,000 in grants from the state Department of Transportation. The state requires a match from the city of $300,000. The total costs of design and construction have not been estimated, said Meghan Pembroke, a spokeswoman for the mayor’s office.

The City Council approved an initial funding agreement Wednesday. Construction isn’t expected until mid-2019.

Everett Station is supposed to accommodate light rail travelers by 2036. The neighborhood also is designated to absorb population growth while maintaining its industrial vibe. That likely means taller, mixed-used buildings.

The station has about 1,000 parking stalls. Some belong to the city and some to Sound Transit. Most are full long before the workday.

Both agencies have obligations to provide additional parking for light rail users.

The new lot on Smith Avenue would complete the city’s portion, Pembroke said.

Sound Transit is supposed to build a parking garage. The size and location of the garage may not be announced until after light rail gets to Lynnwood. That’s supposed to happen in 2024.

The nonprofit Everett Station District Alliance has suggested Sound Transit build the garage east of the transit center. The city’s preference is east of the railroad tracks and near Pacific Avenue, Pembroke said. That assumes the light rail station would be near the crossing of Pacific and Broadway.

In addition to parking, the former mill site likely will be used to store some Everett Transit vehicles. There are plans as well for 20 covered spots for bicycles.

The city paid $4 million for the property, which is vacant other than a tiny office that will be demolished.

There are issues with soil contamination, though.

“We are moving forward with environmental cleanup,” Pembroke said.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @rikkiking.