EVERETT – Plans to create a new neighborhood on the city’s waterfront as part of a $200 million redevelopment drew few critics Tuesday night at a public meeting.
The meeting, intended to make sure that public concerns would be addressed in an upcoming environmental study, drew mostly government officials and only 15 or 20 members of the public.
Ken Olsen, project manager for the developer, Everett Maritime LLC, said the company wants to “create a really vibrant waterfront village on the site.”
The area, some 65 acres owned by the Port of Everett, would include a number of pedestrian walkways and as many as 660 condos and townhouses. The development would also include marine businesses, professional offices, retail stores, an inn and a restaurant and a grocery store, Olsen said.
He said the environmental study of the project will look at things such as soil stability, air and water pollution, shoreline use, public access, traffic and parking, public services and adequacy of utilities.
The draft study is expected to be completed in June, with a final study finished in September. Port of Everett officials would then choose a detailed development for the project.
Most of the people were in support of the development, but several said they were concerned that it might destroy the port’s Collins Building, the oldest structure on the waterfront.
“The Collins Building will be 100 years old next year,” said Mary Dean, chairman of the Everett Historic Commission. “To disregard that building is a travesty.”
John Mohr, port executive director, said the port is aware of its importance, but that the building has some serious safety problems that would require changes to its fundamental character.
Michelle Troutman also said the building should be saved.
“It’s the last historic piece of the Everett waterfront,” she said.
Other residents expressed concern that the development wouldn’t provide enough parking, especially for tenants of the new marina adjacent to the development.
Still others said the port and the city need to ensure that there are enough buses moving people between the waterfront and downtown areas and also linking them with the Everett transit center.
All of the concerns were noted and officials said they would address them in the upcoming study.
Business editor Mike Benbow: 425-339-3459 or
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