A new study by a Seattle consultant says it will cost about $11 million to prepare the Collins Building inside and out to become a public space on the Everett waterfront.
Restoring the shell and the core of the historic building will take about $6 million. That will repair the foundation, which is on wooden pilings, brace the building to withstand earthquakes, fix the exterior, add an elevator and new stairs, provide a new heating and air conditioning system, redo the wiring, phone and alarm systems and provide landscaping, according to Kavalenko Hale Architects.
Redoing the three levels inside for use as a public market, maritime museum and hobby spaces would cost about $2 million. And legal, consultant and accounting fees would cost another $2 million, according to the architectural firm.
While a considerable number, it’s still a lot less that the $15 million or so from estimates made several years ago on the cost to fix up the former casket company facility.
Supporters note that the cost numbers don’t include expected government grants and tax credits.
Port of Everett commissioners plan to meet Tuesday to discuss the building and whether to proceed with fix-up plans or two dismantle it for its parts.
The architects studying possibilities said most of the planned uses, with the exception of the hobby spaces, couldn’t be expected to pay full market value for the space. It estimated the building would generate about $408,000 a year in rent and take about $244,000 of that for upkeep of about 47,833 square feet of usable space.
Red-light cameras
More than the usual number of readers sent me e-mails about last week’s column on red-light cameras, with the majority joining me in suggesting that they amount to government spying.
But there were also a number of readers with good points to the contrary, including:
Dave Speights in Mukilteo, who asked that since a police officer isn’t spying when he does his job and tickets someone speeding or running a red light, why is a spying when a camera does the same thing?
“Speeders just don’t like to follow the rules, and they are seizing on the cameras as a rationalization,” Speights said. “No one has an expectation of privacy when operating a potentially deadly vehicle on a public road.”
A fellow resident of Mukilteo, Speights said he will be happy when scofflaws can’t endanger public safety with impunity.
“To suggest that shoppers will avoid Harbour Pointe Boulevard and Mukilteo Speedway is ridiculous,” Speights said.
Shirley Seaman of Everett wanted to know what was wrong with generating revenue for the city.
“Better that the speeders and red-light runners pay than the law-abiding citizens with additional taxes, etc.,” Seaman wrote.
She mentioned a couple spots in Everett where people routinely run red lights.
“In my opinion, anyone troubled with ‘government spying’ has something to hide,” she added. “If you’re not doing anything wrong — what’s the issue?”
Good points well made, Dave and Shirley.
But for the record, I’m still not a fan of red-light cameras.
Mike Benbow: 425-339-3459; benbow@heraldnet.com.
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