EVERETT — A group of boaters, residents and business people has told the Port of Everett what it should do in redeveloping a big section of the city’s waterfront.
And a big bunch of waterfront condominiums isn’t the centerpiece of it all — at least not for now.
Instead of centering o
n a developer needs, the project should focus on drawing boaters and other people to the waterfront and on the commercial services they need, according to the group’s report to the port commission.
“For boaters, it’s moorage, fuel and services (that) are competitively priced,” committee members said. “For upland visitors, the waterfront is easily accessed — if not well publicized. There is great potential for activities and amenities that would draw users from throughout the greater Puget Sound region.”
The group was assembled after the bankruptcy of Everett Maritime, the business established by Chicago developer Maritime Trust for a planned $400 million development of the waterfront.
Maritime had planned 660 waterfront condos in three phases, as well as restaurants, other commercial areas and offices.
“The reason why we wanted this step is I know I was receiving all kinds of inquiries and suggestions about what we should do down there,” said Mark Wolken, the commission chairman. “It was real scattershot, and I thought it would be good to have a tighter target to focus on.”
The group was directed not to seek major changes in the port’s master plan for development of the area, which was approved by the city. That would require a new set of permits.
While trying to follow the general plan, the group did suggest some changes.
It said the port should be the master developer and not go into partnership with one, as it did with Maritime.
It also talked about improving the marina first and letting that help guide commercial development.
Other recommendations:
• Build a pedestrian bridge between the waterfront and the neighborhood on the bluff along West Marine View Drive to make it easier for people to get there.
• Keep the Farmers Market and add a fish market to attract visitors.
• Create more public access, a community building for events and some significant public open space for things like concerts.
• Add a grocery store and other services for boaters. (The group did note that a convenience store was recently added near the boat ramp.)
• Improve awareness and access to the waterfront.
• Deal with limited parking by developing a parking plan and considering a parking garage.
• Develop housing that is less dense and more diverse. The committee recommended rental units, not condos, and suggested things like retirement housing and house boats. It suggest the market will have to decide what makes financial sense.
In addition to submitting the group’s report to the port commission, the port is in the process of hiring a consultant to look at the report and the initial development plan, and gather a lot of public comment from the community on where the development should go.
Port Commissioner Troy McClelland, who is also president and CEO of Economic Alliance Snohomish County, said the group’s report “looks at the economic realities of today but didn’t let it get in the way.”
He said the port’s development will be important for the county.
“Jobs are attached to it, but it also creates some diversity and a quality place where people want to live and work,” he said, adding quality of life is important for businesses looking for a new place to expand. “It’s good to have a mixed-use place near the waterfront. It’s attractive for the region.”
Port Director John Mohr said he expects a consultant to be hired in a few weeks, but he doesn’t expect work to begin in earnest until the beginning of next year. He said developing a plan is important, but there’s not an immediate rush to start building something.
“The driver of this whole project is the economy,” he said. “We want a good plan and we want to know where to go, but we don’t have control over the schedule.”
Mohr said he liked the group’s report, which he said generally supported the earlier plan but recommended some tweaks. He said the biggest change relates to the housing element.
“The Maritime plan assumed that housing would drive the retail and commercial development, but it’s looking like retail and commercial may drive demand for housing,” he said.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
