This has been the year of knocking things down and digging things up on Everett’s waterfront, but next year will be a different story.
In 2007, the work will turn from clearing and cleaning to construction, including the first set of condominiums, said Eric Russell, property director for the Port of Everett.
“Early in the year they will be excavating for the condos,” said Russell. “And there will be a lot more activity.”
In 2006, the work has focused on razing buildings, not raising them, Russell noted.
Knocked down on the area set aside for a $400 million redevelopment project has been the port’s fire station, a fire museum, the old American Boilerworks, a welding company, a boatyard, a storage area, some Marine Spill Response Buildings, the marina’s maintenance shop, three boat repair and maintenance buildings, a restroom, and an old marina office building.
Part of the demolition work has involved removal of potentially hazardous asbestos, said Russell, noting that work will continue in the spring along with demolition of some remaining structures.
Other major work this year has included removing contaminated soil from the industrial site. Russell said some $2.4 million had been spent on the task by the end of September, with more continuing in 2007. Most of the money has gone to paying for the dirt to be taken to a hazardous waste site.
More cleanup will be needed around the recently vacated American Construction site, Russell said. But he noted the cleanup efforts “seem to be going pretty smoothly.”
Russell said focus on the first four condominium buildings and on the Craftsman district to be used by boat-related business will be the main effort in 2007. In a related project, Bayside Marine is building its own new facility that will also include a major covered area for boat storage.
Russell said some 500 construction workers will be on the site this spring and that many of the razed areas will be used for parking. He said he’s also trying to develop a plan to let people walk along the waterfront on the outskirts of the construction site.
“We want to try to develop some temporary walkways so that people can get in there,” he said. “We’re not sure how that will work, but if it’s feasible we want to allow that to happen.”
Port officials are working on developing a public amphitheater on the site, which is at least 20,000 square feet, Russell said.
He said the port has discovered some soft soils in the area and is trying to design a public area that is light enough it doesn’t sink. The area is expected to cost about $1.3 million, but the port is still looking for donations that could be used to enhance it.
Russell also said the port has endorsed a proposal to redevelop the historic Collins Building, a former casket company on the redevelopment site and is expecting to see a design for the work in mid-December.
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